The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-05-06
PAPER TRUST FIGHT.
NEW MOVE IN WOOD
PULP MATTER.
issue Is Placed Squarely Before the
Republicans--Clever Speech by the
Minority Leader.

Washington, April 29.-John Sharp
Williams today gave the Republican
majority In the house an opportunity
either to permit or refuse to permit
vote on the Stevens bill to place
wood pulp on the free list. In the
course of a cleverly humorous and
satrical speech he unrolled and held
up to view the following petition to
Speaker Cannon, bearing the sigma
lures Of 164 Of the lee Democratic
members:
We. the undersigned, representa-
tives In congress. request, each for
himself, and each for each of the
others. that you recognize one of US,
OF IL you prefer. some other represen-
tative. ITO move to discharge the COM
mittee on ways and means from fur
ther consideration of. and to suspend
the rules and pass the Stevens bill
or any other bill having the effect to
put wood pulp and print paper on the
free list"
Mr.. Williams said that the two
Democratic members whose names
were not appended to that petition
were out of town, but efforts were be-
Ing made to reach them by wire;
when their signatures were added
fonly 30 Republican names would be
needed to swell the strength Of the
petition to the proportion Of a ma
torityl request. which Mr.. williams
said with good natured sarcasm he
felt sure the speaker would heed.
After saying that only 80 Republi-
cans were necessary to make up the
required number to pass the bill, Mr..
Williams declared that is should be
easy to get hem because almost 80
Republicans had introduced free pa.
per bills. and. he said. II know that
every one Of you who introduced a
bill meant what you said" Quoting
! the lines from the old hymn:
While the lamp holds out to burn.
The vilest sinner may return"
Mr.. Williams proceeded:
IF you have been In any manner
bulldosed. why think for second;
think Of what q short lke we live
here. and how necessary 1t is that we
should be doing things while we are
living. during this brief day Of our
time. I express q hope that at least
10 OF you may sign petition. II you
10 not like that petition because my
name is on ~ and the names of
Champ Clark and DeArmond and I'm
derwood and John Wesley Gaines.
and all these vile publicans and sim
ners on this side. get up one Of your
own. We can add the two together.
II 30 OF you sign. the speaker cannot
refuse. because you. together with
us. will then constitute a majority of
the house Of representatives. Early
In the session, when the rules were
being adopted. the speaker was ask
ed IL a majority Of the house made a
request to the speaker. whether that
request would be needed and his re-
ply. as I remember 1t. was, "A ma
jority OF the house OF representatives
will always be needed by the speaker
So. X you have 80 names to our lss,
Il viii! constitute a majority Of the
house. Iknow that the eminently
good natured man who presides over
this house. who Is so tolerant of op-
position. SO patient whenever there is
a stumbling block athwart his path
way. will bow In his most elegant. man.
ner. with the gesticulation that Is Pc
culiar to him. and say. Gentlemen. q
majority Of the representatives OF the
American people have a right to have
their way and ! will recognize some-
body"
table had been placed on the
floor In front OF the stenographer's
bench and on 1t the petition was
spread. with ink bottles and pens,
while the minority leader. Stimulating
the voice and manner Of a revivalist
exhorted the Republicans to rise and
go forward and sign up. pleading for
thirty"
Are there not 80 who will come
forward?" he concluded. amid hand
clapping and laughter.