New-York tribune., 1911-02-12
MANY Vigorous Democratic Asprants Are Already Train
ing for the Post, and E. J. Lampson and d. Z.
Award the Republican Incumbents Are Drill
ing Them in the Technique of the job

n OMEWHERE in the United States
there are two men with powerful
~ voices and ironclad lungs. with
knowledge Of parliamentary law and an all
around acquaintance with affairs OF the
day whose stars Of destiny are fioatins
slowly toward the city of Washington
Before the next Congress, over which a
Democratic Speaker. will preside. is well
on its way toward serious business, these
two men viii be installed in the most eX-
acting posts in the American Congress-the
rtadirg cerkships OF the House. 1t Is not
unlikely that the men who first step into
the places that are 10 be vacated by the
veteran Republican readers will temporarily
break down under the severe strain, but
before the Democratic Congress is a year
old the reading clerks will be seasoned and
their met,le tested.
The race for the places has already start
ed IN Washington. II is strange contest
that has been organized, right under the
eyes and ears Of the members Of the House
There are several entries already training
more Of them will appear before Congress
adjourns. On March 4; and when the new
Congress meets there will probably be an
Interesting scramble FOR the places
Members Of the House who had sat for
years under the heavy artillery fire Of E. j.
Lampso- and Dennis Z. Award, the Re
publican reading clerks, came rushing from
cltakrooms and corridors the other DAY
when a new voice. rich with Southern IN
toiation. burst through the humdrum pro
ceedings Of the lower body Of Congress. A
rCllcal, was in progress. Usually rollcail
is g most prosaic affair-to every one out
the lecther-lunged. steel-throated reading
clerk-ard the members gossip Throughout
its drea-v course and answer at the right
time, hy intuition or because the clerk
looks az them.
On this eventful day. however, new
note sounded through the house; new
voice calling out names that members
failed completely to recognize as their own.
II brought 20 the realization Of the Repuo-
leans the fact that the old order of things
was already beginning TO change, and that
the Democrats. with wise foresghtedness,
were calling up their machinery TO see that
It was in good running order
Every red-blooded Democrat in America
who possesses a voice that will reach 70
the edge Of a crowd of fifteen thousand
persons az a campaign rally believes he
can III satisfactorily the most trying post
in the gift OF the Democratic Congress.
Fortified by long experience, the leaders OF
Congress know that about 90 per cent OF
these men are mistaken in their belief. and
the contest that has been started In the
historic hall of the House Of Representa-
uves is 70 sift out the few good men and
prepare them for the final trials next win
ter
II IS no wonder that the deep Southern
voice which rolled across the House two
weeks ago as the first signal OF the contest
ksayec havoc with the first rollcall in
'>asted 10 its owner Imagine being thrust
INTO the busy proceedings Of an active day
IN the House and forced TO call with clock
work regularity and with precise attention
10 the answers:
Mr.. Boehne."
Mr.. Booher"
Mr.. Borland"
Mr.. Boutell"
Mr.. Bowers"
Mr.. Brantley"
Mr.. Broussard"
Or 10 call out at random. without slip:
Mr.. Dickinson. OF Missouri"
Mr.. Dickson. Of Mississippi"
Mr.. Diekema"
"Mr Dies"
These are actual samples taken at ran