Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-04-06
Democratic Enthusiasm Over
flowed and Much Was Doing.
MEETING or RIVAL LEADERS
Bryan Of Nebraska and Harmon of
Ohio Face TO Face-Scene When
Champ Clark Took the
Speakers Chair.

Washington, April 5. = eve Demo
Gratis Of the house are just like chill
dren," said one Of them after adjourn
ment. "The Democratic landslide oc-
Cured last November, it has been
known for months that Champ Clark
would be speaker, the committees
have been named, the rules promul-
gated and today's cut and dried pro
gram discounted long in advance, and
yet when all the Anticipated good
things came true, when the string Was
cut, the box opened and the candy lay
in plain view, we performed like In
dams and scared up genuine enthusf-
asm.
And this same member, his voice
hoarse from yelling and his fingers
still gripping the American flag that
he, in common with every one Of his
colleagues, had waved wildly when the
serene Champ was sworn in, walked
away shaking his head Over the puZ-
Zle. The scene and incidents in the
house were reminiscent of a DemOcra-
tic convention.
The wide smiles and jovial shouts,
the hand striking and b~ackslapping,
the crowded, chattering galleries, with
the presidents wife and the notables
dividing the ~incessant attack of eyes
and glass and the sudden and irresisti-
BILE rush of ticketless and disappointed
visitors past the protesting guards and
dOorkeepers and in on the supposedly
sacred foor-all this made a scene
which is only surpassed in the tense
hour Immediately preceding the choice
Of a national standard bearer and par
ty chief.
An interesting incident in the house
before the body was called to order
was the meeting of William ]. Bryan
and Governor hudson Harmon. These
two distinguished Democrats have
been in Washington for several days,
stopping at the same hotel and dis
playing no marked desire to get to-
gether, but they met in the center
aisle on the Democratic side, put out
their hands simultaneously, shook
long and hard, and smilingly chatted
amid the uproar.
For uproar there was when the two
men came together. Uncle Joe, grin
ming from ear to ear, jumped from his
seat and led the applause on the Re-
publican side. The Democrats, sever
al of whom still retain the belief that
the peerless leader IS the greatest
man who ever stepped into boot
leather, did not need any n to start
them. After the enthusiasm had
abated in some degree Mr.. Bryan and
Governor Harmon took positions about
six feet apart in the aisle while most
of the Democrats or hand filed by and
gave them greetings.
When Champ Clark was elected to
the speakership there was a perfect
storm of applause. Then Messrs.
Mann, Underwood of Alabama. and
Vreeland of New York, were appoint
ed a committee to wait Upon Speaker
Clark, tell him what had happened and
escorted him to the chair. Mr.. Mann
waited until the triumphant host
stopped yelling to catch it's breath and
raped busily for order.
"The s~peakership is a great office"
he said, land filled by a great man.
Gentlemen, l present to you your
speaker, the Hon. Champ Clark of Mis-
souri,"
Speaker Clark grabbed his gavel, a
new one with an engraved silver plate
that some admirers sent him, raped
a couple of times, secured a reason
able reduction in the racket and
started ahead with his speech outlin-
ing the policy and purposes of the
Democrats.