The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-12
THE SPECIAL SESSION BEGINS
SIXTI-THIRD CONGRESS- CON
NENES UNDER DEMOCRATIC
DOMINATION.
First Day Proves an Interesting One
Much Discussion of Presidents
Plan of Delivering His Address I'm
Halls OF Congress-.

IiaiiS Ol congress.
Washington, April 7..-Congress.
opening in extraordinary session un-
der Democratic domination, was en-
livened by the activities Of a healthy
youth, the Progressive organization.
in the house, and an invasion of pe-
tition-bearing suffragettes. But even
these novelties were overshadow by
preparations for the event of tomor-
row when President Wilson will de-
liver his tariff message by word OF
mouth to the nations lawmakers.
Victor Murdock, leader of the new
Progressive party in the lower branch.
aided by his small band of followers,
attracted unusual interest and at the
very outset stirred up a fight over the
seating Of Representative H. Olin
Young Of Michigan
The hearalding Of the coming of the
president Of the United States was the
principal subject of official and un-
official discussion. The senate hesi-
tated when a resolution adopted pre-
Viously by the house providing for o
joint session tomorrow to listen to
President Wilson was presented for
its consideration. 1t was stunning
propoal. Not in the lifetime of any
veterans statesman present had such
a thing even been considered. His
tory, they supposed, had closed on
that custom n century and more ago.
First an effort was made to have the
resolution lie over under the rule, but
Vice President Marshall ruled it was
resolution OF the highest privilege.
Before 1t was adopted Senator Will
liams Of Mississippi deprecated the
presidents decision to enter the halls
of congress and speak his mind to
the peoples" representatives. He ex-
pressed the hope that such an event
never would occur again in the admin
istration. He doubted the wisdom of
the move. averring that it could not
for which the people were clamoring.
In the house the resolution was
adopted without debate as soon as Mr..
Underwood introduced it. There plans
Tor the presidents welcome took on a
gala aspect. Members scrambled for
the special tickets to the galleries
which were issued for tomorrow, the
occasion being looked forward to as
an epochal event in the history of the
administration.
organization of both houses was
partly concluded today, the senate
having little 20 do but to mark time.
Speaker Clark was reelected over
James II. Mann (Republican) and
Victor Murdock (Progressive) and
other officers of the house also were
reelected The Progressive strength
was tested on the speakership. Mr..
Murdock receiving Is votes. The new
party, however, registered more votes
later, when 1t attempted to prevent
Representative Young from taking the
oath or Office, through resolution in
troduced by Representative Hine-
baugh OF Illinois. Democrats. led bv
Representative Fitzgerald, and Re-
publicans, marshalled by Mr.. Mann.
joined forces in sitting upon the new
patty organization, the first recognize
ed third organized party in the house
Tor 80 years, and Mr.. Young was
sworn in. a contest Of his seat by w.
j. Mcdonald, n Progressive, Is to be
considered later by the elections com
mittee.
The Progressives were not daunted
oy thelr frst defeat and when Repre-
sentative Henry Of Texas brought in
resolution for the adoption of the
rules of the last congress. they were
again up and fighting, carrying out the
pledge OF their keynote speech, deliv-
cred by Representative Chandler of
New York, that they proposed to fight
every inch of their ground for Pro-
SressiVe principles and legislation.
They succeeded again in obtaining rec
oSnition, but in the end the DC ,oocrot
ic rules prevailed.
The senate debated the concurrent
resolution for Il joint session tomor-
row to hear President Wilson's mes
sage for nearly an hour. No senator
OF the dozen who smoke nm il onnoSod
lts passage, but several on both sides
expressed regret at the departure
from the Jcifcrsonian custom of send
ing In written messages. Technical
objection to its adoption at today's
session except by unanimous consent
was made by Senator stone. support
od by Senators Lodge and Smoot.
senator Williams made the speech