The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-18

means 70 much to them--which raises the question whether they are to be permitted to have the necessities of life. What did the Speaker dor He buttoned his coat tightly around him. waved his arms in few gestures, smiled courteously and questioned whether the people of the State of H. iinois know what they want and what 10 good for them. By intimation. if not In direct words. he doubted their sincerity. and suggested that petitions
 brought here with over 250,0o0 sigma lures simply confirmed the contention that the people could. under unwiss leadsrship. be brought to sign any thing. even to the extent of abandon ing their own interests.
 A committee consisting of Mrs. Na-
 than B. Lewis. President of the Cook County Women's Clubs; Mrs. E. M
 Henderson. Chairman of the state
 Federatio nof Women's Clubs of Iili- nois. with . membership of over so,- 900; Mrs. Freeman D. Brown, also president of woman's organization. and Miss Helen Norris, appointed at . mass meeting held In Chicago, reached Washington today with several dres. suit cases filled with petitions asking Congress to reduce the duties proposed In the Payne bill upon wearing ap- parel. especially hosiery and gloves.
 They appeared promptly at the Cap itoi. where, under the escort of Repre-. sentative Foss. they were conducted to the room of Speaker Cannon. Mir. Cannon, advised of their coming. had discarded his cigar. and was all smiles when they entered his room. Mrs. Lewis. a spokesman for the commit tee. explained the sentiment of the people of Chicago and of the State on the tariff question. The great collect ion of signed protests was placed be-
 fore the Speaker. With scarcely glance the Speaker gracIousIy waved
 himself raised. He fnsinuated that the signatures might be fraudulent Ad-
 hitting them genuine what consider-
 ation should be given? None at all
 The people often did not know what they wanted and frequently, imagining they did. they sought what would in
 the end prove injurious to their inter. ests. .
 MT. Cannon carefully selected his
 words A stenographic report of his re- ply to the committee does not convey the impression which his infection. gestures and emphasis gave his lam guage. He, discoursed at length upon the right of petition guaranteed to the people under the Consultation. The value of tho right he could not sever- estimate. and under no circumstances must that right be denied. It could be questioned, as he proceeded to demon l strate. Congress in iesislating should be actuated by the motive to do the greatest good to the greatest number Mir Cannon admitted, but who is to decide what will bring about that re- suit7 The Speakers lack of confidence in the ability of the people to determ- inc what Is best for them was sug. gested by frequent elevations of his shoulders with q spreading of his hands. He could not admit that the signers of the petitions which the com.
 mittee had placed before him should
 receive more consideration than the 2o. .ooo women in Philadelphia, em- ployes of mills. who, he understood. would petition Congress to maintain the Payne rates on hosiery and gloves that they might be given employment.