Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-04-28
He Outwitted the Speaker

For some time after he came TO
congress Judge Bedford was silent.
being disposed to familiarize himself
with the proceedings Of the house. AT
last he began to rtse regularly in his
place soon after the session began
each noon and call IN a booming
voice: "AEr. Speaker. Mr.. Speaker"
Soon the regularity with which Judge
Belford arose and bawled Mr.. Speak
err was a recognized incident Of the
fouse, and one which occasioned
much merriment.
But cry aloud as he might. Judge
Belford failed to catch Speaker ].
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 hith-
erto remained unpublished. had the
story direct from Judge Bedford few
days after he had been recognized.
That WAS q 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 I would call Mr.. Speaker!'
every day until the end of congress
IL had to, in order to gain recogni-
tion." said Judge Bedford 81 felt sure
that soner or later / would catch the
speakers ear and eye. II was getting
to be a somewhat tiresome repetition.
however. and finally asked a friend
what else l could do to gain my OBJ
iect
His answer Was that II I wanted
to be recognized l should go to the
speaker before q 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 I answered
that I'd be hanged II I'd go on my
knees to the speaker and beg as q
privilege what / should have as a
right
Then my friend suggested that the
next time / called Mr.. Speaker l
announce at the same time that !
rose to & question OF personal privt-
iege; then the speaker would be com
PEELED. under the rules OF the house,
to recognize me.
Well that suggestion tickIed me,
so next morning Just after the session
had begun | called out, as you know.
at the top OF my voice. Mr.. Speaker.
rise to q 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 fioored. for hadn't prepared
myself with any question Of personal
| privilege. For a moment or two |
didn't know for the life OF me what
to say. but I got my wits back as
quickly as they had gone, and I
| shouted: Mr.. Speaker. since I have
been a member OF this house I have
annexed everything good. bad and
| ndifterent-there is In Washington
excepting the speakers eye. Now,
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 q
grave appearance. I stood there wait
/ ing for the merriment to subs!de. and
when II was over the speaker said
/ The chair recognizes the gentleman
from Colorado There was grea, sp-
4 plause Then offered my little reso-
luton and took my seat"
After he retired from congress
Judge Belford became a member OF
I ,he highest court Of Colorado. and
died some two Eesrs ago. greatly -
/ s-Qcted.
/ copyright. 1910. b. & ) Edwards Ar
Rights GsNsrved