Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-10
MAGIC MACE OF CONGRESS.
compeIs WransIins soIons to Observe
the Peace.

/
When the blood of congress Is red
hot, and there are scenes Of wild dis
order on the floor of the house; when
expostulation and the speakers gavel
fail to quiet the tempest among the
representatives, there Is just one thing
left to do.
"Get the mace!" cries the speaker.
Instantly, as II by magic, while the
great mace is carried about the house,
the most obstreperous congressman
sinks into his seat.
You can almost hear q pin drop
way up in the visitors gallery. In
fact, the appearance of this symbol
of authority has never yet failed to
restore order.
Yet, there have been new members
of congress who for months have
never even noticed the elaborate cere-
mony of the mace that is enacted at
the opening of every days sitting, so
quietly 1t Is done. II you should
stand in the speakers lobby just be-
fore noon, this is what you would see
beneath the portraits Of former
Speakers, Blaine, Stevenson, Polk
Clay, Pennington, "Czar" Reed, and
the rest.
Congressman are passing through
the swinging doors. UP in the gallery,
for an hour or more, spectators have
been crowding in to get the choice
seats. In their two corners the pages
gossip in subdued tones. A newspa-
per man, perhaps, Is sketching con-
gressmen as they read at their desks,
while several others interview chair
men Of committees. A few constitu-
ents walk proudly on the floor, finger
ing in their pockets passes good for
that day until eleven-forty-five.
Just then the clerk very formally
requests artists, reporters, and visi-
tors to leave the floor. Slowly the
hands Of the clock approach each
other at noon. The blind chaplain
feels his way through the aisle.
And then, If you are looking toward
the east entrance, you will see page
with his hands tightly clasped about
massive, silver-bound, ebony stan,
coming from the office Of the SER
geant- alarms. Through the lobby
he walks and into the chamber, bear
ing the mace. Then he quietly de-
posits it by the side Of a pedestal OF
malachite near the speakers desk.
Uncle Joe" comes swinging In
from his room, climbs the steps to
his dais, and, If he happens to have
his famous cigar. lays it down care
fully, lighted end out, so as not even
to scorch the marble.
The speaker is punctual as the
clock. Just at the dot Of twelve he
seizes his gavel. AS it is poised aloft
an instant, the great mace is elevated
to its pedestal. Down comes the gavel
with a crash. "The house will be In
order!" says the speaker.
Instantly conversation stops. Con-
gress Is in session. The blind chaplain
feels his way through prayer as he
did down the aisle. With the Amen"
scarcely over, instantly pendemonium
breaks out again. The journal is read,
and no one pays any attention to that.
The days work has begun.
There the magic mace remains on
its pedestal until the house goes into
the committee of the whole. Then 1t
Is lowered, and remains lowered un-
til the committee rises. Again 1t is
elevated to it's pedestal.
After the session Is over the page
reverently bears it back to the Of
flee Of the sergeant-at-arms again
the symbol Of the authority and dig
nifty Of the representatives Of the peo-
pie of these United States in congress
assembled.
But that is not ALL If 1t were not
profane, one might suggest t. It the
chief office of the symbol a. those
times when the speaker has to say,
Get the mace!" Is much like the ef-
feet of "Get the hook!" on amateur
night at a popular theater.
Take, for instance, the latest oc-
casion when it was used, in February
of this year, the first time, as a mat