The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-20

was conveyed to the outside world by
yell from the house chamber where
the caucus sat, that echoed through
the empty Capitol and carried out as
far as the line of hacks that waited in
the plaza to carry affluent Democrats
back to their hotels.
Representative o. w. Underwood of
Alabama, long the lieutenant of Mr.
Clark. heads the new ways and means
committee, which Will take over much
power heretofore held by the speaker
The caucus developed considerable diff
ference of views as to the method of
selecting committees but when the time
came for voting, various resolutions
were voted down.
The Fitzgerald resolution to leave the
committees to the speakers selection
was defeated, 166 to 20. and the Foster
resolution placing that power in the
ways and means committee, carried by
166 to T.
Threatened Instruction was quietly
cloked to death before the caucus met.
In the afternoon REPRESENTATIVES. elect
Thayer of MaSsac huSettS, who first
sounded the toesin" in letter OF
warning to the naembers-elect, called
meeting at the Willard hotel to map
out the campaign.
four counting Mr.. Thayer. The rebel
lion was at once called off and the
rebels went into the caucus and sat on
eight absentees in the total of 22S Dem
ocrats on the caucus roll.
Three resolutions were introduced
providing for the method of selecting
committees. Representative Foster OF
Illinois proposed that the ways ana
means committee should also be com
rnittee on committees with power to
name the members.
Representative Fitzgerald of New
York offered a substitute leaving the
of
the speaker and Representative Cox Of
Ohio proposed that a committee on com
Inittees should be named by the state
delegations. each state having Demo-
cratic representation to name one MEM
Der.
Champ Clark stuck his head ont the
door of the caucus long enough to an
nounce that so far back as his memory
went he was the first Democrat to ever
be nominated unanimously by his
party for the speakership-
By Acclamation.
Clark was nominated by reclamation.
His name was presented by RepreSen-
tative Lloyd of Missouri, and there were
half dozen seconds. When Clark
mounted the platform to make his brief
speech the members sprang to their
feet and cheered for several minutes.
Clark said:
"My Fellow Democrats: From the
bottom of my heart I thank you for
your generous Endorsement for the
high Office of speaker of the house OF
repr esentatives. 1 shall endeavor to
discharge the duties of that great posi-
ton so fairly, so justly and i'm
partially that you will never have
cause to regret what You have JUS
done.
This caucus was caused for the
purpose of selecting the Democratic
contingent of the ways and means
committee of the Sixty-second con
gress in order to expedite tariff legis-
lation by obtaining as speedily as pos
sible the data on which to base a bill
or bills which we believe will promote
the prosperity of the whole country
and give new impetus to every legit
innate business undertaking within the
broad confines of the republic. TIT
quicker our plans are formulated ant
known the better for all concerned
Each member of the caucus Should
have opportunity to express his opin
ions fully, for in multitude of counse
there is wisdom. Benefits are to b'
d, lived from free and general inter
change of ideas. Time should be give1
for this even if the caucus extend:
through the entire week. The newes
member has as much right to exploi
his theories as the oldest. and he should
not be too bashful about it. Whateve
is done should be marked by gooC
nature, kindly forbearance and a.
earnest desire to be of service to tn