Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1910-03-24

and the platform. Such action, OF
course, begot criticism-which the
speaker does not deprecate-on the
part of the minority party.
Two Courses Open.
'The speaker cannot be unmindful
Of the fact, as evidenced by the pre-
vious elections to the speakership,
that, in the past he has enjoyed the
confidence of the republican party
of the country and of the republi-
can members of the house, but
through the assault upon the speak
er of the house, the minority, sup
called insurgents, constituting Is per
cent of the majority party in the
house is now in the majority and that
the speaker of the house is not in
harmony with the actual majority of
the house is evidenced by the vote
|tjust taken.
'There are two courses open for
the speaker to pursue-one is to re-
sign and permit the new combination
| of democrats and insurgents to
choose a speaker in harmony with
its aims and purposes. The other
is for that combination to declare a
vacancy in the Office of speaker and
proceed to the election of a new
speaker. After consideration at this
stage of the house with much i'm
portant legislation pending, involving
the pledges of the republican plat
form, and believing that his resig-
nation might consume weeks of time
in the reorganization of the house,
the speaker, being in harmony with
republican policies and desirous of
carrying them out, declines by own
motion, to precipitate contest upon
the election Of new speaker, a con-
test that might greatly endanger the
final passage of all legislation neces-
sary to redeem republican pledges
and fulfill republican promises.
This is one reason that the speak
er does not resign at once; and an
other reason is this: In the judgment
of the present speaker, resignation
is in itself, confession of weakness,
mistake or an apology for past ac-
ton. The speaker is not conscious
of having done any political wrong"
loud applause on the republican
side).
No New Power Sought.
The same rules are in force in
this house that have been in force for
two decades. The speaker has con-
strued the rules as he found them
and as they have been construed by
previous speakers from Thomas B.
Reeds incumbency down to the pres
ent time.
Heretofore the speaker has been
a member on the committee of rules
covering period of sixteen years,
and the present speaker has neither
sought new power not has he un-
justly used that already conferred up
on him.
''There has been much talk on the
part of the minority and the insur-
gents of the 'czarism' of the speak
er eliminating in the action taken
today. The real truth is that there
is no coherent republican majority
in the house of representatives"
jL0ud applause on the republican
side).
'''nn Therefore the real majority
ought to have the courage of it's con-
victions" applause on republican
side) and logically meet the situa-
ton that confronts it.
''The speaker believes, and always
has believed, that this IL a govern
ment through parties and that par
ties can act oAly through majorities.
The speaker has always believed in,
and Bowed to, the will Of the major
ity in convention, in caucus and IN
the legislative hall, and today pro-
foundly believes that to act other
wise is to disorganize parties, is to
prevent coherent action in any leg
islative body, is to make impossible
the reflection OF the wishes 0f the
people in statutes and lii laws.
Ready for Motion to Vacate
:"The speaker has always said that,
under the constitution, 1t is a ques-
tion Of highest privilege for an actual
majority Of the house at any time to
choose new Speaker. and again,
notifies the house that the speaker
will at this time, or at any other
time, while he remains speaker. en-
tertain, in conformity with, the high
est constitutional privilege q motion
BY any member to vacate the office
! ~ Tho crno T. q ro 1, y, a ~ AohonooSo nnw