The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-04-18
Address Of Champ Clark,
ACCEPTING THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE


exceptional honor for which you
have my profoundest gratitude.
To be a Member of the House, to
represent 200, 600 American citi-
zens in the more numerous
branch of the greatest legislative
body on earth, is distinction to
which, in the nature Of things,
comparatively few men may at
tain. To be chosen by the Rep
reSentatiVes Of %, 600, 600 people
to preside over your deliberations
lisa signal mark of your favor,
for which the best return is to
discharge the onerous and impor-
tant duties Of the station to
which you have assigned me with
such importantly, constancy, in
dustry, courtesy, and good tenn
per as to expedite the public bust
ness, thereby promoting the
public veal.
The pleasure of being elected
Speaker is much enhanced by
the perfect unanimity with which
it is conferred by my party fel-
lows and the universal good will
with which it is accepted by our
colab1rers of the minority. Zap
planSc.
Coming into the Speakership
under these fortunate circum-
stances, the hearty cooperation
of all Members of whatever po-
litical persuasion is hereby car
nestly invoked in maintaining
order and decorum and in placing
upon the statute books laws for
the good of the country, and
the whole country working
out promptly, patiently, cour-
ageously, wisely and patriotical-
~ those measures necessary for
the betterment Of governmental
methods and for the amelioratton
of the conditions under which we
live. lApplauscl
My Democratic brethren cou-
pied with the JOY of once more
seeing House a large majority
Of which is of my own political
faith is a keen sense Of our re-
sponsibility to our country and
our kind. 1t is an old adage
worthy of acccptation that
where much is given much is
required.
After 16 years of exclusion
from power in the House and Ia
years of eXclusi, n from power in
every department of government
we arc restored to power in the
Ho use of Representatives and in
that alone. We are this day put
upon trial, and the duty devcl-
opes upon us to demonstrate not
so much by fine phrases as by
good works, that we are worthy
of the confidence imposed in us
by the voters Of the land, and
that we arc also worthy of their
wider confidence. Applause on
the Democratic side. We could
not if we would, and we would
not if VIC could, escape this
severe test. We will not shirk
our duty. We shrink not from
the responsibility. That we will
prove equal to the situation in
which we find ourselves placed
through our own efforts and by
our own desires there can be no
doubt, and the way to accom-
plish that is to fulfill with cour-
age, intelligence, and patriotism
the promises made before the
election in order to win the cleo
ton. Applause on the Demo
cratic side. BY discharging our
duty thoroughly and well, sub
ordinating personal desire TO
principle and personal ambition
TO an exalted love of country, we
will not only receive the indorsc-
mcnto of the people, but, what is
far better, VIC will deserve their
Endorsement.
Chief among these promises
were:
T. An honest. intelligent rcvi-
sion Of the tariff downward. i'm
order to give every American
citizen an equal chance i'm the
race Of lif,,.and to pampcr none
by special favor or special privi-
lego; to reduce the cost of living
by cradicating the cuormitics
and crJcItics Of the present tariff
. 1 Al