Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-05-04
MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF CON.
oREss WILL ATTEND THE
CONVENTIONS.
LEADERS TO HOLD THE FORT
Those Who Remain In Washington
viii Be Kept Posted on Doinas In
Both the Chicago and the St. Louis
Gatherings.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

progress it is a safe assertion that 1t
will be difficult thing to secure
quorum in either house during the
time of the continuance Of the great
political gatherings.
-Four years ago when the conven-
lions were on there was a sort of
"gentlemen's agreement" entered into
in the house of representatives, which
made it certain that no matter of
great moment should come up for a
vote while the masses of the repre-
sentatives were not present. Congress
men recognize that a good many of
their members are delegates to the
conventions and that in being such
they are simply carrying out a part of
their duties as American citizens. OF
course there is recognition also that a
good many congressman go to the con-
ventions in other capacities than those
of delegates, but it is recognized that
there is deep interest involved, and so
the speaker and a comparatively few
members are willing to hold the fort
of the house with only a corporal's
guard present.
Not one of the senior correspond
ents having membership in the press
gallery in Washington will be in this
city when the conventions are In
progress. OF course. representatives
Of the press associations will be here
and 80 will the Junior members of the
stats of all the newspapers that are
represented in this town. Young men,
some of them of the age when they are
still known as cub reporters" will
hold down" the jobs for men who
have seen years OF service in the two
galleries of congress.
Leaders Will Stay at Posts.
The speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives has given notice that he
will not attend the convention of his
party. 1t is pretty well assured also
that the floor leaders of the majority
and the minority will be found at their
posts during the days of the political
gatherings and the great political ex-
element. There have been occasions
when men who stayed in Washington
have been hit by lightning" 1t just
escaped hitting Speaker Champ Clark
four years ago, who. although the
Democratic convention was in session
in Baltimore, only 40 miles away, in
sisted on staying in the house of rep
resentatives to preside over a handful
of his fellow countrymen.
1t is not expected that the vice pres
ident, who presides over the delibera-
lions of the senate, will attend the
convention of his party. Neither is it
expected that the floor leader of either
party will desert the senate during the
convention days. 1t is a pretty safe
reckoning, however, that most of the
other senators will find it convenient
to be in st. Louis or Chicago during
the middle June days. Legislation, I'M
less perchance congress shall adjourn
early in June, will mark time during
the mid-June weeks.
Will Be Kept Well Posted.
In these days of telephone and tele-
graph man who stays in Washington
is not so far aloof from st. Louis and
Chicago as otherwise he might be.
Telegraph and telephone loops will be
installed in many a residence in this
town just prior to June Z, when the Re-
publican delegates gather at Chicago.
The White House will have instant
knowledge of everything that is done
in the Republican convention at Chica-
go and, of course, later in the Demo
cratic convention at St. Louis.
1t may perhaps be said without fear
of going wrong that Mr.. Wilson is
more interested, in a way, in what is
going to happen in Chicago than he is
In the happenings at st. Louis. He
knows, or he ought to know, that un.
less something of an earthquake ma
ture happens he is going to be nomi'
mated by his party in convention as
sembled He does want to know un-
questionably, however, as quickly as
possible, whom he is going to meet in
the field. The White House will fol,
low hour by hour the doings of the
Republican convention with absorbing
interest, and later it will keep its ear
to the telephone and its eye ready for
the telegram when the deliberations
and the discussions are at their height
in the city on the banks of the Mis-,
sissippi.
A national party which is in power
in all the branches Of govern
ment and which is about to enter into
a national convention likes to have its
congressional record pretty we'll writ
ten up. The Democrats probably will
want to point to the legislation en-
acted this winter as one Of the rea
sons for being returned to power. II
is on this desire OF the majority party
on the eve of the convention that rests
some hope in Washington that con
gress may get through its work and
adjourn at even an earlier date thar
most of the members seem now tC
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