Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1910-12-09
End SESSION OPENS
nrc CROWD ls PRESENT TO WIT.
NESS THE BEGINNING OF
THE END"
CANNON QUITE UNPERTuRBED
Many Members and Employees En-
terina Upon Their Last Service
but the. Democrats May Retain
Blind Chaplain.

Washington.-Thou Of per-
sons thronged the capitol at the open
ing of congress Monday, and II their
thoughts could be read 1t probably
would be found that most of them
were drawn to witness the preliminary
proceedings by a desire to be IN at
the beginning OF the end" for be II
known that as soon as this short ses-
sion is over the control OF the house
Of representatives passes from the Re-
publicans into the hands of the Demo-
Gratis.
Opening day in congress always
draws throng. but as a general thing
the crowds which gather at the begin.
ming of the first session when a new
congress takes hold are much larger
than those which come together to
witness the proceedings on the open
ing day OF the second session. Curl
osity perhaps to see how men take de-
feat was responsible in large part for
the overlooking attendance at the pres
ent opening.
Speaker Cannon looks at the Repub-
lican majority which sits at his left
and understands with resigned yet
painful fullness of knowledge. that IN
a short time a Democratic speaker
will have his place and will see sitting
at his left an overwhelming majority
Of Democrats.
Speaker Cannon shows no sign OF
discontinue in the defeat Of his party
and in his knowledge of the passing OF
personal power. His gavel comes down
with the same old resoun6ins whack
and his smile for Democratic inter
reupters Is as grim as ever 1t was. The
blind chaplain of the house. Rev. Mr..
Couden. prayed at the opening without
showing visible evidence that his own
position as spiritual director Of the
lower chamber is In danger. The Dem
ocrats like the chaplain. It is said. and
this feeling Of kindness. taken with
the fact that the clergyman has been
totally blind for many years. may save
him his chaplaincy when the Demo
Gratis take charge Of the offices and Of
the legislation in the lower house.
In the senate Vice.President Sher.
man occupies again the chair Of the
presiding officer. There are several
vacant seats in the. senate which at
the last session were occupied Three
members of the upper house recently
have died. There was a crowd in the
senate galleries, as there was in those
Of the house. The Republicans will
still control the senate after March 4.
but Notwithstanding this there are a
good many senators who are Just be-
ginning the last session Of their pres
ent service IN congress.
Nearly all the officers Of the house
# representatives.. except possibly the
chaplain. are entering on their last
few months Of service The veteran
clerk. Alexander Mcdowell. who has
been in the service for many years.
will DEPART in March. Asher C. Kinds.
The parliamentarian, who knows the
rules and precedents better than any
Nther man. will leave his place at the
speakers side to take seat as a
member Of the house. for he recently
was elected to congress from a Maine
district. Altogether. four or five hun
1red house employees will be affected
by the recent Democratic victory and
most Of them will be separated from
the service ... ~