The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-12-08
BIG CROWD PRESENT TO WIT
NESS BEGINNING OF END"
UNCLE JOE UNPERTURBED
Many Members and Employees Enter
ing on Their Last Service, But
Democrats May Retain Blind
Chaplain.
By (. 3, CLARK.

Washington, d. G. Thousands or
persons thronged the capitol at the
pening of congress, and II their
thoughts could be read 1t probably
would be found that most OF them
we're drawn to witness the prelimi-
nary proceedings by a desire to be in
'at the beginning Of the end" for be
it known that as soon as this shor
session is over the control OF the
house passes from the Republicans
into the hands of the Democrats.
Opening day in congress always
draws a 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 TO see how men take defeat was
responsible in large part for the over
flowing attendance today.
Speaker Cannon looks at the Repub-
lican majority, which sits at his left
and understands with a 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. There is a fair attend
ance of representatives at the open
ing and this is somewhat remarkable
because so many of the Republican
members went down to defeat at the
early November election. When mem
bers are defeated beyond much hope
of a future change of fortune, they
are inclined to delay their arrivals in
Washington, and when they do get
there they are zone too apt to be
punctual in their attendance.
Speaker Cannon Is Undismayed.
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 resounding
whack and his smile for Democratic
i~nterrupters is as grim as ever it
was. The blind chaplain of the
houo's ANVNs MI. >OuuChg y Oh at
the opening without showing visible
evidence that his position as spir-
itual director of the lower chamber il
in danger. The Democrats 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 Democrats take
charge of the Offices and of the legis-
lation in the lower house.
Some time ago the house passed a
rule that thereafter there should be
no flowers displayed on the desks,
except in case of the death OF a mem
Der. at which time the usual floral
tribute of mourning should be depos-
tied on the desk of the dead in token
of remembrance. Admitting friends
sent no flowers to the lower
house of congress. One Republican
said, having in mind the defeat of
his party, that flowers on the occasion
would be more fitting for a funeral
than for a feast.
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.
Little Work on Opening Day.
On the opening day in congress lit
tie work is performed. 1t is not until
after the presidents message is read
and certain committee arrangements
have been made that the house settles
down to its winters task. The sen
ate generally has some continuing
business to occupy 1t from the open.
ing hour, but at this last session
there is a disposition to take things
comparatively easy.
Nearly all the officers of the house
OF 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 Eaany
years. will depart in March. Asher
c. Kinds. the parliamentarian. who
knows the rules and presidents bet
ter than any other man, will leave
his place at the speakers side to take
a seat as a member of the house, fol
he recently was elected to congress