Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
Mr.. B0UTELL's SPEECH
Pays Fine Tribute to Him Who
Has Held Two Terms.
SPEAKER CANN0N'S REMARKS
Reviews the Work of the Fifty.
Ninth Congress and Accepts the
Responsibility Again.

The republicans Of the House Of Rep-
resentatives held what they called a
caucus last night. 1t was more of a
ratification meeting than caucus. how
ever The object was agreement upon
candidates for the principal offices of
the House for the term of the Sixtieth
Congress. The present incumbents were
reelected and in addition Mr. s. A. Ian.
gum of Minnesota, upon motion of Mr..
Tawney, was named postmaster of the
House to succeed Capt. J. II. McElroy, de-
ceased.
When the caucus was called to order
by Chairman Hepburn, with Mr.. Louden-
Slayer of New Jersey secretary, it was.
found that 1S2 republicans of the 226
representatives and delegates were
present. Representative BouteIl of Illi-
nois had been chosen to name the choice
of the republicans for Speaker. and he
nominated Mr.. Cannon of Illinois. He
justified his action in the following Lam
guage:
Mr.. Boutell's Speech.
No member Of the national House Of
Representatives has ever taken part
In the election Of a Speaker without be-
ing impressed by the dignity, the power
and the responsibilities Of that exalted
Office. We of this generation. who ap-
proach the task Of choosing Speaker.
are also mindful of the great names
that have added luster to this Office in
the past.
Since the first House was organized 11s
years ago. we have had thirty-six speak
ers, representing sixteen states. Among
the states Kentucky holds the place OF
honor, four of her representatives having
held the Office in twelve Congresses for
over twenty-five years. Four Virgtnians
held the Office for ten years. Massachu-
House. Pennsylvania and Indiana each
furnished three Speakers. while New York,
New Jersey. Georgia, Tennessee and
Maine gave two each. Connecticut, North
Illinois each furnished one. Six times
Henry Clay wasschosen Speaker. Steven
son of Virginia four times, Macon of North
Carolina, Coifax of Indiana, Blaine. Ran
dali. Carlisle and Reed three times. Nine
OF the sixteen states from which our
Speakers have come were Of the original
thirteen. and only once haS-a state west
of the Mississippi furnished a Speaker.
While Polk was the only Speaker who
became President. many of the Speakers
were statesmen Of the first order. Clay,
Blaine, Randall, Carlisle, Reed and Cam
non would have adorned the highest office
in the nation with the same patriotic de-
votion and illustrOus service with which
n
Of the people. Sonesof you have served
with more than one of the famous Speak
ers whom | have mentioned. Most of us
have had the good fortune to serve with
the greatest, for do not hesitate to say
that in political wisdom, in knowledge OF
the proper scope Of federal legislation, in
intimate acquaintance with the needs of
all sections of the country and of all de-
partments of the government and in in
spirational force as a leader in partisan
a nd m rfiSan 1pQiSla fiOn Sneaker Can.
non never had a superior.
In the last two Congresses legislation
of more far-reaching Importance than
any that has been adopted since the civil
books. Already the people are reaping
the fruits of these wise and beneficent
Anactments. The guiding hand in the per-
fection of this remedial legislation, the
to combine jarr!ng forces. this legislation
could not have been carried out, was the
Speaker of the Fifty-eighth and Fifty
ninth Congresses. But the great work OF
vitalizing and conserving for the people
the rights tha<'have been dormant in the
land of uncertain, indeterminate
and conflicting powers of state and fed
eral governments. has not yet been COM
pleted. For carrying on and finishing
this work the country demands the best
efforts of her wisest statesmen. In recog-
milton. therefore, of his illustrious serv-
ices in the past. and heedful of the ma
tion's call to still higher duties and
greater achievements l present to this
Speaker of the House of Representatives
of the Sixtieth Congress Joseph G. Can
non of illinois,.
Mr.. Cannon's Remarks.
Mr.. Cannon was unanimously and
caucus for the Office of Speaker. Amid
1,o .rfn 70
the rostrum by Mr.. Boutell, and after
the applause had subsided spoke as fol-
lows:
We have met to exercise the right Of
the majority to organize the House of
responsibility that goes with the privi-
lege. 1t has been decade since the re-
publican party assumed responsibility
for legislation and execution of law,
and in that ten years we have seen such
prosperity as never before blessed any
nation The American people are richer
by many billion dollars than they were
ten years ago, and their wealth. as rep.
resented by income from work and
wage, is more equitably distributed
than ever before. This has been the
triumph of a peoples government under
which laws inspired by the people are
worked out and executed by the peo-
pies representatives.
But it has been said:
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for
thou knOwest not what day may
bring forth"
We must face the responsibility for
without regard to the past.
The recent shock to business ti:dt has
arrested commerce admOnishcs US to
approach our task with sobe.ness and
courage, for we are to be judged by the
work Of the present. not by the record
The Fffty-nfnth Congress had prodi-
eious amount of work put before 1t, and
it accomplished more in the way Of legis-
lation than Its predecessors in many
years. believe-and 1t is my opinion
that the great majority of the people
believe with me-that that work was nee
essary and was well DONE But we are
not going to secure perfection in legisla-
ton and administration in day. Law
is not alone in the letter: 1t is in the spirit
of the people. In many so-called re-
publics there is the shadow of constitu-
tional authority without the substance OF
either constitu..on or law.
BY amendment and otherwise the Fifty
ninth Congress enacted much of new
legislation which Is to be tried and
tested. Supplemental legislation may be
necessary. but it should be enacted in the
spirit of justice and not of retaliation or
revenge. We are to exercise power with
a care that II be not for the mere exhibi-