The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-21
WILLIAMS ATTACKS CANNON
EIT SAYS THERE rs no BREAK
~ THEIR FRIENDSHIP.
We Fears Long Exercise Of Pow er Has Bred
IN Him Intolerance and a Disposition TO
Regard she Performance OF Ills Duties
a. n Jest-The Speaker Replies.

WASHINGTON, April .-PTOCeedinRg In
the House Of Representatives to-day began
With an attack by John Sharp Williams
m speaker Cannon for his arbitrary adj
,,Irnment' Of the House Saturday evening
Rrl Speaker Cannon 3 defense Of his action
~ that occasion. Nh. Williams assured
me House that talk Of the incident causing
r break in the personal friendship Of him
salf and the Speaker was nonsense. but
a., felt called upon TO rebuke the official
conduct Of the Speaker, which he deemed
q, be- the gravest afrront to the constitu-
'Ional rights Of the minority In the legis-
Ltyc history Of the country.
'r Williams feared that long exercise
- rowor had bred in him intolerance Of
opposition and a disposition to regard the
performance " some Of his official duties
~ = lest. He felt sure. however. that the
Speaker would honor the precedent more
On the breach than in the observance and
IND some way 10 tell the House before
adjournment that he was wrong
Speaker Cannon's explanation Of the
reasons actusting him did not warrant the
tslei that he felt or was likely to feel any
coutrltion. II wa an amplincation Of the
statement he made to the newspapers Sat
urily night and closed with the assertion
t.at m view Of all the conditions il was not
oniv he right but his duty to ignore the de-
mand Tor a division as dilatory and declare
'he House adjourned. His statement was
received with enthusiasm by his political
~s,,ocIatcs.
Nr Williams introduced a resolution de-
-H.-.r. tI,t A., ..st.., - A.. lz..L.--
stIrlted a breach Of the privileges Of the
house. II was laid on the table by a party
vote. except that Messrs. Brummof Pennsyl-
,aula, Cooper and Nelson Of Wisconsin,
Republicans, voted with the Democrats.
Then Mr.. Dalzell Of Pennsylvania, from
Ire Committee on Rules. reported another
resolution still further a~bridging the oppor-
t1BItles Of the minority 10 retard proceed
ings Il changed the rule regarding mo-
tons TO suspend the rules 50 as TO make
motions to that effect in order at any time
and 70 require only a majority vote 10 pass
a bill instead Of twu-thirds and TO order
a second 10 the motion without taking a vote
by tellers, the latter long a ~favorite method
Of holding up the House, This was passed.
Mr.. Williams permitted the journal Of Sat-
urday's proceedings to he approved at the
opening Of to-day's session without objec-
ton. It was generally eIpectedth some un-
usual If not sensational developments would
occur as the result Of the action of Speaker
Cannon on Saturday afternoon in declaring
the House adjourned, ignoring Mr Will
iams's demand for a division, There was no
d~isappointu ent in this regard
~ Utn,,u,- r.., a., .,...t,-- - ..;.g
kge.
Speaker Cannon asked If II we're a ques-
ton Of privilege or Of personal privilege.
Mr.. Williams said that II was a q lea
top Of privilege Of the rights Of the House
The Speaker-That requires the presenta-
ton Of a resolution; q question Of personal
privilege does not But | apprehend the
House will not object 10 the gentleman pro-
ceeding without offering a resolution.
Mr.. Payne, the majority leader, asked
tina, Mr.. Williams b. allowed to proceed
for fifteen minutes.
Proceeding, MIR. Williams said he could
make due allowance for the effect of what
they called in Mississippi the degree Of
fostering which no had inflicted upon the
Speaker to bring about a result which he
believed would be brought about by his
line Of action. He could make allowance
for the infrmities Of human nature; but the
action Of Saturday night. he insisted, passed
the bounds Of constitutional usages and In
his opinion was the grHVest matter that had
occurred IN the House.
ilr. Williams read n sta tement that he
had prepared setting forth his views on
The subject, p~reiacing il with tne declara-
ton that the talk about the incident affect
ing the personal friendship existing between
himself and the Speaker was all nonsense
and expressing the opinion that tho Speaker
was the most delight of men, but his
lDng continued exercise Of power, with
many instances Of minor abuses, had rem
uered him despotiC and intolerant Of oppo-
EItion IL had been observed by members
oi the press as well as members on the
floor that the Speaker frequently made a
lest Of the serious duty Il counting the
House on a division.
And ] think tho Speaker on this occa-
son NJ. Williams went on, thought that
he matter would be- treated jovially and
- a jest. Such conduct by the presiding
oficrr is but 10 destroy the very essence OF
representative government 10y denying 20
nne-hfth Of the members present their con-
sntutioRal right TO have the yeas and nays.
DTFllCI lthl III llt lutuEt lAb pTtCfutuJ
will lie more hOnored IN its breach than IN
rs Observance
nr. Muiams presented a resolution de-
cIaring that the action ~ the Speaker con
stltuted a breach Of the privileges OF the
House at Getting the safety, dignity and
integrity Of rs proceedings
Mr. Payne made the point that the reso-
luton presented no question Of privilege.
Speaker Cannon, begging the indulgence
~ tho House, made a statement In reply
'o that Of ar. Williams.
The niles Of the House" he said, were
made 10 he observed under normal condi-
tons. and exceptions 10 norma conditions
are stated in the rules themselves. IL Is q
the collection Of the chair that ever {
since the present occupant has filled the '
POSITION the Constitution has been faith {
tplly respected and the rules framed under
n, One Of the rules provides that no dila- '
tory motion shall be entertained by the a
speaker Now, what was the condition I
Obtaining on Saturday evening" (
speaker cannon then recited the events Of /
The fillhlster, under the officially expressed !
determination Of the leader Of tho minority I
q delay proceedings. a policy which he had :
pursued up TO within a few minutes OF the /
me the motion 10 ad Jeurn was made. The .
lair vas aware Of the constitutional right
4 the gentleman 10 demand the yeas and a
ravs, as vas the gentleman himself. But 4
FatChing carefully. the chair noted that he 4
dld not avail himself Of Il. and after a seven
rlur session, az half past Q O'Clock. upon the
cverW helming vote IN favor Of the motion 10
adjourn. the chair felt II TO be not only his
lght, but his duty. 70 hold the demand for a
division as dilatory and declare the House ;
dilOurned.' :