The Washington herald., 1911-01-20

hS<'o Va SAic ovSuue, oASSE INC A1OusAs~
ton Of Mr.. Clark to be Speaker. to the
determination Of the method of selecting
House committees and to the selection OF
a chairman and membership Of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means.
As soon as the caucus had been called
to order. Representative Lloyd. OF MIS-
souri,. was recognized to place Champ
Clark in nomination for the office OF
Speaker. Mr.. Clark is a favortte with
the Democratic members.
Rebel Yell Resounds.
Mr.. Lloyd had no sooner mentioned his
name than the multitude broke forth in
applause. the rebel yell rising sharp and
piercing above the din. Mr.. Clark's nom-
nation was seconded by Representatives
Sulzer. Of New York; Pou. Of North Caro-
lima: Adamson. Of Georgia; Boehne, OF
Indiana and Talbot, Of Maryland.
Representative Ansberry took occasion
at this point to boost Judson Harmon
for the Democratic Presidential nomina-
ton. He announced, speaking very earn
estly, that in the party convention OF
1872 Ohio would present the name of
Gov. Harmon. of Ohio, for first honors.
Three Democrats applauded Mr.. Ans
berry. and all others present frowned.
They regarded it as an unseemly pro-
ceeding to drag Presidential politics in
to caucus called for the sole purpose
Of devising ways and means for the or
ganization of the House.
Chairman Hay then announced that it
had been moved and seconded that Mr..
Clark be made the nominee for Speaker
He called for vote. There was a
chorus of ayes, and Chairman Hay de-
cla-ed Mr.. Clark to be the choice of his
party for the Speakership. Mr.. Clark
yyo tn ha nd no dcliyaroG
a speech in which he thanked his col
leagues for the high honor they had con-
ferred upon him.
Champ Clark's Speech.
Mr.. Clark said:
Prom the bottom Of my heart I
thank you for your generous indorse-
ment for the high Office Of Speaker
of the House Of Representatives. I
shall endeavor to discharge the duties
Of the great position so fairly. SO
justly. and so impartially, that you
will never have cause to regret what
you have just done.
This caucus is called for the pur-
pose Of selecting the Democratic con-
tingent of the Ways and Means Com
mittee for the SiXty-second Congress,
in order to expedite tariff legislation
by securing as speedily as possible
the data on which to base a bill or
bills which We believe will promote
the prosperity of the whole country
and give new impetus to every
Legitimate business undertaking within
the broad confines of the republic.
The quicker our plans are formulated
and known, the better for all con-
cerned.
Each member Of the caucus should
have opportunity to express his opin-
ions fully. for in the multitude of
council there is wisdom. Benefits are
to be derived from . free and general
interchange of ideas Time should be
given for this, even If the caucus ex-
tends through the entire week. The
newest member has as much right to
exploit his theories as the oldest, and
he should not be bashful about it.
Whatever is done should be marked
by good nature, kindly forbearance.
and an earnest desire to be Of service
to the party and the country. for We
should never forget that the best way
to serve our party is TO serve our
country
Before proceeding to the consideration
of the other business Of the evening
mapped out in advance by the leaders. a
number of resolutions were considered.
Representative Francis Burton Harrison
provided the real sensation of the even
ing when he presented a resolution de-
claring Representative-elect Theron Akin
Ineligible for admission to the Democratic
caucus and denying him the rights at
taching to membership in the Democratic
organization.
Representative-elee Barred.
Representative Harrison told his col
leagues that Mr.. Akin had openly boasted
that when he qualified as a member of
the House that it was his purpose to vote
with the Republicans. AS Mr.. Akin had
repudiated the Democratic party, Repre-
sentative Harrison said that 1t was up to
the Democratic party to respond in kind
Mr. Harrisons resolution was adopted
with a whoop, not a dissenting vote be-
ing registered against it.
There were other resolutions offered.
among them one by Representative
Lewis. of Maryland, providing for the
appointment of a committee Of seven
to study foreign parliamentary systems
with a view to undermining the proce-
dure of the House; another by Repre-
sentative L-obeck, Nebraska, declaring it
to be the sense of the caucus that Mr..
Clark should be a member of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means.
Representative Cox, of Indiana, is des-
tined to be the most unpopular man in
the next House. He offered a resolu-
ton that nearly precipitated a riot. AS
it was. Mr. Cox barely escaped with his
life. He offered resolution providing
for the dscontinuance Of the useless
Jobs" around the House. There are no
useless jobs in the House." shouted a
member from the South. Cries Of rage
greeted the reading of the Cox resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Cox attempted to argue that as
measure of economy the Democrats
should cut down the House patronage.
declaring that under Republican rule a
lot of useless positions had been created
for the sole purpose of taking care Of
political hacks.
Just to think of a proposal like this"
exclaimed Representative McDermott, of
Illinois. Here we've been out in the
cold for sixteen years. our chance has
come, and a member Of our beloved party
brings forward proposition to eliminate
some of the jobs. It's simply awful"
Throw him out" shouted another
member, giaring at Cox with look Of
hatred.
Foster Speaks for '<Conb1ne."
To Representative Foster. Of Illinois,
was assigned the duty by the hog COM
bine' of bringing forward the committee
on committees proposition. Mr.. Foster
had his resolution prepared. and it was
revised by the leaders just before the
caucus was called to order. 1t provides
that the Committee on Ways and Means
should be intrusted with the duty Of