Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-07
JOHNSON THREATENS
CANNON WITH BRICK
ON FLOOR OF HOUSE
Kentucky Member Threatens
Lively Tilt When He Was
Not Recognized Promptly
by Speaker

meet President Taft; Senator Bailey OF
Texas. handing In his resignation. and
Representative Johnson, of Kentucky.
threatening Speaker Cannon with brick,
the 61st congress adjourned today.
Within an hour after adjournment
President Taft called the sd congress
to convene IN extraordinary session
April l.
Not in the memory Of the Oldest veter-
an IN either body have such scenes been
enacted around the capitol. It was nee
essary at one point to threaten the en-
tire Democratic side Of the house With
arrest.
UNDER THE MACE"
Under the mace" This did no good.
The minority, individually and collect
lively, showed little respect for the ga
cred symbol OF the authority of the bo1y-
The violent scenes continued.
The house employees, including the
guards at the doors of the Chambers.
stared wide-eyed and agape at the I'm
precedented picture, and while they meg
iected their duty, hundreds of specEa-
tors crowded past them and IN on iha
usually inviolate floor. Men and women
fought for places in the rear and around
the side of the chamber, Jostling one an
other and crowding the Representatives.
who were too interested to take exception
to the invasion, which at any other time
would have been bitterly and actively
resented, in turn remained spellbound by
the incidents that occurred within kinet-
oscopic rapidity within the chamber.
TARIFF BILL DROPPED.
Finally, when 1t was apparent that the
Democratic filibuster against the tariff
board bin had progressed to point
where the postoffice appropriation bill
was about to fail OF passage, rendering
an extra session necessary, Canadian
reciprocity, the Republican leaders Yield
ed and the administrations pet meas
ure was thrown overheard to save tbs
day.
means committee. asked unanimous con-
sent that it might withdraw. and Amid
deafening cheers from the victorious
Democrats. gloomy silence from the Re-
publican side, the bill was consigned to
the legislative ash heap.
Then the postoffice appropriation bill
was finally passed, and the house, with
one of those quick transitions of Mood
for which that body Is famous. proceed-
ed. by unanimous consent, to pass a res
olution thanking Speaker Cannon for
the manner IN which be had preSl 5ea
lover the house. With a kindly speech
by Speaker-to-be Champ Clark. a rising
salute to Speaker Cannon and round
OF crushing cheers for the veteran DAN
WIG WdTIlCT, TIE uISL man 10 6eTNEs~oH
years In the and the second to Isre-
side as speaker for eight years. the
house adjourned.
After a sequel OF thrills which have
followed each other more rapidly and
more Unexpectedly and more jarring1y
than at the close OF any previous sIes-
sion Of congress. the senate completed
its labors at 1918 o'clock this afternoon.
SUNDAY BILL PASSES.
MT until half an borrv hafora 4l,o -. -
OF Vice-President Sherman fell did the
members OF the senate know that the
biggest OF the annual appropriation bills.
the sundry civil bill, would go through.
And up to the very minute the confer
ence report on that measure was agreed
to in the senate practically every menu
Der was on pins and needles as to the
fate OF several Of the big appropriation
bills.
The last "a hours OF the session in the
senate proved fitting climax for the
last week OF the session. The week be-
gan with the hIibuster OF the insurftent
senators, together with a handful Of
the Republican regulars and another
group OF Democrats, against a vote on
the Lorimer case, resulting IN an all
night session. A compromise on the
Lorimer filibuster, made possible by the
strength taxing and wearying struggle
through q night and a day, only led
another hlibuster, that OF the Democrats
on the tariff board bill. Another trying
ordeal for all warning factions followed.
And again a compromise was reached.
It was then desired to save the apIro-
priation bills.
No sooner had ne tariff board an
buster come to an end when another
against the appropriation measures
doomed upon the horizon. Many OF the
biggest and most important Of the an
nual supply measures were hanging IN
the balance Bills like the sundry civil.
the general deficiency measures
SUPPLY BILLS FINALLY PASSED
Tediously did the senate try to wand
its way through the legislative maze.
and 1t was nerve-racking work. There
was a relenting OF the filibuster against
the supply bills as the hours wore on.
And finally they were pushed through at
less than "a hours before the closing OF
the session.
violent session OF the most violent
house"
Even this IS an inadequate description
Of tho scenes in the house of representa-
tives today, according to members and
clerks Of the body whose recollectiOns
cover a period OF 80 years. After D
continuous session OF nearly twenty
members, frazzled their nerves and
strained their tempers TO the breaking
point. the wind up was. in a way, in
evitable.
Precipitated by determined Derau-
cratic flibuster against the administers
tions-desired permanent tariff board
bill. the riot in the house in the concllld-
ing hours passed all bounds of parlia-
mentary decorum. broke all precederts
and established record for violence and
disorder that, it is the general hope, will
stand undisturbed for all the years to
come.
The most distressing Of all the
incidents of the day in the house
was admittedly the colIoquy be-
tween the speaker and Representa-
tive Johnson, of Kentucky It was
at the conclusion of a roll call, during
the coure of which the Democratic side
purposely created so much confusion
that there was great delay and the voice
of the clerk calling the names of mem
bers could hardly be heard Mr. John
son sought to have his name recorded
insisting that he had been skipped, and
the speaker delayed recognition of him.
Purposely, Mr.. Johnson thought.
IF you were a younger man I'd hltrl
a brick at you," yelled Johnson, saw
agely. standing Immediately in front or