The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-15
Missouri Congressman Nomi.
mated by Democrat Caucus
As Candidate for Speaker of
the National House.
HE MAKES A SPEECH
Urging His Supporters to Pre-.
sent United Front.
Sees Prospects of Coming Vic
tories for the Party.

Washington, March 15.-The caucus
of the Democratic members of the
house on rules, the speakership and
tariff. began shortly after 10 O'Clock
this morning. There were a number of
absentees, probably due TO floods inter-
fering with travel in the southwest
Representative Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, was chosen Democratic candidate
| for speaker.
Roll call showed 1872 present out of III
Democratic members of the house.
Mr. Clark addressed the caucus as
| follows: Mr.. Chairman and fellow
Democrats:
} Last December the Democratic con-
gressmen elected me minority leader
| by unanimous vote. A moment age
you unanimously nominated me for
| speaker. For these f1attering evidences
| of your confidence and esteem I am
deeply grateful
| In the last days OF the Sixtieth con-
gress we won some notable victories
astonishing victories when we remem-
ber that there was a Republican ma
| jorIty of fifty-seven in that house.
I'VE achieved those triumphs by
standing together and fighting togeth-
| er. We can in the present congress
win more victories, more easily because
there is now a majority of only forty
| seven against us.
1--WE must stick together in order to
do our duty. The country expects us to
stick together and fight together.
I'VE must remember that to a very
| large extent we have in our keeping the
immediate future of the Democratic
party. Recent events have demonstrat-
ed that the Republicans are disorgan-
lied, disgruntled and at logger heads
generally. Let us close up our ranks,
present a solid front and demonstrate
to the world that we are worthy of the
high vocation wherein we are called"
When the caucus met there was no
indication of any wide difference of
opinion regarding the action that would
be taken, nor was there any evidence
of bolt The members of the Georgia
delegation who had prepared set of
resolutions proposing TO bind the Re
publican insurgents. fc vote against Mr..
Cannon for speaker. Ito favor free de-
bate and unrestricted amendment to
the tariff BILL and to favor the adop-
ton of a new set of rules, offered a
resolution proposing that each and ev-
cry Democratic member of the house
present at the caucus should be bound
by its action.
Representative Henry, of Texas, pre-
sided during the selection of officers
which resulted in the reelection of
Representative Clayton of Alabama as
chairman and he will nominate Mr..
Clark for speaker of the house this af-
Arkansas, was elected secretary. Rep
resentative Underwood of Alabama, was
recognized by the chairman to present
his resolution which pledged the mem
bers to support the Democratic leader
''in his efforts to overthrow the present
arbitrary rules of the house and adopt
rules that will enable the majority of
the representatives in congress to leg
islate.
ITO accomplish that end. we favor the
enlargement of the number of the mem
bers on the rules committee of is to be
elected by the members of the house
z11fA
revision of the rules of the house,
The resolution also declared that we
denounce the present rules of the house
of representatives as machine intend
ed to thwart and destroy the represen-
tative character of the house and to
enable the speaker of the house to alb
solutely control legislation regardless
of the will of the majority