Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-05-29
JOKING WIN CANNON
How the Speaker Amuses VIII
liams and Keeps House Quiet.
WHEN he Is COUNTING A QUORUM

Minority Leader ssss That Is WIZ
ne Ress.sss "a De- oss-~ .~d ne
sess t"si"sssssss That sA. css.s
Ii Not Cer~~cs-r~iis . sssry a. n
isstrst~ the rstss.
The disposition. which Minority Lead.
er John Sha1, Williams fancies he sees
In some newspapers to make merry
over the counting OF q quorum IN the
house OF representatives by the speak.
er. made necessary by his frequent he
msnds FOR the presence OF a quorum.
Induced that gentleman To occupy the
time aud attention of the house the
other day With brief defense Of
Speaker Cannon's method aud his own
policy. says Washington dispatch TO
the New York sun. a.
He read AN editorial article describ-
lux one OF the numerous incidents
which have amused the members and
commented: - -
There has not been q time when
the speaker had counted q quorum that
| have not been aware that there was
a'quorum lm the house at the time.
do not want the Idea to 10 abroad. In
Justice 60 myself. that IL the speaker
should undertake TO announce a quo
rum when none was present Il would
strike NE as humorous proceeding.
nor do Il want the idea To NO abroad
that the man who has served the coun.
try so long aud faithfully and 80 hon
estly win undertake TO announce q
quorum II IL were not present.
ave have ours laughs and our Jokes
about counting quorums. sand we spoo
cially have our laugh about the manner
Ia which the speaker jerks his gavel
while he IL doing IT, but | do not be-
lieve for one moment, aud l know that
nobody else believes for one moment,
that he would violate the sacred. fun.
damental AMI CONSTITUTIONAL require.
ment OF the manner In which we must
AIRY on our government or that he
would regard that violation as a mat.
ter OF humor. and | want nobody to be-
lieve that he would
I'VE have our fun In the house, and
we ought Ia have II. We are grown
up boys. as all men are. Sometimes l
am reminded when the speaker counts
quorum, In his characteristic way Of
ioing II. or n story heard not long ago
about lady. u man with watch aud
small child. In calling forta count
| am afraid sometimes | am actua ted
10y pretty much the same motives AZ
was this lady who repeatedly asked
the man the time or day. The child
with her WAS crying. aud the man
they We're all In the railroad station
had watch. lie had N spasmodie.
conclusive sort OF way Of moving. hfs
countenance. and when the child saw
II at work he stopped crying. fell into
A good humor aud began TO laugh
THE lady discovered this method Of
keeping tile child quiet Ina few min
utes the little fellow WAS crying again,
and the lady Went back to the man aud
said. Mister ! beg your pardon. but
Will you tell me the time AGAIN. Be
Ing courteous man. lac told her again
The third time she came aud then
fourth. after short intervals. The NTH
tIms the man said: Madam, II seems
10 ne that You ought to remember the
time five minutes. do not object to
telling you. hut why are you so anx-
ions to get the time every i've or ten
minutesT
she said, Mister | AIN not asking
( because | want To know the time. hut
the movements OF your countensnce
amuse my baby. so that II Is about the
only thing that keeps him quiet
$50 sometimes | expect wantsa
quorum counted because the move.
ments OF The speakers gayel amuse
me and keep the house quiet and puts
everybody la good hunory But, !
want the country TO understand that
nobody Ia the house OF representatives
Is laughing nj or making joke OF the
requirements OF the fundamental law
Of the republic Of the United States"