Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-11
talk IN CONGRESS-
Where Freedom of Speech Is a
Right jealousy Guarded.

people Of the United States, the great
demos. the source of all power, the
basis upon which the great super
structure of the government rests,
dates back to the Magma Charta, and
its immediate ancestor was the first
parliament of Henry ". in the hf-
teenth century. In Henry's parliament
the representatives OF the people es-
tablished finally and forever that all
revenue bills must originate in the
lower house. which should hold the
purse of the people and without which
not d wheel in the legislative, the e1-
ecutive or the judicial branch of the
government could turn.
1t is because of this parliament that
there is no ways and means committee
in the senate and that when any treaty
or commercial arrangement or any
thing involving the payment of money
is introduced. any appointment or legls-
lation is proposed, the house of repre-
sentativeS raises it's mighty hand and
settles the matter according TO the
will of the people through their repre-
sentatives. for it can defeat any meas
ure or any person by merely declin-
ing to appropriate the money necessary
to pay for that measure or person.
When this great committee on ways
and means presents its business to the
house of representative and the house
goes into committee of the whole
house on the state of the Union the
assemblage at once resolves itself into
a body as absolutely democratic as the
Saxon Witenagemot or the New Eng
! land town meeting. Every symbol OF
q popular assemblage Is religiously OBJ
served. The speaker leaves the chair,
| and a chairman Is elected who is not
| the speaker. Not even so much as the
! prestige of the regular presiding officer
/ is allowed to hamper the freedom of
debate. The speaker goes down to the
floor and has no more privileges than
the most obscure member Of the house.
The mace. the emblem Of authority,
Is put under the speakers table to
show that the house celebrates with
out interference from anybody. The
mace is really a weapon, a stout wood
en- stick with a metal head, and used
to be the favorite weapon of fighting
priests of the middle ages. They were
forbidden by ecclesiastical law to use
swords. but got around the law by
using the mace. a terrible weapon.
against the armored men of the time.
In the choice of the mace as the type
of authority the idea OF democracy
was rigidly carried out. In the early
days only few men out of the whole
were authorized to wear swords, but
any and all of the people could use a
good stout stick. and so the weapon
of their majesties the people was
chosen. When the speaker presides
and any members show signs Of in
dulging in fsticuffs and will not obey
the speakers gavel the sergeant-at
arms or his deputy is directed to SHOW
| the mace" That functionary seizes
the mace and marches up to the offend
ing members, who are supposed to bt
, this big stick.
J Not long ago, when two members go
/ into a row and it seemed as IL blows
J were about to be exchanged, tht
: speaker promptly ordered the sergeant
{ alarms to show them the mace. The
sergeant took the mace. marched up L
the two belligerents and stood, mace
, in hand, majestically, before them
This. however, had not the s.ightes
! effect, and the sergeant-at-arms anx
, iously inquired Of a member sitting
next. What am to do with the mac
nowT'
To which the member responded in {
stage whisper. Peck 'em on the heaC
: with it,"
6 This suggestion brought down tn,
house. and a roar Of laughter and ap
plause followed. in which even tn
beligerents were obliged TO join.
In general. however. before the mac,
. can be shown. the members rush Il
and separate men whose tempers hav'
got the better Of them, who have ex
, changed the lie or the blow that Away
| follows. Members engaging in thes
rows are always called before the la
OF the house and sternly reprimande'
l by the speaker. who talks like Dutc
uncle to them and calls them by name
This naming" is the only time mem
. ber's name is used In debate He is q
. other times the member from SO-snc
!. So or the gentleman from So and SO.
! These collisions rarely. If ever. occU
A between members anywhere except o
the floor Of the house. everything