Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-24
Speaker Receives Ovation in
Replying to Serene
Payne.
UPH0LDS CAUCUS RULE
IN FRAMING LEGISLATION
Charges Present System Is Not as
Bad as That of
Cannon's,

Speaker Clark stepped down from HIS
chair upon the rostrum OF the House
today. after Serene Payne OF New York
had severely castigated the democrats
for what he called steam roller methods
OF legislation, and for fifteen minutes he
reminded the house that the gag rule
and caucus rule and Joseph Cannon meth
DDS OF legislation of the old republican
party had the present democratic methods
looking as mild and inoffensive as skim
med milk.
Speaker Clark upon the floor Of the
House WAS a great event to the members.
and the ovation which he received re-
minded republicans and democrats. old
and new members alike. that he IL still
the idol Of the House.
There are many new members here"
he said, land this continued criticism
against the democratic majority would
have no effect upon cid members. but it
may induce some Of the new members to
believe that We are proceeding in an ex-
traordinary manner. As to caucus rule
and other things of the sort 1t Ia no de-
tense to say that the republicans did IL.
THE pot calling the kettle black does
not get the Endorsement OF this country"
Legislation Blocked, He Says.
He called attention to some iron-bound
rules OF the Reed regime and called at
tention to the fac. that in the old days
when the Speaker had the exclusive
power to appoint committees that in the
Sixty-first Congress Speaker Cannon
blocked all legislation for a time by re
fusing to appoint committees.
Now the people know that we demo
Gratis are responsible for the leg: Station
in this house. One OF the principal prom
Uses Of the Baltimore platform was 10
revise the tariff downward and by the
blessing OF God we have done II, There
was no eQuivocation In making or keep
ing the promise. The second promise
was for a good currency system and we
are in the process of giving one to the
country.
This continuous howl against the dem
ocratic party Is the most ridiculous that
has assembled into heaven for two gener-
atoms.
Charges Hog Combine.
Lets see about caucus rule. We have
to have an organization, and We have
had one for three years-that's why We
are here now. Previous to that demo-
Gratis fighting against the republicans was
like the militia fighting against the reg
ulars. Now we have an organization and
we are the regulars. Some Of you have
declared for an open caucus. You had
for sixteen years q hog combine that
no man could break into. and now
1.-The devil was sick.
The devil a monk would be:
The devil got well.
The devil q monk was he."
The House roared In appreciation or
this bit Of verse. and Speaker Clark
went on to tell how the Republicans
could get an amendment to q bill
adopted over the head of the demo-
cratic caucus.
whenever you can figure out Q way"
he said, whereby one man can outvote
two-and-a-hah men. you can get AL
the amendments adopted you want"
Necessity Of Secrecy.
illustrating the necessity Of secrecy
in q caucus. Speaker Clark said that q
priest and a clergyman are not allowed
to reveal the secrets OF their parishion-
ers. and that doctors are not allowed to
tell what their patients confide to them.
and that husbands and wives do not
disclose their mutual secrets.
IF il were announced that tomorrow
all priests and all doctors and all
husbands and all wives i'm this country
would tell all they know there would be
the greatest hegira Americans ever saw
Progressive Leader Murdoch took issue
with Speaker Clark over his statement
that the country didn't care how Con-
gress did things so long as they were
done. Mr. Murdoch said the caucus re-
suited in lack of decorum, brought about
A small attendance and ended In gag rule.
He said there was no reason the doors OF
every committee room should not be
open.