The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-04-07
Camp Clark Was Again Chosen
Speaker Amid Tremendous
Applause.
JOINT COMMITTEE NAME.
Notify President Wilson that all
was in readiness for
his wishes.
ny United Press.

Washington, April 7:-With Pro-
gressive Democracy in full control
the ranks of the Republicans depict
ed and their old leaders gone, the
opening of President Wilson's spec
ial session Of the 63rd Congress to-
day, was eloquent Of transition from
Nineteenth to Twentieth century po-
litical government New forces were
, in the ascendant; new phrases passed
easily from tOgune to tongue. New
measures and new viewpoints favor
by the older men were in harmony
with the confident claims of the new
men fresh from the people, who
crowded the House benches and filled
in the Senate picture.
Yet the ceremonial with which the
House began it's sittings was as old
as it's tariff problem. The formal pro-
cedure that was in vogue when Henry
Clay was on the floor served by mu-
tual consent today. The crowds that
filled the galleries from early morn
ing to witness the show were able to
predict and nod recognition at each
step.
Clerk South Trimble stood at the
speakers desk at noon, and raped
for order. Chaplain Coudon offered
praper Trimble directed the reading
of the presidents proclamation call
ing the special session. Then the roll
was called
The roll was answered in order of
the states, with the territories and
dependencies following. George V.
Taylor of alabama answered first,
and Manuel Earnshaw, commissioner
from the Philippines, was last. In the
long list were 294. Democratic and
145 Republican and Progressive
members, besides the delegates and
commissioners from Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico and the Philippines. The
Democratic majority was overWhelm
ing, it's responsibility complete.
Absent from familiar stations were
"Uncle Joe" Cannon, long dictator of
the House, mick Longworth, son-in-
law of COL Roosevelt, Victor Berger,
pioneer Socialist memeber, and many
another who figured largely in Con-
gressional news of the past two years.
On the new cane-seated benches half
encircling the rostrum, were the sue
cessors of 1T members who failed to
return, and thirt-tive men chosen
from additional districts or from
states at large Only five of the 142
new members had ever sat in Con-
gress before:
The clerk announced quorum pre-
sent, and stated that vacancies exist
ed in three districts-the Thirteenth
Massachusetts, First South Carolina,
and Tenth Texas. He announced the
next business to be the election of a
speaker.
> Champ Clark of Missouri was plac-
on behalf of the Democratic caucus.
James r. Mann of Illinois was simil-
arly presented by the Republicans.
Victor Murdoch of Kansas was named
by the Progressives. The roll was call
ed in alphabetical order, and Clark
was declared elected. A committee of
the three parties was named to escort
him to the chair, amid applause that
swept the galleries and echoed thru
the chamber and the corridors be-
yond.
Election of the clerk, sergant-at-
arms, chaplain and minor officials
was secured by resolution, offered on
behalf of the majority caucus. The
Republican minority submitted it's
list of candidates as substitute,
which was promptly voted down..The
officers were Immediately sworn in.
Resolutions of routine nature,
such as always accompany the con-
Yening of a new Congress, then were
adopted and the Senate sent in word
that it had named a committee to act
with a House to notify the president
that all was ready for his wishes.
Under time-honored precedent, the
lottery of seat-drawing was the next
scheduled procedure. But the rear
rangement of the House chamber,
CONTINUED on last paEs].