Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-04-07

DEMOCRACY
AT The HELM
Special Session Of SD Con-
ereSS Shows New Forces
in ASCendenCy
ORGANIZATION
WITHOUT A HITCH
By The United Press.

WASHINGTON, APRIL with
Progressive Democracy in full con-
troll, the ranks of the Republicans de-
pleted and their old leaders gone. the
opening Of President Wilson's special
session Of the esd Congress today,
was eloquent Of transition from Nine
teenth to Twentieth century political
government New forces we're in the
ascendant; new phrases passed easily
from tongue to tongue. New measures
and new viewpoint favored 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 Sen
ate picture.
Yet the ceremonial with which the
House began its sitting was as old
as its tariff problem. The formal pro-
cedure that was in vogue when Henry
Clay was on the floor served by
mutual consent today. The crowds
that filled the galleries from early
morning 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
prayer. Trimble directed the reading
of the presidents proclamation call
ing the special session. Then the roll
was called.
The roll was answered in the 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 mem
bers. besides the delegates and COM
missioners from Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico and the Philippines The
Democratic majority was oyerwhelm-
ing, it's responsibility complete
Absent from familiar stations were
Uncle Joe" Cannon, long dictator of
the House, Nick Longworth, son-in-
lay of Col Roosevelt Victor Berger,
pioneer Socialist member and many
another who figured largely in Con-
gressional news of the past two
years. On Tn new cane-seated ben
ches half encrcling the rostrum
were tho successors Of III members
who failed to return, and thirty-five
men chosen from additional districts
or from states at large. Only five Of
the 142 new members had ever sat in
Congress before.
The clerk announced n quorum
present. and stated that vacancies ex
listed in three districts-the Thir
teenth Massachusetts First Soutl
Carolina, and Tenth Texas He an
nounced the next businesssto be tbs
election of a speaker
Champ Clark of Missouri was plac
edsin nomination for a second tern
on behalf of the Democratic caucus
James r. Mann of Illinois was
similarly presented by the. Repub
leans. Victor MurdoclS Of Kansas
was named by the Progressives. The
roll was called in alphabetical order
and Clark was declared elected. 4
committee Of the three parties wal
named to escort him to the chair
amid applause that swept the gal
lsries and echoed through the cham
Der and the corridors beyond.
Election Of the clerk. sergeant-at
wa3 secured by resolution, offered oil
behalf Of the majority caucus TIL
Republican minority submitted il
list of candidates as a substitute
whicl was promptly voted down. Tn
officers we're Immediately sworn in.
Resolutions Of a routine nature
such as always accompany the con
vening of a new Congress. then wer
adopted and the Senate sent in wor
that it had named a committee to &C
with a House committee TO notify tn
president that all was ready for hi
wishes
Under time-honored precedent, tn
lottery of seat-drawing was the mex
scheduled procedure. But the rear
rangement of the House chamber
whereby benches replaced the fam
liar desks and swivel chairs, made
change necessary. Leaders planne
to submit to the House the propos
tion of whether members take an
seats that suited them on all occs
sions or have a place definitely as
signed In former Congresses, tn
drawing for seats was one of the mos
picturesque incidents Of the CONVEX
ing Of the national legislature
In the Senate the procedure wa
without other special formality tina
the reading Of the presidents pre-
clamation. Election Of officers an
swearing in of new members ha
been disposed Of before the March az
journment