Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-04-06
SESSION
!. READY FOR WORK
Democrats Organize House for First
Time IN is Years.
CHAMP CLARK THE NEW SPEAKER
James r. Mann--Not cannon--select-
cd by Republicans a. Their Floof
Leadsr--A Long Session
(. f1 Expected.

- IA
washington, April 4--In accordance
with the call Of President Taft CON
gress convened In extraordinary SEES
sion at noon. The house was called
to order by Alexander Mcdowell clerk
Of the last session.
For the first time in 16 years the
Democratic party finds itself in con.
troll by most decisive majority In
the lower house. One Of the first acts
was the election Of Champ Clark OF
Missouri, 40 speaker to succeed the
picturesque Cannon. All the world
was there to see. Democrats have
nocked into Washington during the
past two days from every section q
the country.
AS soon as the house was organised
the president was notified that con-
gress awaited any communication he
might wish to send.
The session has been called specin-
cally for the purpose Of giving effect
to the reciprocity agreement which
the president negotiated last January,
the best information obtainable at
the White house Is that President
Taft will deal with this matter alone
in his message which he will send to
the congress when he has been noti-
fed that the two bodies are organized
and ready to receive any communicaI
ton that be might have to make to
them.
spoke for the Democrats.
Next to this message the address
of Champ Clark on assuming the
speakership was the most important
Hutterance Of the day. Mr.. Clark is
essentially a presidential candidate
But that aside for the present by rea-
son Of the post for which he has
been chosen, he speaks for the great
body Of victorious Democrats-he
sounded the party keynote for the
special session laying down the lines
marking out the course.
The presidents message will urge
the enactment Of the reciprocity pact.
But by this act in summOping con-
gress into extra session he has flung
wide open the doors for legislation
and the Democratic party, with its
promises Of is years strewn over the
political battlefields Of that period,
has been quick to seize its opportu-
nifty and bills have already been
framed TO reduce the tariff on wool,
cotton and the other articles Of cloth
ing and food that enter into the COM
mon life Of the masses Of people.
No Waiting for Tariff Board.
The president is on record as hav-
ing declared that the tarif revision
ought to wait until the tariff board
has presented the facts on which 70
base a revision Of the schedules. the
Democratic position Is that for 10
years the party has urged the cleo
torate to elect q Democratic congress
which would revise the tariff and re-
duce the cost OF living. II after 10
years Of promising the party should
now turn and ask few months more
time in which to prepare for that
which they have already proclaimed
A readiness to do, the leaders hold
that they would be placing their party
IN a ridiculous and untenable position
before the nation. Therefore the
tariff revision viii proceed. schedule
by schedule at the extra session ana
the senate first, and after that Presi'
dent Taft will be left to decide whetn.
er the verdict Of last November shan
be given the effect Of law.
statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico is promised for this session
as is also the resolution providing lor
amending the constitution whereby
United states senators may be elected
BY popular vote. :.
1t is believed that reciprocity WIZ
he passed but whether alone or as a
man Of one Of the bills revising :
schedule Of the tariff. has not ye'
been settled BY the Democratic lead
era. -.
with the program ahead the lead
ers insist that it viii be septemoel
before the work Of the session 4
oomniefed.