Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-04-05
Champ Clark Elected Speaker
and Warns House Members
That Party Is On Trial Be-
fore the Nation
POLITICAL MANEUVERS
EARLY IN EVIDENCE
Bryan and Harmon, PfoSpec-
tive Presidential Candidates.
Leading Figures in Opening
Ceremonies,

IRv Morplng Journal Special Leased Wlrel
Washington, April 4.-The sixty
second congress met in extraordinary
session today. What the session viii
bring forth or when it will adjourn
were matters of conjecture here.
The democrats took possession oi
the house and put Champ Clark OF
Missouri in the speakers chair. In
his speech acceoting the honor ne
warned the democratic members that
the eyes of the country were upon
them; that the party was on trial ana
that it had an opportunity Tor the
first time i'm sixteen wears to prove
its worthness for a still higher eX-
preston Of confidence.
Throughout the day the shadow OF
the coming presidential fight hoVered
about the capital, and there is no
question but that maneuVers Tor po-
litical advantages will pay an I'M
portant part in the affairs of the
house and senate in the next lew
months.
William j. Bryan of Nebraska and
Governor Harmon of Ohio, were lead
Had Governor Woodrow Wilson been
present, the list of generally accepted
democratic presidential possibilities
would have been complete.
Senate Opening SeGate.
The senates opening was sedate, as
usual And while the leadership of
the upper branch remains in republi-
can hands, the change in the person
mel was almost as marked as in the
house. Aldricii, Hale, Beveridge and
others of both the regular and pro-
gressive factions were missed.
Presidents Message Today.
President Taft's message dealing
with Canadian reciprocity alone, will
be read in congress tomorrow.
The democrats OF the house, how
ever, have formulated an ambitious
program, which includes the revision
of schedules of the Payne-Aldrich
tariff laws.
Republican leaders Of the senate
have announced there shall be nc
tariff legislation. They declare they
are not alarmed at the threat of the
democrats to hold back reciprocity
until action is secured on tariff bills
Legislative Deadlock Predicted.
This difference promises soon to
bring the two branches into conflict
A legislative deadlock is predicted
and the length Of the sessions seems
to depend ON how long the democrat
ic house will lombard the republican
senate with general legislation bills.
From political standpoint it is
likely that one Of the most important
things the democratic house will dc
is to order an investigation of the
departments and branches of thr
government service. The democrats
claim there have been no such inves-
tigation for twenty years and that q
saving to the people will result.
The house session was devoted tc
the work of organization. The adop'
ton of new rules was put over until
tomorrow. The republicans Will
make their first fight on these. They
resent the action of the democrats In
increasing the membership of com
mittees without increasing the per
centage of minority representation.
Insurgents Turn Down Mann.
The republican isurgents in tht
house indicated their purpose to ac
independently by declining to vote fol
Mr.. Mann for speaker and by giving
er Of Wisconsin.
The insurgents gained a member
when Representative AIKEN of New
York, elected as an independents
democrat and heretofore carried OF
the democratic rolls, cast his lot Will
them and chose a seat on the repub
lican side.
Socialist sits With Republicans.
Representative Berger of Wiscon
sin, the only socialist In the house
voted present" in the speakershiI
balloting. He also chose a seat OF
the republican side.
The drawing of seats attracted in
tercst. Because Of their large ma
iorty II was necessary for thirt,
democrats to pre-empt a strip of seat
on the republican side.
-Four of these are committee chair
men. while four others are member
of the all-powerful committee oi
ways and means and some on com
riltces.
When the republicans found II ne
cogasry to invade the democratic sid
tha4ir action wes known as the "Chero
iee Astrip." Representative Burleson o
reNaas today chrlstened the demo
craticA section on the republican sid
the "TAanhandle."
The kninoritv leaders--Cannon, Hi
neis: Payne, New York. and Dalzell
eennsylvAnia, are seated in q groul
With Flook Leader Mann but a shor
dTfance a6vay Representative Muir
9ock of Kansas, radical insurgeni
chose seat once removed from MI
D1i1elfs. and lust back of Mr.. Payn
much 20 ih,s amusement Of the hous
members.
Srceiifcr Clark's Speech.
This day nnarked the opening of tn
trial OF the 4 ernocratic party to dem
onstrate ~ YNorthiness to receiv
the wtier coi iiidenee' Of the voter
Of the counirvt Asking his COLLEAGUE
TO Keep That faet uppermost In thei
minds during the present session o
congress, fnepresentatiye chaml