Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-04
FLAGS WAVED.
BY HUNDREDS
Unusual and Inspiring Scene m
the House. --
ALL JOINED IN SINGING
hilarious Time Enjoyed by the Rep
resentatives.
PRESENTATION TO GR0svEN0R
Champ Clark Says Complimentary
Things About the Speaker,
Who is Cheered.
IL JOINED IN SINGING
PRESENTATION TO GRosvENoR

II the House of Representatives ever
wound up a busy business session in more
picturesque fashion than today, then no one
on the floor or in the galleries when the
Speakers gavel fell at official noon could
remember it, OF course there were the
usual songs and the usual happy speeches.
and all that sort of thing. But the unique
feature overshadowed all this and made the
closing hours in the House something to be
remembered by every one who was there.
1t was spontaneous. unexpected sort of
thing to those not in the secret. For just
as the opening words of My Country, 'Tis
of Thee" Numbered out from nearly four
hundred male voices, the members of the
House rose to their feet and each man drew
from beneath his desk good-sized Ameri-
can flag. unfurled it and waved it round his
head. and for five minutes after that the
In competition with roars of applause and
gusts and gales of handclapping from the
crowded galleries.
1t was the sort of thing that makes every
man with red blood in his veins choke at
the throat and feel thrills chase one another
up and down his spine. 1t was the sort of
thing that makes even practical unemation-
al, said and sober folks feel mighty glad
Tor the moment hat they are Americans and
that they live under the shadow of the star,
and stripes.
Long before the House met this morning
at shamefully early hour. if the truth
be told. for the body gOt together at $3.50
o'clock-the galleries were well filled and
every car that stopped at either end of the
Capitol cleared itself out from fender to
rear platform. Everybody seemed to want
to see one branch of the national legislature
finish up its business play awhile and then
adjourn hp rod for mia
part OF it and who knew the ropes didn't
lose much time lettering around the Senate
end. but made for the House side where
dignity is not the long suit and where
human emotions are allowed little elbow
room.
When the House met this morning its
legislative business was in the best sort of
shape. owing to the strenuous abOrs Of
Saturday night. practically all day Sunday
ana Sunday night. Consequently, except
for few necessary routine performances
such as are always seen when the clock
hands are travelling toward IL on the 4th Of
March In OFF years. the time of the House
was it's own and was used under recess Or
ders as the members desired.
Presentation to Gen. Grosvenor.
A considerable portion of the morning was
taken up by the send off-verbai and other
wise-gIven to that old political war horse,
"Oid Figgers." the Sage of Athens" Gen
Charles Grosvenor of Ohio. whe after a
service of more than twenty years in the
lower house of Congress, today leaves his
habitat under the dome for the unlight Of
private life.
departure was sincerely regretted An en-
tire half-hour recess was occupied with
speeches in his honor. and at this time
Representative Cushman of Washington.
the Abraham Lincoln of the Pacific coast.
presented to Gen. GrOsrenor on behalf Of
the members of the Fifty-ninth Congress a
magnificent mahogany chest. crammed to
the lid with a splendid silver table service
of more than 800 pieces "of English pat
tern. but made in America as Mr. Cush-
man said. amid applause. in turning over
the present to the honored one.
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi. the
democratic floor leader. also had some
mighty nice things to say about General
Grosvenor and Champ Clark. wound up
this portion of the performance by giving
his opinion of the general for whom he has
long had sincere and deep regard that is
returned in full measure.
Rousing Cheers for the Speaker.
Speaker Cannon came in for some nice
compliments. too. At the close of very
brief formal session, MIR. Cannon called
Champ Clark to the chair. and if the dis
tinguished Missourian ever had any posi-
bic douh.s as to his popularity with his col
leagues on both sides of the House it was
went up made the stained glass skylights
rattle. Then Mr.. Cannon left the chamber
but his ears must have burned way off in
his private room. Mr.. Williams paid high
tribute To the Speaker. whom he referred to
throughout his remarks as Uncle Joe"
and whom he said every one loved for his
big brain. his big heart and his impartial
ty." He congratulated the House on hav-
Ing such man as its presiding officer and
pres nted the following resolutions:
That the thanks of the Fifty ninth Con-
gress are due to the Hon. Joseph G. Can
non. its honored and distinguished Speaker.
for the intelligent. constant and impartial
manner in which he has presided over it's
important deliberations"
Mr.. Clark from the chair put the ques-
ton of the adoption OF the resolution, but
not in approved parliamentary form. Mr..
Clark affects farmer-like sort of de
livery, and so he announced that every
body in favor of this thing stand up
And everybody stood up, and there was
more applause and shouting and waving
Of flags. Then Mr.. Clark speaker pre-
TEN. appointed Representative Payne OF
New York. Dalzell of Pennsylvania ant
John Sharp Williams a committee 10
notify the Speaker of the adoption of the
resolution. and. as the Mssourian put it
ito lug him in
When Uncle Joe came in and marched uI
the center aisle leaning on the arm of The
minority leader the chamber rang agar
with prolonged applause in which the gal.
leries Joined and Mr.. Cannon. noticeably
affected and. with a queer little quaver II
his voice. told his friends and colleague.
how much he appreciated their kind word:
and good wishes. He said:
The Speaker Returns Thanks.
81 thank you. gentlemen, for your kind
ness in the deed and the words OF this day
but even more cordially do thank yo,
for your unwearying and constant friend
ship during every one of the laborious an,
eyentful days of the Fifty Ninth Congress
Some Congresses hays done their worl
under the stress OF national trial and evel
national disaster: IL has been our good for
tune to do our work in a period of pros
perity SO Astounding to surpass all tn
imaginings of the past. The Statesmen o
the days of stress will always have frs
place in the affections of the people. an,
rightly so. but the men who with loyaIt.
and devotion strive to keep a mighty ma
tion in the pathway of prudence and com
mon sense while prosperity abouads oil
every corner have troubles not always un
derstood or sympathized with by the PEG
pie. but which you well know OF. In tn
two years now cl0sed-years eventful Il