Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-05
CLARK KIsRE-ELEcrED SPEAKER

CLARK is REELECTED SPEAKER
Washington, April2. 2.-Speaker Clark
was reelected today by vote of 2l7
| to 2o5 over his republican opponent,
Representative Mann, as the first step
in organization of the house of repre-
sentative the necessary preliminary
to the delivery of President Wilson s
| war address.
With the reelection of Speake,
Clark it seemed certain that President
Wilson would deliver his address late
this afternoon.
1t is expected on every hand that he
will ask congress to declare that state
of war exists between the United States
and Germany.
This seemed so certain that Chair
man Flood of the house foreign affairs
committee, the administration spoke es-
man there, prepared a resolution to
declare a state of war and authorize
the president to act.
War Resolution
The resolution follows:
Whereas, the recent course the inn
perial German government is in fact
nothing less than war against the gov
ernment and people of the United
States:
Resolved by the senate and house
of representative of the United States
of America in congress assembled that
the state of .belligerence between the
United States and the imperial German
government which had thus been thrust
upon the United States is hereby for
mally declared, and,
"Tbat the president be and he is
hereby authorized to take immediate
steps not only to put the country in a
thorough state of defense but also to
exert all of its power and employ all of
its resources to carry on war against
the German Imperial government and
to bring the conflict to a successful
termination.
Independents for Clark.
All of the democrats present and four
of the so-called Independents, Martin,
neutrality-suspicious. of Louisiana !;
Schall, progressive of Minnesota; Lon
don, socialist of New York; and Ran
dali, prohibitionist of California, voted
for Clark.
Twosepublicans, Gardner and Fuller
of Massachusetts,, voted for Lenroot.
Dallinger of Massachusetts and Gray
of New jersey voted for Gillette and
James of Michigan and Haskell of New
York. republicans, voted present.
Clark Escorted to Chair
The speaker was escorted to the chair
by committee of which Representa-
tive Mann was the chairman. He was
greeted with applause by both sides of
the chamber. He said:
II fully appreciate the fact that it
will be exceedingly difficult to dis
charge the duties of the speakership in
this house. 1t will be almost impos !.
sible to do so without the hearty co
operation of the members without re-
gard to party affiliation. will use my
utmost endeavors To be absolutely fair
and | invoke the aid of all the members
in doing so,
Slt is absolutely unnecessary and
superfluous to lecture the mem bership
on patriotism. We are all patriots, as
are the people who elected US. We
are all Americans whether native or
foreign born. On many questions we
are distant as the billows, yet we are
one as the sea, when the honor and
safety of the republic are involved !,
Politics find no place in this house
when the general welfare and the com
mon defense of the nation are at stake.
Let all the ends we aim at be our coun.
try's and in the accomplishment of
these ends may thes God of our fathers
be with us and guide us in the way
which will rebound to the honor and
.perpetuity of the greatest republic
that ever existed in all the Hood of
time. ;,
The speaker took the oath at 1850
O'Clock and members then were sworn
into office in groups by states.
Speaker Clark,s election was effect
ed in one hour and forty minutes after
the house convened. the exact time he
predicted a fortnight ago.
Immediately after tho speaker'selec-
tion, neg members were sworn in and
balloting was begun on the minor
officers. /.
presidant Wilson hnmoyar MO, aar