The sun., 1908-05-08
UNCLE JOBS BIRTHDAY SPEECH
4 TEMPORARY TRUCE ~ THE
EMBiTTLED HOUSE

| While Champ clark Extends FellcltatIOns
TO the speaker and the Speaker by
Unanimous Consent Says EVeTybOdy's
WASHINGTON, May THE Democratic
| hlibuster in the House, which has been in
progress for several weeks and which has
been marked at times by great partisan bit
terness, was temporarily broken to-day IN
honor Of the seventy second birthday OF
Speaker Joseph G. Cannon Through a
tactful parliamentary manpuvre, engi-
neered by Champ Clark, acting minority
leader, it was brought before the House by
the Speaker himself that he was celebrating
his natal day, The hour Of adjournment
had arrived and the usual roll call was in
progress when MIR Clark rose in his place
and said;
MIR. Speaker parliamentary inquiry
The gentleman will state II, replied
the unsuspecting Speaker.
"ls not this the anniversary OF the birth
day of the Speaker f the House?' ques-
toned Mr.. Clark,
The Speaker goodhumoredly responded
that it was hardly In order TO interrupt a
roll call.
Il simply wish TO say We all wish YOU
many happy returns said Mr., Clark amid
applause.
There were cries Of Speech, speech, and
the Speaker, who was yislbly embarrassed,
said that OF course he could not proceed
without unanimous consent. "In the alb
sence Of objection he continued, Il wish
to thank the gentleman from Missouri, my
personal friend as | am his, my political
opponent az am his, for his kindly remem-
brance Of this the seventy second anniver-
saTy Of my birth
speaker Cannon then proceeded TO make
a characteristic speech
1T 10 some compensation for being 72,-
&c said, that frieTids reeoIlsot the birth
day anniversary With kind words and
thoughts. Many years Of service in the
House Of Representatives authorizes me
to state that so far as | know .or believe
there IL no greater executive body than
those who constitute the Congress Of the
United States. In fiibustering times we
occasionally have something Of temper,
something of temporary feeling. In all
contests between virile men the contro-
versies are sharp, and as ours Is q govern
ment through parties there is a political
game to play for advantage in approaching
campaigns. But be it said that while we
are partlsans in the country and partisans
in the House we are all citizens Of the same
country and on each side Of the centre aisle
there is integrity, fidelity and patriotism.
And one Of the things noticeable in the
House and one of the things belonging to our
civilization here in the United States is
that in our contests we do not strike below
the belt
The Speakers remarks put everybody
in good humor, and Mr. Bacon Of Arkansas
was so affected that he moved that in con-
sideration of the fact that this is the Speak
er's birthday the roll call be dispensed
with"
This motion was carried Thus was the
Democratic flibuster broken for the first
time since Minority Leader John Sharp
Williams announced his purpose TO force
the Republicans to do something"
The Illinois delegation held a powwow
in the Speakers office In honor OF Mr..
Cannon's birthday. The speaker was pre-
sented with a magnificent bouquet Of sew
enty-two American Beauty roses mounted
on a stand over which hung an American
flag