The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-19
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To one who had not before seen a night
session Of the House OF Representatives
the scene Thursday night was interesting
and picturesque.
After a day Of illbustering and roll
calls. the members seen in their seats
when the hands of the clock pointed to
the wee small hours. looked more or less
wearied. Here and there was a member
taking a nap In hts chair. not daring 70
seek the couch in his Office for fear his
leader would need him. The lounges in
the cloak-rooms were all occupied by
weary Wiiiies, who were dragged into
the chamber to answer roIl-csll.
Some OF the members were logged out
In the conventional evening dress. having
been yanked from a brilliant gathering
to obey the summons OF their party
bosses. The galleries were filed with
gaping people. men and women, some Of
whom had been TO the theater IN the
early evening and others having been to
receptions and CARRIED In evening dress.
They stayed on listening 20 the fHbuster-
ing speeches-speeches for time-and the
humdrum roIl-calls.
The press gallery was well filed with
the newspaper men. on the alert, not
knowing when something would break
something that would make history. The
telegraph operators were on their Job,
waiting the call Of the boys OF the press.
The floor OF the House was Uttered with
papers and scraps of paper. And not
fha LEAST f7,,r,r,yfe uf ,,arsopae-, - - -.
ture was the Speaker. Standing. gavel in
his left hand, defiant, though vote after
vote had been recorded against him.
1t takes just twenty-five minutes to
make a roll call, the regular call, and the
second call, yet the audience waited
through It ell. The scene is a fair de-
scrtption Of the night session, when the
allies, the insurgents in the House and
the Democrats, were trying to pass a rule
depriying Speaker Cannon of a place on
the Committee on Rules. From ? O'Clock,
all through the afternoon and evening.
through the hours from midnight until
daybreak. on until o'clock the next day,
both factions were at their post fighting,
neither side giving an inch. The regulars
would move a recess or an adjournment.
A roll call would be ordered. only TO
prove the allies were still in the ma
jority.
Then some regular would take the floor
and talk, talk increasingly, hoping that
some stragglers would come-enough, per-
haps. to enable them to outvote the hated
allies. Wires were busy with c. @. D.
kilograms to members out OF the city.
Every incoming train was watched by
both sides Of the controversy for recruits
TO their cause. After twenty-four hours
or more of warfare. the regulars secured
enough converts. or had tired out enough
recalcitrants to see a majority for their
cause, and motion to take a recess was
carried.
The interim was still busy period, for
in that time the whips Of both factions
scurried here and there. whipping into
line their men for the renewal Of hostnI-
ties. The game old Speaker. Uncle Joe.
stood it until ? o'clock a. m. when he re-
tired, weary, but not defeated
Though he was gameIy fighting for his
political life and standing I'D TO the fir
ing line bravely, 1t was plain that the
struggle was telling on him. While the
and allies were struggling on the
floor Of the House for supremacy. the
proprietor OF the House restaurant was
to get food enough to strength
en- the warriors and the onlookers.
The larders were emptied more than
once, and in the early morning coffee and
fruit composed the bill of fare.
About 2:sO o'clock Friday morning, after
having been In attendance at the session
Of the House since noon Thursday. Rep
Nick Longworth was seen to
sneak out of the Capitol. Just before
passing through the door. another men,
Der OF the House hailed him:
Hey, where are you going. Nick?"
Going home" sullenly answered the
soD-in-law of the Strenuous One
Where win you be If we need your"
See here.' said Nick. when I get
away from this place, cont try to find
me, because I tell you now you won't
get me-"
A party whip is an important person.
age. but his lot is not a happy one He |
has to be constantly on his job-no |
sneaking away for the whip. The Re-
publican whip. Representative Dwight is |
a good one-a great big. handsome fei- |
low. quick OF action, and with a per-
suasive tongue He Is an apt successor |
to the former whip. Jim Watson, OF |
Indiana