The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-30
GAVE THEM A CHANCE.
Democrat Leader Put Paper Question
SquareIy Upsto the Majority.

Washington, April 30-John Sharp
w. Williams gave the Republican major
a;thar - Inc mouse an opportunity to
vote on the Stevens bill to place wood
pulp on the free list In the course
oI cieVerly hufnorous and satiricaI
speech he unrolled md held up to view
nnn rna i9lloMing petHson to Speaker Can
the loo Democrat. members
we. the undss igned, representa-
ives IN congress, Iuest each for him.
seH and each of tse others, that you
recognize one OF US, or. if you prefer,
some other representative. to move to
discharge the committee on ways and
means from further consideration of.
ana to suspend thu rules and pass the
stevens bill, or any other bill having
the erect to put wood pulp and print
paper on the free list
After saying that only 30 Republi-
cans were necessary to make up the
REQUISITE number to pass the bill, Mr.
Williams declared that it should be
easy to get them because almost 30
Republicans had introduced free paper
bills, And. he saio, 4I 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 vi1est sinner may return"
Mr.. Williams proceeded
II you have been in any manner
bulldozed. why think for a second; !;
think of what short life we live her.
and how important 1t is that we should
be doing things while we live in this
brief day of our time. express a hope
that at least 80 Of you may sign a Pc
tition. If you do not like that petition
because my name is on it and the
names Champ Clark and DeArmond
and Underwood and John Wesley
Gaines and all these vile pubIicans, ard
sinners on this side, get up one of your
own we can add the two together #
80 of you sign the speaker cannot re-
fuse. 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 aske1h Ii a majority of TIE
-house made a - Riest to the speaker
whether that request would be needed
and his reply as 1 remember it, was,
"A majority of the house will always be
needed by the speaker So if you put
80 names to our 166 and constitute 1856,
a majority of the house I know that
the eminently good natured man who
preSideS over this house who is SO toll
Grant of opposition, so patient when
ever there is a stumbling block athwart
his pathway, will bow in his most ele-
CANT manner, with the gesticulation
that is peculiar to him and say Gen
LIeIIlcl, d HiiJOIlly VI Lie IcpIcScHLd-
tives of the American people have a
right to have their way and / will
recognize somebody.
Mr.. Williams said that the two Dem
ocratic members whose names were not
appended to the petition were out of
town, but efforts were being made to
reach them by wire; when their sigma
ntures were added, only 80 Republican
names would be needed to swell the
strength of the petition to the proper
tions of a majority request which Mr..
Williams, with good natured sarcasm
said he felt sure the speaker would
heed.
table had been placed on the floor
in front of the stenographer's bench
and on it the petition was spread with
Rankings of ink bottle and pen, which
the minority leader, Stimulating the
voice and manner of a revivalist, ex-
horted the Republicans to rise and GO
forward fand sign up, pleading for
'.3O," ''only 30'' and asked ARE there
not 80 who will come forth?" he con-
cluded amid hand-clapping and laugh
ter, indulged in by Democrats and Re
publicanS alike.