New-York tribune., 1911-01-20
Clark Thanks Caucus.

.'i0c-si Of the yumoTs that some Of the
t... members are dissatisfied because they
... a.t to ~ recognized with some Of the
.aoce committee assignments, Mr.. Clark
ssurcd the eighty membership present
'hat they would have en- opportunity TO air
,Icr views il il took a week. Mr.. Clark's
.pcech OF acceptance was as follows:
From the bottom OF my heart I thank
sou FOR Your generous Endorsement for tho
nigh Office of Speaker Of the House of
representatives. ] shall cndeavCT 10 dis
..aIgo tbs dudes OF that great position
30 fairly. Justly and so impaTtiallE that
sou viii never nave cause TO regret what
on have just done.
This caucus was called for the purpose
ot selecting the Democratic contingent Of
I'" Ways JId Means Committee for the
t.u Congress in order to expedite tariff
legislation by securing as speedily as pos
-ih" t1a data on which 20 base a bill or
bills which we believe viii promote the
prosperity Of the whole country and give
new impetus 10 every Legitimate business
undertaking within the broad confines of
the Republic. The quicker our plans are
formulated and known the better for al
Each member OF the caucus should have
opportunity 10 express his opinion fully.
and whichever is done should he marked
Ey good nature. kindly forbearauCe and an
earnest desire TO be Of service to the party
aud fhc country. for we should never for
got that the best way TO serve our party
e ~ sow" Our country.
There was no objection 20 the resolution
ot Representative Henry, Of Texas. pre-
Scrbur the order Of business. II provided
that the caucus should first decide the
method Of selecting the standing commit
toes Of the next House. next. the chairman
Of the Ways and Means Committee and
finally. The selection Of thirteen other men,
hers of the Ways and Means Committee
Representative Foster, of Illinois started
the real work OF the caucus when he IN
troduced the following:
Resolved. That the rules Of the 62d Con-
srsSs shall prescribe that the standing
committees Of tho House shall be elected
Resolved. further That the majority
members of the Ways and Means Commit
tee elected by the caucus 90 serve as such
during the SD Congress are hereby author
ized 10 designate the majority members Of
thc standing committees OF the House,
heir action 90 be presented 20 the caucus
lor its ratification or rejection: and that
the majority members Of the Ways and
Means Committee shall be ineligible for
service upon any other committee.
No sooner had Mr.. Fuller taken his seat
t.an Representative Fitzgerald, of New
York. offered q substitute, which would
stnl leave in tho hands OF the Speaker the
selection II The House committees. The
Fitzgerald substitute, which Immediately
caused a heated debate, read
Resolved. That as the Democratic mem
oerS-eleCt Of the 82d Congress have IN
bounded confidence in The, ability, conf,
dcn.c, integrity. impsrtiality and sound
Democracy Of the Hon. Champ Clark, their
choice FOR Speaker and responsible leader
Do IS the sense OF this caucus that the COM
,,ittees ~ Tho egd Congress i'm accord Win
the unbroken policy Of the Democratic
party and the uniform practice of the
House since IT, formation. shan he ap-
pointed by the Speaker, subject 70 the ap-
lIovai Of The House. and that the Hon.
Champ clark be and ae hereby is en-
powered 10 designate the Democratic mem
and Means
when discussion o. the Fitzgerald resolu-
ton began the caucus vas swept of It's
iect by a speech from Mr.. Clark opposing
Although the resolution had expressed
confidence I'm the ability. integrity and i'm
paruaIIty" Of Mr Clark, and designated
rim 70 appoint all House committees,
privilege heretofore priced by every
Speaker. the prospective presiding officer OF
lie next House urged his friends 10 defeat
fi lJe said that the country expected the
Democrats 20 reform the appolntive com
,rHtee system. and that he believed IN the
method proposed by Repre- entativc Foster.
During the discussion which followed Mr.
lIark's speech IL was suggested that the
Democratic majority I'm the next House
rano as minority members Of the COM
nntoo the Republicans selected nv ;he
minority leader This was vigorously op-
..oseG by Representative James, Of Ken
lucky
We have been sighting Cannon and Can
.,rj,u1 fot long time" nc said, "and by
,Ai. Ian we would give Cannon If elected
, rority leader. the power 10 pack the COM
t,,,.s with his fricnds-the Very men
ea,n the co.mfv expected us 10 defend
u from
I'r.s .-r rod ,ho matter. alo it was agreed
,,., fnc RcrIhl'cau caucus %" instructed
to ,re,. ltg membership Oh committees and