Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-03
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Speaker Cannon Is reflected by POI
To 154 Votes.

o'clock Clerk Mcdowell entered the
chamber accompanied by the assist
ant rgeant-at-arns, Colonel E. $.
Pierce, bearing the mace. Clerk Nc
Dowell declared the body in session.
Chaplain Couden Immediately offered
prayer, after which the roll was
called.
An interested spectator was Sir
Courtenay llbort, Speaker of the
count, Palace of Westminster, who is
clerk to the Speaker of Parliament.
He was present as 4 guest Of Speaker
Cannon and occupied 4 seat at the
right Of the Speakers chair. The roll
call occupied 20 minutes and showed
a65 members present.
Amid great applause in the Repub-
lican side, Hepburn of Iowa nominat-
ed Jose ph G.. Cannon of Illinois for
| Speaker. Equally administrative We're
| the Democrats when Clayton put in
nomination John Sharp Williams of
| Mississippi
While the voting was going on, neith-
or Speaker Cannon nor Representative
| Williams was present.
| The rcll call showed
J For Joseph G. Cannon 207: John
Sharp Williams 1914
! A committee, consisting Of Williams.
James Of Kentucky and Sulloway OF
| New Hampshire, was appointed to
| bring the Speaker in to the House.
! Amid thunderous applause in which
Republicans and Democrats alike
| joined, Speaker Cannon was escorted
down the center aisle to his chair.
| In a brief speech Williams said he
had the honor for the third time "of
not introducing but presenting to the
Congress of the United States, the
| Hon. Joseph G. Cannon Of Illinois as
its Speaker"
| When the applause had subsidized
Speaker Cannon spoke as follows:
''Gentlemen Of the House of Repre-
Sen;atiycs:
| I'VE have today organized the 60th
| Congress, marking the 1lSth milestone
! in the history of government by the
people under the Constitution. Our
! predecessors in the years that are
! passed, left to us an example Of wis
dom, moderation and courage that has
never failed to preserve the ideals
and tho interests Of Republican govern
!
or of war. adversely or prosperity.
| Each generation Of statesmen has
had its own peculiar problems and lis
| own particular embarrasSnents. Nc
! problems Of government ever recur ir
exactly the same way. The formulas
of action in one exigency may never be
applied safely in another. Government
so far as it relates to course OF action
has no fixed precedents; and no vener.
a ton for those who have gone before
justifies living men in approaching live
problems which purpose or with visor
circumscribed by the limitations of the
past. But the fundamental principles
of free government are eternal and I'M.
| cha nging. resting on the will end re.
sponsibiity of the people ana put ii
action through the deliberations of con-
scientious and jealous representations
of that will.
| This House is the only institution
under our constitution where that vii
Of the PEOPLE may be expressed with G
| fairness approXimating to scientific ac-
Icuracy. Other departments of the gov.
Iernment have lofty and important func.
tons hut to this House alone belongs
the peculiar, the delicate and the al
surprising function Of interpreting ani
putting i'll definite form the will OF tile
people. This duty we must perform
ourselves. The PRINCIPLES of the pas,
may help us to the extent to showing
W. the points of the compass but be.
You'd that we must depend on our owT
wisdom. our own constancy. our owl
industry and our own fidelity to duty
80 lar as the duty Of organizing
the House shall dcvolve upon me,
shall endeavor to perform the duty ii
a way to justify the confidence which
your selection implies; and to promote
the great purposes for which we are
assembled. But the duties Of the House
rest not alone on myself. They resi-