The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-03-15
JOE CANNON
E=ELECTED
Speaker of the House With
Champ Clark the Dem
ocratic Choice.
| ~ S u R 6 EN- is WIN
And the Rules Of the Lower
House Are 10 be
Amended Now

WASHINGTON, ID. q. Mar. 15-
Precisely at noon today the extraor-
.dinary session OF the sixtysfrst conz
gress called by the President for the
purpose OF enactlng tasitt legislation
began
As is always the case with the con-
yening OF a new congress, great
crowds were attracted 10 the capitol.
The Senate being continuous
body. its organization was complete,
although interest in tae days pro-
ceedings centered on the new xice4.
president, James sehoolcraft Sher-
man, and the swearing in OF Senator
Stephenson. of wisconsin.
Honse Organizing.
At the other end ot the capitol a
different situation was presented.
The House, with Its seyenty-sevenl
new members, had to organize. and
this consumed considerable time.
While this was being done, Clerk
Alexander Mcdowell acted as pre-
siding officer.
1t was necessary first OF ali, to-
swear in the entire membership. and
this was done BY states. This com
pleted the House entered upon the
work Of eleetfng asaReaket There
seemed 70 sbe no dor5te that, Canon
would be reelected despite the .un=
surgent" movement against him.
Aside from the question Of what
would be done with the rules the
greatest solIeltude upon the part Of
the members was concerning the out
come Of the ,bi-ennial lottery for
seats.
Champ Clark chosen. lf
At caucus OF the Democratic
members of the House Representa-
tive Champ Clark. of Missouri was
elected as the Democratic candidate
for speaker of the House. The only.
roll call taken showed 162 present
out of III Democratic members Of
the House.
Three or four belated members en-
tered the caucus after the roll call.
Several others were unable to be
present, probably having been delay
ed In reaching Washington by foods
in the Southwest.
The caucus adjourned until to-
night after adopting resolution
binding the Democratic members 10
support Champ Clark, In seeking an
enlargement of the rules committee
to fifteen members elective by the
House: "A resolution was declared
for thorough and complete reyls-
ion Of Of the rules of the House
There was no indication that nay
wide difference Of opinion developed
at the caucus.
Cannon Reelected.
Canon was reelected speaker of
the House receiving 2O4 votes:
Champ Clark 166: Cooper. of wis
consIn, 8; Esch, OF Wisconsin i:
Norris, of Nebraska, 2; and Hen
burn of Iowa, i.
1t was expected 169 Democrats
would BE present on the floor
Of the House, when the fight ON
the floor on the rules Of
the House begins. This would
make It necessary for the ".insue-
ents" to whip into line 25 Republi-
'san members to overcome the Repub-
llcan majority.
Senate Takes Recess.
When Clerk Mcdowell caIIad 4ba
House TO order scarcely a seat Was
vacant on the fioor. Following tbe
invocation and the reading Of the
Presidents proclamation the ron
was called by states. to ascertain the
presence Of a quorum.
The Senate was called TO order NJ
vice-President Sherman. ana I.asol:
lette presented the credentials Of his
colleague. Stephenson, Of Wisconsin.
and Stephenson took tae oath of ~
fee.
Aldrich and Money were appointed
committee to wait upOn the Presi-
dent to inform him the Senate was
ready to receive any message be