The Colorado statesman., 1911-04-29
He Outwitted the Speaker

For some time after he came to
congress Judge Belford was silent,
being disposed to familiarize himself
with the proceedings Of the house. At
last he began to rise regularly In his
place soon after the session began
each noon and call in a booming
voice: "Mr. Speaker. Mr.. Speaker!
Soon the regularity with which Judge
Belford arose and bawled "Mr. Speak
er!" was a recognized incident OF the
house. and one which occasioned
much merriment.
But cry aloud as he might, Judge
Belford failed to catch Speaker J.
Warren Keifer's eye for weeks; and
when finally he did gain recognition
of the chair the manner In which he
did SO was published far and wide.
But-the explanation of how Judge
Belford came to employ the ruse that
led to his being recognized has NTH
erto remained unpublished. had the
story direct from Judge Belford few
days after he had been recognized.
That was a very skillful ruse you
employed to compel the speaker to
recognize you." said to the Colorado
congressman.
After the first few times / had
failed to catch his eye, made up my
mind that would call Mr.. Speaker!
every day until the end of congress
II had to, in order to gain recogni-
tion," said Judge Belford. IL felt sure
that soner or later l would catch the
speakers ear and eye. 1t was getting
to be a somewhat tiresome repetition.
however. and finally asked a friend
what else l could do to gain my OBJ
ject.
His answer was that If I wanted
to be recognized I should go to the
speaker before a session began and
get him to promise to recognize me.
else the speaker would see congress
men all about and around me with
out once seeing me. But l answered
that I'd be hanged If I'd go on my
knees to the speaker and beg as
privilege what I should have as
right.
Then my friend suggested that the
next time called 'Mr. Speaker! /
announce at the same time that I
rose to a question of personal privi-
lege; then the speaker would be COM
PEELED, under the rules of the house.
to recognize me.
We'll, that suggestion tick1ed me, :,
SO next morning Just after the session |
had begun / called out. as yor know,
at the top of my voice, Mr.. Speaker.
rise to question of personal privi-
lege' That fetched him at once; he
had to ask me what the question of
personal privilege was.
Right there l came pretty near to
being foored, for / hadn't prepared
myself with any question of personal
privilege. For a moment or two l
didn't know for the life of me what
to say, but l got my wits back as
quickly as they had gone, and
shouted: Mr.. Speaker. since l have
been a member of this house l have
annexed everything bad and
indifferent-there Is in Washington
excepting the speakers eye. Now. I
ask for an explanation of why that
alone has escaped me-
81 knew the next instant that had
triumphed. Everybody in the house
shouted with laughter; the speaker
himself could hardly maintain
grave appearance. I stood there wait
ing for the merriment TO subside, and
when 1t was over the speaker said:
The chair recognizes the gentleman
from Colorado There was great ap-
piause. Then l offered my little reso-
luton and took my seat"
After he retired from congress
Judge Belford became member of
the highest court OF Colorado. and
died some two years ago. greatly re-
spected.
Copyright. 1910, by e. J. Edwards All
Rights Reserved