The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-04-05
CHAMP CLARK
NOW SPEAKER
House of Representatives Demo-
cratic for the First Time in
Sixteen Long Years
ALI. WERE PRESENT
BUT WOODROW WILSON
The Great Missourian in Patriotic
Speech Accepts Speakership
Representing 90, 900, 1000
Americans

WASHINGTON, D. c. April A.
The Sixty-second congress met in ex-
traordinary session today. What the
session will bring forth, or when It
will adjourn are matters for conjiec-
'ture. Democrats took possession of
the speakers chair. In his speech Of
acceptance he warned the democrats
that the eyes of the whole country
are on them; that the party is on trial
and that it has the opportunity, for the
first time in 16 years, to prove its
worthiness for still higher express
sion Of confidence. Throughout the
day the shadow of the coming presi-
Dental fight lowered about the capt.
tol and there is no question but
maneuvers for political advantage
will play an important part in the
affairs Of the house.
All Present But Wilson
Had Governor Woodrow Wilson
been present, the list of generally &C.
cepted democratic presidential pos
sibilities would have been complete.
1t is likely one of the most import
ant thing the democratic house will
do will be to order an investigation
Of the departments and other
government service.
Democrats Gain there has been no
such investigation for 20 years and
that saving to the people will result.
The house session was devoted to
the work of organization. The re-
publicans will make their first fight n
these. They recent the action of the
democrats in increasing the member
ship Of the committees without in
,creasing the per centage of minority
representation.
Republican insurgents in the house
indicated their purpose to act IN
dependently by declining to vote for
Mann for speaker and by giving their
support to Cooper of Wisconsin.
The senate's opening was as sedate
as usual. While the lee Iership of the
upper branch remaiIs in republican
hands the change in the personnel is
almost as marked as in the house.
Aldrich, Hale. Beveridge and others,
both regular and progressive. were
among the missing.
In the House
This day marked the opening of the
trial of the democratic party to
demonstrate its worthiness to receive
"the wider confidence" of the voters
Of the country. Asking his colleagues
to keep that fact uppermost in their
minds during the present session OF
congress-, Representative Champ
Clark of Missouri, in his speech ac-
oepting the speakership Of the house,
to-day outlined the measures through
which the democratic party hopes to
continue to enjoy the faith of the
people.
Intelligent revision of the tartn,
changes in the house rules to permit
preper consideration of house meas
lres: economy in handling the purse
strings of the country. the publication
Ct campaign contributions and the
early admissio Of New Mexico and
Arizona to statehood were some of
the things which Speaker Clark en-
phasized in the democratic program
as measures which would be under
taken by the majority party.
The Speech
ELECTION to the high position of
speaker is an honor for which you
have my profoundest gratitude. 70
be a member of the house, to repre-
sent 100000 American citizens in the
more numerous branch of the great
est legislative body in the world l.
an honor comparatively few men may
attain.
ITO be chosen by the represe nta-
tives of 100000 people to preside
over their deliberations is sigma
mark of your favor for which the
best return is to discharge the oner-
Gus duties of the station to which
you have assigned. me with such i'm
partially, constancy, industry, cour
tesy and good temper as to expedite
the public business, thereby promot'
ing the public veal. The pleasure
of being elected speaker is much en-
HANGED today by the perfect unanim
ity with which it is conferred by oul
party fellows and the universal goo,
will with which it is accepted by oul
co-laborers of the minority.
Cooperation Invoked
Coming into the speakershii
under these fortunate circumstances
the hearty cooperation of all mem
bers of whatever persuasion is earnest
ly invoked in maintaining order ant
decorum and in placing upon the sta
tute books laws for the good of tn
country. and the whole country
working out promptly, patiently
ceurageously, wisely and periodically
those measures necessary for the bet
terment of governmental methods an
for the amelioration of the condition
under which we live.
my democratic brethren, couple
with the joy of once more seeing
house, large majority of which /
Of my own political faith, is a kee
sense of our responsibility to GU