The Meeker herald., 1911-07-01


This stentorian command. followed
by series of closely applied thumps
of the gravel, may be heard once or
twice during almost any afternoon
session OF the House Of Representa-
tives. 1t is Uncle Champ and not
Uncle Joe who delivers it. The
gavel blows are far more decisive
than those we used to hear and the
direction that the House will "stay
in order" is new-and likewise efiec-
tive. No one but the brawny Miss
ourian has ever predicted success
fully what the House would do even
in the next moment.
Speaker Clark is not the least bit
savage as he silences the chattering
solons. His manner can only be said
to be extremely firm and his Ian
guage vigorous. Said manner and
language bring results, for as the
Speaker drops his massive frame
back into his chair and lays down
the gavel while debate proceeds,
there actually is some effort OIL the
part of most gentlemen on the floor
to modulate their cOnversati IL a
tones or retire to the cloak rooms
with their private discussions.
Speaker Clark, in a general way,
may be said to typify the firm yet
graceful grasp of the House which
the Democratic party has accom-
plished in two short months. Out of
practice at House engineering for
sixteen years, the Democrats were
looked upon with some misgiving as
they came into power in the lower
branch of the Legislature, especially
by those Republicans whose knuc-
kles had to be raped smartly to
cause them to let go. No Speaker
ever slid into his seat with more ease
and gathered his composure more
quickly than Champ Clark, and no
newly-elected party Of congressman
ever took up the reins of power with
as little hub-bub and unostentatiOn,
nor showed greater intelligence when
it came to knowing what to do.
The extra session Of congress, call
ed to pass the Canadian reciprocity
bill, is not yet eleven weeks old, yet
the unctious Undergood is as conf
pletely and effectively chairman Of
the Ways and Means committee as
any great tariff maker In the con-
gressionai history of the United
States. Serene Payne, the former
ckeirman. and co-framer Of the
Payne-Aldrich bill, sits across the
aisle, a private In the ranks. Fitz-
gerald OF New York is showing q
grasp of the work in the Appropria-
tion Committee that threatens to
outdo in results the toll Of his pre-
decessors-Tawney and Cannon-for
years the bulldogs Of the Treasury.
Robert L. Henry of Texas, the chair
man of the Committee on Rules;
Henry d. Clayton, the Judiciary
Committee chairman; William Sui
ger Of New York, the head Of the
Committee on Foreign A airs;
Kitchin of North Carolina; Cullop Of
Indiana; Hughes of New Jersey /;
Hay of Virginia; James of Ken
lucky; Palmer of Pennsylvania. and
dozen other intellectual young
giants who served their hovitiate in
the House while Republican rule
thrived, are continually in evidence
on the floor. Backed by scores of
other willing workers, just entered
for long careers in the House, they
are handling the committees with
surprising skill, presiding over the
committee of the whole with suav
ity and cleverness that fairly as
tounds the RepublicansLnow be-
come the minority-and pushing for
ward legislation in firm but fair
way that is already making the
House of the 62nd Congress a record
breaker for wise action.
1t is scarcely eleven weeks since
April 4, yet the House has consider
ed and passed the Canadian reciproc-
ity bill, the bill for the publicity of
campaign contributions before as
we'll as after election, the resolution
for the direct election of senators,
the bill placing many Of the neces-
saries OF life on the free list and n
resolution ratifying the constitutions
of the proposed new states Arizona
and New Mexico. One after another,
these timely and beneficial bits of
Legislation have beeu taken up and
sent forward to the Republican SEN
ate, where the log jun grows heavier
day by day and where after two
months of session the Canadian bill
has just been taken up. 1t is a rec
ord OF which the Democrats may well
be proud. And they are still adding
tn it for the Underwood wool reYi-