The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-18

With quiet once more restored HI
would again recognize the fiery insur
gent engaged in berating him.. .J
Several times he called regular
Republicans to the chair and walked
into the corridor for a few moment:
or mingled with the throng of mem
bers in front of the speakers desk.
Cannon Gets shave.
Later in the evening he went to the
restaurant on the floor below and
while the imprisoned speeches of the
latter part of the evening were being
delivered the speaker reclined in a bar
hrs chair in the house shop and quiet
" enjoyed a shave and massage.
Then he returned to the house and
watched the proceedings until the
time came when he demanded a
chance to answer accusations of Rep
resentative Cooper.
Uncle Joe" was in his room all
night, now and then coming
out in the house. where Repre-
sentative Dalzell held the chair. He
seemed unperturbed by all the warfare
going on about his head.
Underlying all the events and hilar-
ity of the night was an exceedingly
serious vein. This appeared especially
when Representative Norris, at $40,
proposed an adjustment until noon.
They had exemplified the principal for
which they stood. he said. and here
they were in the dawn, after sleep
less night, wearing themselves out
fruitlessly. while the men they were
fighting were getting a good nights
sleep.
Mr.. James CKy) made an eloquent
protest against any concession to per-
sonal comfort which would tend to
detract from the impressivenes of the
object lessons which they were giving
to the public of devotion to the public
business while the Republican regulars
were deliberately absent in the pursu-
ance of a conspiracy to prevent a
quorum
Quorum Held Essential.
About $50 a. m. there was a hot
debate about the possibility of ap-
pointing a new sergeant at arms or
other officers necessary to bring in the
absent members. 1t was the general
opinion that the sergeant at arms and
his deputies were making no sincere
effort to find the missing Republicans.
Mr.. Dalzell, in the chair, ruled that
less to appoint any additional officers
of the house.
The Democrats contended that the
appointment of additional officers neces-
sential part of the powers conferred
upon less than a quorum by the
constitution of the United States and
the rules of the house. There was a
long wrangle about this and finally
Representative Hardwick (Dem., Ga.)
moved the appointment of a temporary
assistant sergeant-a alarms, with au-
thority to employ additional assistance
to bring In the missing representatives.
The chair ruled the motion out of Or
der but on appeal was overruled with
shout. The same procedure was gone
through with upon a motion that the
newly appointed officers be equipped
with new warrants
Then the new officers went out to
look for the missing Republicans.
This affair took on a somewhat diff
ferent aspect, however. when Speaker
Cannon himself, came on the scene.
This was about a. m.
Uncle Joe Got Mad.
Mr.. Burleson of Texas demanded Of
the speaker whether he had signed the
new warrants 'as ordered by this
house"
Uncle Joe's" voice quivered with
bang of the gavel:
THE chair declines to be catechised
by the gentleman from Texas"
This defiance by the speaker struck
sparks all over the ROOM Mr.. Burle-
sons face was verv red and his voice
too shook with passion as he said:
With all respect to the speaker of
this house, am 1 to understand that
the speaker declines to obey the man
date OF this house? Have not these
" Warrants been issued?"
Warrants were issued" shouted the
speaker. Under the rules, for summon
ing Oh 6dch OF the a0Sento6S.
Il mean the warrants ordered by this
house to be given to Joe Sinnot, who
was appointed by this house special
e assistant ergeGnt-at-arms," persisted
Mr.. Burleson-
The chair has no knowledge of any
tcrtcd the speaker, with scornful DELHI
Grafton
81 submit the speaker is as much
bound" shouted the Texan, ''to carry
10 will Of xx-h
is rot a quorum as when there is
quorum
Everybody CooIs on.
Then followed a lively interchange.
in by MeSsrs. Underwood
of Alabama, Olmstead of Pennsylvan-
Ia. James of Kentucky. and the speak
er, the latter evidently Suppressing
his emotions with much difficulty.
The end of it was the speaker re-
fused to recognize the authority of
less than a quorum to Issue any war
rants for anybody.
LESS than quorum has no powers
in this respect save those conferred
upon it by the rules. Such a warrant
as that requested
The speaker carefully emphasized the
word ''requested''-"by the gentleman
from Texas and the members less than
q quorum would be null and void and
would be no protection to Mr.. Joe Sim
he may be.
THE speaker will hesitate long be-
fore performing a ministerial duty I'M
der the rules otherwise than prescrib-
ed by the rules"
The spcaked then modified his ag-
gressive tone. and continued, remark
irg that the long night vigil had evil
IDENTIFY led certain members to be some
what careless in the use of language
and to cast suspicion upon faithful en-
ployes. -a--
''I have never known a quorum to
oy-lx
or before daybreak.'' he said.
BY this time the heat noticeably
cooled; there was some desuItory ar
gument, but everybody seemed to lose