New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
CALLS CANNON TYRANT
WILLIAMS IGNORED.
Minority Leader Refuses to Shake
Hands 7cith Speaker.
From rhe tribune Bureau.I

Washington. April ls-The persistent efforts of
the minority to obstruct legislation by resorting
TO the most dilatory tactics. resulted in unusual
parliamentary procedure I'm the House to-day, when
Speaker Cannon declared that body adjourned, de-
spite the fact that Representative Williams, the
minority leader, Justify demanding division
in accordance with his constitutional right The
Speaker. having clearly ascertaned the sense OF
the House viva vote ignored the re-
quest of Representative Williams which was ad-
mittedly intended waste time and while the
minority leader was frantically gesticulating and
becoming momentarily angry. Mr.. Cannon
banged down the gavel amid tremendous Republi-
applause, mingled with a few belgerent Dem
ocratic hand claps
Smiling the Speaker descended from his ros-
trum. and with hand outstretched advanced
toward Mr.. Williams, expecting that his action
would be taken in the humor he intended, but
instead he was met by the angry cOuntenanCe OF
the minority leader. who. ignoring the profered
hand. turned his heel and retired to the Demo
cratic cloakroom. The Democrats applauded wild
Iy and for a full half hour the chamber remained
crowded with members who discussed the occur
renee with little acrimony.
The incident occurred at the close OF tedious
day spent in five minute debate on the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill 1t after 6
o'clock when the bill finally passed. after an
unnecessary yea and nay vote in which both
parties were recorded in the affirmative.
This is a long way from joke" said Mr.. Will
iams as he waved the Speaker aside and strode UP
stood watching the retreatng figure, and then
Joined his colleagues.
Conservative members Of both parties express
sincere regret tile incident. and of the
older Republicans SAID Immediately afterward: 4
have feared that this continual filibustering and
counter-fbustering would have its disagreed BILE
side. The Speaker, and in fact, the entire Re
publican membership OF the House. have at times
been exasperated at the apparently useless delays
caused by Mr.. Williams, and, although it be
denied that the minority has a II and
roll calls, the Speaker not altogether unjusti-
fed in his action this afternoon"
Mr. Williams discussing the incident, said: Il
don't wish it understood that my refusing to shake
hands with Speaker Cannon is be taken as per
sonaI l do now and have always cherished the
very highest regard for him. and this regard will
not be affected by his parliamentary rulings
must say. however. that his action to-day is un-
precedented in the history Of the House Even
Speaker Reed less arbitrary. He has denied To
the minority of its constitutional rights that
OF dema nding division motion to ad tourn a
right which no rules Of the House can abrogate
As a matter of fact he has unntentionaIy broken
his oath of office and violated the Constitution
which he swore TO uphold. but I know he did it
without reflection. 1t would be clearly within my
province as minority leader if I withdrew the
Democrats from the House withheld a quorum
for the remainder of the session, but l don't intend
to meet revolutionary tactics with revolutionary
tactics, and will let the matter drop. We Demo-
Gratis want legislation practically that legislation
which the President. has demanded and until we
get it the flibuster will continue"
In statement issued this evening Speaker Can
non defends his action, denying that the Constitu-
tion gives the minority the right 10 demand dl-
vision with evident dilatory intention.
For more than two weeks the Speaker SAYS,
under the leadership of Representative Williams
the minority has been engaged in a hlibuster The
majority has the right and duty to lessIate 1t has
been proceeding TO perform that duty and will
no doubt continue to DO The rules of the
House prohibit dilatory motions that would be in
order were they not made for diatory purposes.
In TIC last two weeks many diatory motions have
been declared out of order by the Speaker in the
performance of his duty. To-days session began
with the diatory motions under the lead of Repre-
sentative Williams. After q long session of seven
hours, in consideration of the diplomatic appropri-
alton biil il was completed in the Committee Of the
Whole, and reported with a favorable recommends
tion to the House. The ayes and Eoes were ordered
on the passage of the bill, and the minority voted
substantially for it, Representative Payne al $40
O'Clock moved that the House adjourn. The ques-
uOn was put, and there d decided majority
voting aye the viva vOce vote. RepresentatiS e
Williams did cry Division,' but this. in view
of his continued diIatory tactics was a dilatory mo-
ton and the chair treated il, and declared the
motion to adjourn carried The House does pro-
vide that on demand o. one-ffth of the members
present the ayes and shall be spread on the
journal. Representative Williams did not demand
the ayes and noes did any other member of
the House and. ne did not choose to exercise
his constitutional right, the chair ignored his dila-
tory motion. The bare statement of the proceedings
shows that Representative Williams did know
how to avail himself OF this constitutional right,
did not choose do so"