Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-01-31
THE FIRST HOUSE BATTLE.


The Bismarck correspondent OF the
Grand Forks Times gives the follow
ing graphic accoun, OF the fight in the
house OF representatives over the anti
ship subsidy resolution OF John Sorley,
OF Grand Forks, the floor leader OF
the Acknowledgements The debate was
caused by the introduction OF resolu-
ton containing a long extract from the
Minneapolis Journal, in which the Wash
ngton correspondent OF that paper an
tagonizes the bill granting subsidies to
certain steamship lines. The subsidy
proposition is one OF President Roose-
yelts fayorlte measures, and is intended
to aid in the establishment OF mail lines
between the United States and South
America. 10 the end that closer commun-
ication may be had between the two sec
tons. N present the bulk OF South
American trade is with England and
Germany. whose subsidized lines have
all but driven American ships from the
ocean The subsidy proposition is pro-
posed for the purpose Of getting the
bulk vi the Sou,i, American trade. which
natural. belongs to this country. ii is
bui lair 10 the Journal 10 say that that
paper mas. since, come out very strongly
III Us editorial columns in favor OF Presi-
deni Roosevelt IDEAS on the sibsidy
question
In reading the report OF the debate
on the question. II should be borne in
mind that the majority OF the so-calad
insurgents Of the house are republicans
on all national issues, and the attempt to
align them with the democrats in oppo-
sition to Roosevelt resulted disastrously
to the gentleman from Grand Forks,
who is the principal talker for the insur-
conference.-the combination in the
house
Following is the Times report
hc first battle OF the legislative scs-
sion came when an attempt was made
by the nsurgcnt leader. MIR. Sorley OF
Grand Forks. to have passed without
consideration the resolution introduced
by him directing the members OF con-
grcss TO vote and work against the pas
sage OF the ship subsidy bill, which. ac-
cording to MIR. Sorlcy's political bible
sometimes called the Minneapolis Jour
nal, had been favorably reported by the
committee The article from the Jour
nal was attached to the resolution and
was read iii full The article was bit
ter attack upon a number OF the leading
members OF congress. among whom were
Speaker Cannon, and in drastic man.
men mpugned their motives in the po-
sition they hold with reference TO ship
subsidy. In fact il was an attack upon
the republican party that only such
demo populistic sheets as the Minneapo-
lis Journal would print
Mr.. Sorlcy moved the adoption OF the
resolution and the battle was on Led
by such veterans as Buttz, Stevens,
Freeman. Shirley and Strcctcr, the I'M
tcnablc position OF the majority lead
or was assaulted at every point, and
the dwindling ranks OF the adherents
soon left merely a corporal's guard
rallying around. the standard OF Sor-
ley. and Casey. the democratic leader
who supported him. Sorley made a
bitter attack on Speaker Cannon and
on Representative Watson OF Indiana
because OF their attempting to give
away S,soO00o Of the public money
as he claimed He based his arguments
upon the statements Of newspaper ar
ticles.
Major Bu,tz secured recognition and
for few minutes poured fusilade OF
sho, into the arguments OF MIR. Sorley
that considerably shattered ii. he called
attention to the fact that the wiscst mel,
OF the nation had been studying the mat
ter OF ship subsidies for hundred
years. and that even they differed con.
corning the matter when they had ali
tlIS ''pptpItHIIltN III tllC WDTIu 10 INFORM
themselves Ii they we're not able tc
reach conclusions after years OF study
/; how could the house, wlicl, had give,
the mattcn no consideration whatever
lntclligcntly instruct the members o.
I congress how to vote ON the measure
| Mr.. Stevens made al, imprisoned pie.
again>, the resolution and stated tha
he permitted no man. not even the gen
tlcman from Grand Forks. 10 take pre-
ccdcncc Of him in his loyalty and fdclit,
70 The republican, party and its princi
pies He was willing To conccde TO ;
man who had risen from an humbl.
position to bc recognized as the creates
speaker the national house of represent
aslNcS had ever had--and whose honest,
and integrity his most bitter cne,nic
gladly admittcd-as lofty patriotism ane
! as much honesty OF purpose as ma,
VINO was mere spacc-fillcr on news
q