The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-05
LAYING PIPES FOR
COMING YEARS.
STRUGGLE
Was Chief Feature of Opening
of Congress Yesterday
SPEAKER CHAMP CLARK
In His Speech Made a Political ~
peal to Country instead Of Talk
ing Session Business

Washington, April AT noon to-
ivory gavel in the north wing OF the
capitol and the whack of Clerk Nc
Dowell's heavy mallet in the south
end announced the converting of the
extraordinary session of the Sixty-sec-
ond Congress. called by President
Taft to consider the Canadian recipro-
city agreement For the first time
in sixteen years the House met TO
| obey a Democratic majority and sit
under a Democratic speaker, while
the coming in of seventeen new Sena-
tors, twelve of whom are Democrats,
showed that the political cyclone had
! done its work in both branches OF
congress. For the first time Social
list took his seat in the House-Victor
L. Berger of Milwaukee.
The days business in both houses,
while important as sgnposts of
change, came calmly. as confirmation
of what has long been expected and
foretold. The House without delay
proceeded to the election of a speak
err, and Champ Clark was chosen by
the strict party vote of PIT, against
scattering Republican vote of 14S OF
the Republicans, 131 voted for James
Mann, regular, of Illinois, who be-
| conac uoinovftx, laodar. tb. 14bo, 80.
enteen votes went sixteen to Mr.
Cooper of Wisconsin and one to Mr..
Norris of Nebraska, both insurgents.
The most important event on the
Senate side was the Republican eau
Gus, but everything agreed on in ad-
vance was adopted unanimously in
accordance with the program outlin.
ed by the insurgents and the regulars.
This means that the insurgents will
have one fourth of the majority pla.
ces on all important committees. and
will have their own say as to which
insurgents get the particular commit
tee assignments. Mr. Cullom of III
inois was unanimously elected chair.
man of the caucus, and Mr.. Curtin of
Kansas was elected Secretary. The
important committee on committees
and the Steering committee will be
announced by the chairman in two
days
That is all routine, but the fact
stands out clearly that the opening Of
the session today marked She formal
opening of the presidential campaign
of the summer of 1912. The presi-
dent has called the houses together
for the technical reason that he is
pledged to obtain Congressional sane
ton for the Canadian reciprocity
agreement, if possible But from the
e presidents own side of the case the
/ real significance of the session will
be in whether or not he can make
good with enough of his legislative
= program to start him we'll on the way
B. to reelection.
' This phase Of the sessions signi6
l canoe stands out with especial clear
3 ness in the House. There the Demo
Gratis will have their first chance in
+ decade and half to try their hands
( at constructive craftsmanship and
3 every wise move they make viii
t shove Champ Clark a step nearer the
presidency for which he is all but al
/ avowed candidate If the House un
= der Mr. Clarks speakership makes
e good legislative record it is certain
n that Mr.. Clark will go to the Demo
S cratic National convention in 1871.
n with a powerful, If not an overwhelm
ing, delegation at his back. He will
e have the full support of the Bryal
d wing of the party, and his nationa
e game will go far toward overshadow
# ing other Democrats at present fairl
e prominent.
: That the new speaker realizes tina
n his elevation to his present post 1
70 but step in the direction he want
IF to move was indicated clearly in hi
st speech of acceptance this morninl
Of He pledged himself briefly to impal
ID tial rulings and then branched on
t. into a political speech, based on tn
n promises Of the Democratic party 70
ss the coming session. chief anon
is which was downward revision of tn
lie tariff, election of United States Sci
ators by popular VOTE changes in tn