The Washington times., 1910-12-05
Democratic Enthusiasm,
Restrained for Years,
Given Vent in House

Democratic enthusiasm. which has not
had an excuse for expression for six
teen years, broke loose in the House of
Representatives TO-DAY with an abandon
that sent a thrill through the crowded
galleries.
The occasion was the opening of the
last session Of the Sixty-firSt Congress
and the first opportunity the Democratic
members OF the House have had to ex-
press the joy which has been bubblins
in their hearts since election day
There were many insurgents who
smilinsly refused 10 pay tribute to the
man whom they have been fighting re-
lentleSSly for two years. but there were
many members who went down 70 de-
feat because Of their loyalty to Uncle
joe who spplauded him quite as
heartily as did the standpatters, who
withStending their loyalty TO Cannon,
CannonisE, and the Payne-Aldrich
tariff law.
Note Of Sadness.
Joy on one side Of the House and
loyal welcome on the other was tinged
with sadness, for four desks draped
IN black crepe and covered with flow
eT.s We're visible reminders that four
men who had participated in the pro
ceedings Of the House upon the day Of
adjournment had been defeated in q
battle with death during the recess.
These four men were Representatives
TIrrel. Of Massachusetts BTOwnlOV, or
Tennessee: Gilmore, of louisiana and
EOuIkrOd. Of Pennsylvania Each Of
these men was On the floor OF the House
when Speaker Cannon last declared the
House adjourned without date. and
only one Of them, BrOwnlow was IN
III health at that time
Speaker Cannon. accustomed to demon
STATIONS OF all kinds, was not vfsIbIv
affected either 6v the loyalty OF his
friends or by the freuzicd enthusiasm
or his political enemies He waited
quietly, and with tvvinbJing eyes, ua-iI
the hands CT yhe clock pointed TO p and
right on the dot he sent his big ivory
gavel crashing &c the desk IN front of
him called the House TO order. and ask
ed the chaplain to offer prayer
End Near for Many.
As the Speaker looked out over the sea
Of faces In front OF him he could not
help but notice that some IF his most
intimate friends wouid occupy their
seats but three short months.
Prominent among these was Represen-
tative James A Tawnev of Minnesota
chairman Of the House Committee d
Appropriations. and one Of the really big
men in the House organization Mr..
and his popularity was attestsd BY tbs
fact that Democrats and Republicans
alike surrounded him 20 express regret
that he lad been defeated at the Re
publican primaries Dy IN insUrzen--
Near Tawney stood Representative
Henry Sherman BOutell OF Illinois, She
man who has sung the praises OF
Speaker Cannon early and late; the man
Presidency. and whose one great hope
was to see the squire OF Danviile elected
to that office
Back in his OLD seat and perhaps for
the last time, was the hero Of countless
battles-batJIes where shot and smell
raiued, and battles where the pToJecttI9s
eral Kfefer. once Speaker Of the House
Of Representatives, who came back
after he had been in retirement many
years, and who went down 20 defeat IN
The Democratic landslide on Novein-
Der S.
InsuTgent Array.
If the group OF lame ducks" natur-
aIIv drew to each other FOR consolation.
so also did a band of Republicans Of
another stripe group themselves TO talk
over the election
In this group could be seen the au-
burr hair Of Representative Victor Muir
dock, who was reelected without 2 con
test, and who talked insurgency from
the moment Congress adjourned last
June until election day
IN this ETOUp also was RepreSenNaLiVe
George W Norris Of Nebraska. who, his
friends believe, threw away q Senator
ship If order that he might remain IN
the House to continue his fight against
the rules Near by was representative
Fowler Of New Jersey, SiIG only out-and-
out insurgent VINO viii be among the
missing when the Sixty-second Congress
assemblies
Prominent in the group also was Rep
Tesentative Miles c. Poindexter. of
Washington, one Of the most uncOTnpro-
missing insurgents in the House, who,
on March 1 VIII transfer his activities
to the Senate
The New York State delegation pre-
Sented a formidable number of lame
ducks" among them being Representa-
tFv- Herbert Parsons and William S
Bennett, inSepar2ble companions, Jake
glcott. Farmer" Cocks the Roosevelt
representative J SIoat FaSsett De
Ava Alexander, and half a dozen
others.
There was nothing partisan about the
greeting given Speaker Cannon as he
came into the House chamber at L
o'clock.
Democrats IS well as Republicans
Joined in applause which was vigorous
and prolonged, and which continued
until the Speaker brought II 70 an Alb
----- 80 - the crash Of his gaveI.
Champ Clark. minority leader. was
DEATHS