The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-04

reclamation OF the Democrats on the
floor and In the balconies was with
out bounds.
| Since March 4, 1895, when Chas. II.
| Crisp, OF Georgia laid aside the gayel.
there had been no Democrat In the
speakers chair.
over on the senate OF the house
OF government there had been large
shrinkage I'm the Republican majority
but no change In party control and
so there was no demonstration TO mar
the dignity of the opening ceremonies.
Holdover senators were almost dazec
| by the number of strange men
In their midst, mostly unknown
and unsung political warriors, appear
ing as successors OF battle-scarred
veterans who had bossed the senate
| for years.
On the dot OF twelve. gavel taps at
both ends OF the capital signaled for
order and the special session was
under way. President Taft had mob
ilized the statesmen TO get action on
| his reciprocity trade agreement with
| Canada, which was passed by the last
house but neatly smothered by the
senate.
|
reach the subject by-and-by and, In
| the meantime, will try their hands at
a revision OF features of the Payne
| wool. Schedule X, will be their first
offering. Predictions OF members, as
10 the length of the session range In
time from July TO SeOtember
Interest conferred in the house be-
cause OF the turnover In control Men
were willing TO give high prices for
the privilege of seeing Uncle joe
| Cannon with the minority on the
| floor and the valiant Missourian, with
the national flag as a background and
| the terrible mace at this side, referee
| the doings in the pit.
Women, radiant in the bright hues
OF spring fnery, composed at least
half the audience. Diplomats filled
itheir reservation and President Taft,
| 1t was shown. had invited guests to
the capacity OF the gallery placed
under his control by the house.
Alex Mcdowell, clerk OF the last
| house, directed the reading OF Presi-
dent Tafts proclamation calling the
special session. Then the roll was
| called alphabetically by states TO
record the names OF the members
present. Word passed among the
| members that 127 substitute names
| for those Of members present at the
session that opened last December
appeared on the roll
Then came the great event OF the
| day, the election Of the speaker. or
course. the result was not In doubt
| but the realization that In a few min
utes they would see Champ Clark s
giant form passing up the marble
| steps TO the speakers station keyed
| members and spectators to state OF
excitement. Clark was modestly alb
sent during the ceremony, but is was
proved later that he was not far
away.
Mcdowell named Democrat and a
Republican as tellers and they took
| their places at the clerks desk. Each
| member, as his name was called, an
| nounced the name OF his choice for
speaker The Democrats piled up
their majority for Clark and a roar
Of approval rumbled through the long
corridors OF the cauitol.
A committee was appointed to noti-
| fly the Missouri leader OF the honor
given him. The committee accom-
! plished the task in few minutes and
when they returned the new speaker,
smiling and happy, was greeted with
another burst Of applause.
Clark made a speech expressing
his deep appreciation OF the honor
and his realization of the responsible
ity devolving upon him. He took the
oath OF Office and proceeded in turn
to administer II to the members. They
were called In groups to the clear
space between the seats and the
clerks desk and with appraised hands
subscribed to the oath as pronounc-
ed by the speaker.
There followed the election of the
clerk, sergeant-at-arms, the dookkeep-
er and postmaster of the house.
The clerk was ordered to notify the
president and the senate that the
house had completed its organization.
A committee was appointed to act
form the president that congress was
ready to receive any communication
he might bepleased TO make.
A resolution adopting IL o'clock as
the time for daily meeting was
adopted.
| A report was submitted by Chair
man Henry (Dem., Tex, of the COM
mittee on rules.
Proceedings differed somewhat Ill
the senate, II being continuing
body. That is, one-third OF the mem
bers retire or are elected every two
years, but two-thirds OF the member
ship are full-fedged with authority
and qualified for business at the be.
| ginning of new congress.
With Aldrich, Hale, Kean, Scott,
Burrows, Carter and others OF the
Standpat leaders, missing the atten-
dance on. the floor presented an al
most startling scene TO those familiar
with the senate OF recent years. There
was no Aldrich TO direct the proceed
ings. Progressives, with their increas-
ed numbers and prestige, showed a
serene and contented mood
Vice-President Sherman. ruddy, with
the glow of health, wellgroomed, as
usual. and also with faring carna,
| ton on the lapel of his coat as usual,
stepped into the chamber at one min
ute to twelve as sedately as though
there had been no break In the SEES
sion. He announced prayer by the
chaplain and when that was over the
clerk was directed TO read the Presi
dents proclamation calling the ex-
traordinary session.