The Elbert County tribune., 1911-07-21

their hearts feeling of antagonism to the pol
icies for which their lips were asking support
II has been held that the proceedings OF con-
gress during the last eight years have been more
interesting from purely popular point OF view
than the proceedings of any other congress since
the time prior to the great Civil war. Durlng
the Roosevelt and Taft administrations there has
been an opportunity to watch from the press gal
lery the actions and the manners OF men supposed
to be representatives Of the American typo as 1t
IL known to the world.
Congressman are intensely human creatures
At the outset Of their congressional careers there
is apt to be sort of constraint about them, but
this wears off and the proceedings In either hall
Of the capitol, although they have to do ordinarily
with matters of great moment to the people, run
along very much do the proceedings in town
meeting into which partsanship jealousies. human
interests, selfshness and generosity and in fact
the whole collection OF human excellencies and
human failings enter. The proceedings in con-
Rress and even the personal nterchangeD between
the members have perhaps az interest which Is
above that pertaining to all other American de-
Lucrative bodies because congress In a way is
the court of last legislative resort and there the
laws made and unmade and there is at stake
the good OF the masses
few OF the men who have figured in the de-
bates OF the last few years have died. some of
them have been promoted from one house to an
other and some OF them have been denoted to
private life. but their names are known to the
people.
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi who has
just entered the senate of the United States,
during part OF the Roosevelt administration a
house leader of the Democrats and, some
has called him the reprover and adviser of the
Republicans. Mr. Williams is picturesque man.
1t is perhaps needless to say that the Repub-
licans never followed the gratuitous and gravely
given advice of the Yazoo statesman. but they
paid passing heed TO 1t because. from their view
point, of the very sublimity of the impertinence
of the thing. II good-natured impertinence,
however, ironical in substance and In manner. and
dod tn fbo urladp NJ fba1 1o,,g a
bates.
Mr.. Williams position adviser in chief for
the party across the aisle reminded one of nothing
30 much as of the course of certain great news
paper which for years excoriated Grover Cleve-
land editorially Mondays Wednesdays and
Fridays, while on Tuesdays. Thursdays and Satur-
days 1t gave the same amount of space to the
telling of Mr.. Cleveland what he must do to save
the country. Sunday was the day of peace.
II Mr.. Williams name were not written in the
record and il It did not appear in the directory and
on the framework of his congressional desk one
third of 1t speedily would be lost to sight and
memory for Democrats and Republicans and the
Washington populace without the walls of the
capitol hail him to his face and speak of him
behind his back John Sharp.
Had 1t not been for Mr.. Williams year
gress would have adjourned before June was tread
ing upon the heels of July. Some of the Republ
can chieftans in the house muttered things that
savored suspiciously OF mprecations at the course
OF the Mississippian. but each Republican chief
5ority reversed and with Legislation circumstances
similar. he would have acted did the Democrat
OF the Yazoo district
The statehood bill was in conference and there
appeared to be earthly chance that the
ferees would make report for weeks The Re-
publican members esenting the house the
committee were holding out against the senate
members in the hope Of getting concession on
the matter of the admission of Arizona and New
Mexico state The Democrats of the house
desired that the bill should stand the senate
passed 1t. and they did not approve OF what they
called the tiring-out process which they said
in working progress in the conference COM
mittee room.
Democratic Leader Williams therefore, largely
upon his initiative. decided that he would
try to force a report. AS a result he raised the
point of quorum in the house upon every pos
sible occasion. and this led to tedious and time
losing roll calls II was given out fatty that Mr..
Williams would cease his obstructive tactics the
instant the statehood report made, but Speak
Cannon and those whose hearts and souls were
in the statehood fight as party matter preferred
TO lose the time and to listen to the droning tones
of the roll call clerk rather than to surrender.
Day after day Mr. Cannon would mount to his
seat, would look the chamber and noting
the absence OF a quorum would look anxously
in the direction of the Democratic leader. The
relentless Williams would raise his point, and leg
slation would be blocked. One day when there
ptiably small attendance the speaker
counted a quorum.
How did you make out?" queried Mr.. Williams
Il counted In blocks of ten said Mr. Cannon,
and business went on. but the counting game.
which Improvement the Indiana blocks
of five system checked the next. day by the
alert Mississippian.
Leader Williams had an eye to the propretes.
1t was he who brought to melodramatc close- a
controversy between Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa and
Mr. Cooper of Wisconsin which apparently was
tending toward tragic finale. Mr.. williams had
left his the Democratic side to mingle
with the Republicans who had gathered about the
irate Iowan and the wrathy Wsconsinite.