The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-04
The Expiring National House
Drops Into Music.
ALI Night Session Productive OF
Little Business.
UNCLE JOE ON THE JOB
Ever Alert He Ranges Between
the LObbies and His Desk.
Many Say Farewell and Will Not
Come Back.

washington, March 4.-Joseph q.
Cannon Of Danville. ILL.,, ushered in his
last day as speaker of the Republican
mouse with ringing declaration of
his vigor and alertness.
All night the speaker had ranged
through tie house chamber Hobbies,
sitting for time at the CLERKS desl
to sign bills that had been passed. nok-
ing fun at members who had gone to
sleep on the lounges and in chairs and
taking an occasional turn at sitting in
his place in the speakers chair. He
was there little after O'Clock when
chairman Tawney of the appropria-
ton committee arose to ask for a fur
ther conference on the sundry civil
appropriation bill
Mr. Speaker" began Mr.. Taw-
ney, -"
1.-The speaker is asleep., said some
member aside to Tawney The figure
action.
The speaker is not asleep" he
shouted: The speaker is very much
awake" and his gavel struck the desk
with an emphasis that brought men
tumbllng off the lounges in the cloak
rooms.
1t was a night of some business,
much talk and general farewellS
among the members of the house. The
storm of oratory turned loose an hour
or two before midnight spent itself by
2 O'Clock. when Representative Rainey
or Illinois, wont to turn his shafts upon
the law breaking trusts of the coun-
try. poured forth an eloquent mem
orial to the Irish patriot, Robert
Emmet
Singing Begins.
Some one in the back of the house
started the strains of "Suwanee
River, and in few moments the
members We're gathered in the open
space in front of the speakers desk,
barking back to school days and en-
deavoring to remember the words, and
plck out the parts of Aunt Dinah's
sa's in the Cold, Cold Ground" and
other old favorites
Vice President Sherman wandered
down the main aisle of the house
when the singing was at it's height
His appearance among his old asso-
ciates was the signal for a rush from
all parts of the hall.
"A message from the senate"
shouted Representative Olcott of New
York. Speech, Speech" came from
various quarters. When the vice
president showed no intention of
transgressing the already badly brok-
en- rules of the house, an enthusiastic
voice struck up, He's a Jolly Good
Fellow" and the crowd sang it with
lusty voices.
Actual business was at a standstiH
in the house until 3 o'clock. Repre-
sentative Leonidas F. Livingston of
Georgia, defeated for reelection, was
called forth as one of the few remain
ing confederate soldiers in congress
and bade farewell to his associates af-
ter 20 years of service in the house
Representative Ralph d. Cole, of
Ohio, likewise a defeated member was
hailed before the house in evening
clothes and protested that the reason
for his defeat was that every school
boy in Ohio began life with the idea
of coming to congress. At o'clock
the house took up the postoffice ap-
preparation bill reported from the con-
ference committee and from that time
business held attention until $40
when a recess was taken to 7:15.
Speaker Cannon held his ground
throughout the night practically with
out a rest. Occasionally he would
steal into his room nearby for few
minutes repose but his absences were
short. A story became current early
in the morning after Vice President
Sherman's visit to the house that
Speaker Cannon had made bet of
to 1 with a fellow member that there
would be no extra session.
well, there seem to be all sorts
| of rumors afloat tonight" said the
speaker later when members asked
| for information