The Washington herald., 1909-01-19

IN the House Of Representatives yes
terday William Willett. jr-. Of New York,
got wen under way in q speech extraor-
dinary for its cutting humor and in
tense bitterness in describing the career
and character Of Theodore Roosevelt
II was '-On the passing Of Roosevelt
that NI- WiIlett wished 10 comment ex-
tensively. as that is the title that he
himself put upon the printed form OF his
speech. The speech was remarkable in
other ways. and at times the comments
and descriptions OF Mr.. WIlett seemed
abusive, although he maintained snil-
ing calm in uttering them
From the. start there were signs Of dis
comfort among the membership OF the
House because Of the acute personal na-
ture Of the attack upon the President,
and as AIr. Wiuett advanced this feature
of his criticisms became more pro-
nounced. Objections were raised 10 the
continuation Of the speech, which was
not really in order, but the House. be-
ing IN Committee OF the Whole. which
gives members pretty wide latitude in
airing their views. the member frSm New
York had been INDUCED Up 10 this time
A move viii be made by the Republi-
cans to-day TO have the speech expUnged
from the records.
Mr. Hughes Objects.
3Ir. WnIett had gained the floor to ex-
press the sentiments which. he said.
would have actuated him in voting 70
lay on the table the objectionable Ian
guage OF President RCOsevelts Secret
Service message had circumstances per
mltted him 10 be present when the vote
was taken Before he had spoken FIVE
minutes Mr. Hughes. Of West Virginia,
endeavo-eG 10 take him on the floor
with the point OF order that he vas not
speaking 20 the subject under considera-
ZION. which was the general pension bin
The gentleman Is going out OF MS
way TO Witty the President Of the United
States" 1lr. Hughes remarked
4Ir Butler. OF Pennsylvania, in the
chair. directed attention 70 a decision
OF the committee Of last Saturday. which
admitted general debate, each speech
limited 10 an hour, and he he'd that l.
was unnecessary for Mr.. Willett 20 speak
70 the question. The gentleman from
New York was directed 20 proceed.
Warned Mr. WiIIett.
In very few minutes, Chairman But
Ter warned .rlr. Willett that he must not
speak offensiTely OF the President Of the
United States. Ar Hughes again raised
his point Of order and declared the re-
marks Of the gentleman from New York
should be expunsed from the Record
The chairman declared he would ex-
anime the speech as It appeared in The
first print Of the Record and determine
then whether parts Of II should be
stricken out
Mr. Willett h1d another running start
when he was interrupted by Mr.. Card
ner, Of Massachusetts. L was the follow
ing passage that stirred Mr. Gardner.
and it was at this point that Mr.. VIII
let's remarks were snapped of:
Jealousy you can read IN the gar
goyle's distorted features.
You look on those twisted lines and
Il Is easy, on, so easy, 20 understand the
insolence toward Dewey. the one great
figure Of the Spanish-Americsn war, the
hero who took Manila with the worst
ships 3 rotten bureaucracy could find fo-
him: the persistent defamation OF Ad-
miral Schley-
Mr. Gardner Interrupts
I make the point Of order that the re-
marks Of the gentleman are out OF OF
der" said Mr. Gardner.
TO what portion Of the remarks Is
the point OF order directed2' asked
Chairman Butler,
Where the gentleman spoke Of the per-
slstent defamation Of Admiral Schley by
the President answered Mr.. Gardner
viii the gentleman from New York
kindly repeat that remark?' inquired the
chairman.
THE gentleman from Massachusetts
should know 10 what he takes exception,
1Ir- WiIIett responded.
The Chair prefers to take the gentle
mans own statement said the chair
man.
IN view Of other remarks Of the gen
tleman in referring 10 the President,
then observed Chairman Butler stern
iy. ''the Chair thinks the remark decid-
edly out OF order.
A motion was made that Mr.. Willett be
allowed 10 proceed IN order, but the
privilege was denied him by vote OF the
committees TO 126.
Mr. WiIIetf's Speech.
Mr.. Chairman, We strong-hewed and
keen-hgured Americans are q people
patient 70 the point OF pestflence, negli-
gent 10 the point OF nausea. self-conf-
dent 20 the very border OF slavery, and
saved from pestilence, nausea, and slav-
cry alike only By a universal sense OF
humor which mocks at microbes, scorns
siekening smells, and touches with q
carnival ticker the tyrants threatening
lips IN the very nick OF time" said Mr..
Willett IN beginning his speech.
ITO such q people. II must be confessed
q Chief Magistrate. who has himself no
sense OF humOr, moving ike horse ted
der over the hay field Of American activi-
ties, stirring up every drying blade OF
once green grass 10 let Il fall drier than
before. Quarreling one day with the
practical politicians, then with the part
your ur-hair-in-the-niddle reformers, then
with the socialists, then with the great
industrial corporations. wrestling in
agony Of spirit with Noah Webster and
our glorious English tongue, taking q
fsIl out Of nature takers, exhorting our
women 10 avoid race suicide-cannot be
an unmixed nuisance.
He PLAYS the tyrant, 10 be sure, bu;
he IS q tyrant who fears the carnival
ticker
He tries our patience, but he IS al
ways gOOd-tO laugh at
''The beginnings Of the mammoth
jocularity which has driven dun care
away for nlere than seven years, the
imposing gargOyle gTinning above the en-
trance 70 our national temple Of place
and power, have a hunaor I'll their own.
a cowboy in his youth, he has never
altogether grown out Of that
An unimaginable assemblyman with
preposteroUs notions IN his early man.
hood