The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01

ministration of these laws and such
ilagrant violations Of those laws that
sl,szkrzss..ssssnaDazxzxusxn
the reopening OF the struggle tomor-
row.
Speaker Clark's statement read:
Il am dead against the rule on
the tolls question and intend to vote
against it. 1 will not stultify myself
by voting for any such rule. led the
fight to liberalizc the rules and prac-
EticeS Of the house, thereby imperil-
ing my political future. We won
that long and bitter fight and it
Vas the first Democratic victory in
Is years Time and tine again 1 de-
clared that l would not advocate q
thing when in the minority that l
would not advocate in the majority.
The Democrats won the house in
1910, the frst time in 16 years
was unanimously nominated for
speaker and duly elected by every
Democratic vote in the house, with
the hearty good Will of every Repub-
lican, because they believed that | am
truthful man. In order 10 liDcralizc
the ruiz and practices of the house
voluntarily relinQuishcd q large por-
don Of the powers Of the speaker
which | could have retained by max
| ing 8 fight, but | honestly believed
that the speaker had too much power
under the Old system for the good of
thc house ana our institutions. AmCng
other things | declared that / was in
IaNor Of throwing bills open TO ample
discussion and amendment, and | am
Soing 10 keep the faith, come what
may. If / were to vote for the pend
ING rule, | could not look the house in
the face. When / made that state !
rent l was speaking particularly Of
tariif bills, but my statement is f!
equally applicable to all great bills. !
ilere is the situation: We have q !
rule reported on Il bill on the great |
-
II the house, beside which tariff bills |
sink into pitiable insign;icance; a
oil which, ii passed, Will change our
Ioregn policy, which we have main |
tanned for 12J years, and only &c /
hours for debate are permitted under
this proposed rule, and the right to
i.,
toninS motion permitted except on
motion to rccommit. ON such an inn |
portant and far-rcaching measure |
thcre should have been at least a !
week for debate with the unlimited |
right of amendment. Surely there is
nothing sacred about the Sims bill
ana there is no reason for this mad
Yush. l will not be Il party to ram
ming such d rule down the throats Of
mCmbcrs.'
Champ Clarli's statement aroused
widespread discussion among both
factions. The presidents Npportcrs
mmcdiatcly issued statements in re-
Pm iNtIl N'>tIItSlLINc Z ,NllNIlcN Ol hcH-
lucky said:
"Thorc is nothing in tn rule that
IS unusual. 1T provides Tor three
oours' debate on che rule ana -
on The bill. In body ,he size OF
he house. with The many things
coming before il, it is absolutely cs-
i'rial 90 have a cioturc rule.
"The nature of tie rule has been
known for days. it is surprising TO
say the least that the speaker should
have seen fit to attack the rule only
alt,r il was offered and the lines of
battle drawn. We, who are support
inE a Democratic president and ad.
ninistralion in upholding the nations
h"nor. Will not hr deferred by any
hour assault by the speaker
particularly whom for the first time he :
has seen tit to show his true coiors
"A opposition TO the measure and 10 I
the democratic party"
Representative Henry of Texas.
chairman of the rules committee, is |