Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-05

NxASS xS0AlhlN kkUSCut
1t centered about interest in Mia,
jeanette Rankin Of Montana, the first
woman ever elected to the United
States Congress, who will take her seat
in the next House. She was expected
| to be present today. but did not ar.
rive and Mrs. George w. Edmonds. thu
wife of Rep. Edmonds Of Pennsylvs.
mia, received the thunderouS oyatior
that awaited her. So we'll did Mrs. Ed.
monds play her role that hundreds q,
persons who shook hands with her in
an impromptu reception which she held
following the announcement from the
floor Of the presence Of Miss Rankin
went away unaware Of her real ident.
ity.
GaI!ivan "FaIIs for Il"
Representative Britten of Illinois. bv
pre-arrangement with Mrs. Edmonds
perpetrated the hoax. Half an hour
after Speaker Clark had adjourned tho
session and the voices of members and
visitors had begun to show signs Of
throatiness owing to the fervor with
which they had sung the high notes Of
Dixie and the low notes of THE Old
Oaken Bucket" Britten passed word N
Rep. Gallivan of Massachusetts TIM,
Miss Rankin was in the chamber Gal
ivan sprang to the top Of a table In
front OF the Speakers stand. announc.
ed that the first congresswoman was
present and named Rep. Britten to es.
cort her to the front
Tremendous applause followed az
Mrs. Edmonds who was in a member's
seat, walked down towards the sneak.
err Acknowledging the greeting with a
DOW she SAID in strong. clear tones:
Wouldn't Make Speech
My friends. I prefer to make my first
speech in the next House"
Rowing again, she sat down. The
scene which followed was fiattering to
Miss Rankin From every part of the
chamber members and their wives and
children-the floor being open to families
by this time-rushed over to greet the
"congresswoman." Without the slight
est sign of embarrassment Mrs Edmond.
began shaking hands, with smiles and
thanks. .''-"f-, b.
Long Line Forms
Soon long line formed in front of tho
their attention to the demonstration
Representative Meeker of Missouri and
his little crowd of singers in the middle
Of the floor attracted little attention until
Mrs. Edmonds finally slipped away
Old attaches of the House said the jol.
LITIGATION today outdid any they had wit.
messed in many years. 1t lasted more
than an hour.
AS Speaker Clark's gavel dropped
promptly at noon, members on the floor
and the press galleries who previously
had been supplied with books Of OLD.
fashioned songs burst into Columbia,
the Gem Of the Ocean, Mrs. j. Charles
Linthicum, wife of Rep. Linthicum OF
Maryland, rose in the gallery and un-
furled huge silken flag, one end Of
which was gathered UP by Mrs. Champ
Clark, wife Of the Speaker. A storm OF
applause followed. In another part of the
gallery Miss Leona Sherwood, a daugh
ter of Rep. Sherwood, sang THE Star
Spangled Banner Mrs David H.
Kincheloe, wife Of Rep. Kincheoe OF
Kentucky, whistled Dixie" with the ielp
of the crowd How Dry ! Am" sung
with particular feeling by "wets," who
were so overwhelmingly defeated in the
last Congress, followed,
The arrival of a body OF New York
National Guardsmen in uniform on the
floor created a patriotic outburst.
In tribute to the late Rep. Conry who
for many years led the singing on the
floor. Rep Gallivan sang 1.-THE Vacant
Chair"
Senate 10 Blamed
In the farewell speeches preceding
the final adjournment Democratic
Leader Kitchin and others declared that
the House had done its work this SEES
sion sand blamed the Senate for any
which the government
might suffer through work not done.
1.-THE House, Democrats and Repubii-
cans alike" said Mr.. Kitchin. have met
every responsibility and performed
every duty imposed upon it by the con-
and by the country. II the
President should find this country in
the midst Of a sudden emergency and
should look about him for authority and
means to protect the rights Of Ameri-
can ships and American citizens from
attacks upon the high seas
and find it not, the fault will lie, not
with this body, but with another body
believe. Mr.. Speaker, that the country
ought to know this truth"
Speaker Clark. former Speaker Can
non, Republican Leader Mann and Rep
resentative Fitzgerald Of New York also
addressed the House. expressing pleas
lre over the good feeling that has pre-
vailed throughout the session and ad-
of one another.
Tributes to Kinds
All four paid tributes to Rep. Kinds
If Maine, who retired from public life
Today on account of i'll health. Mr.
Mann said Mr.. Kinds. who had been
Speakers clerk, parliamentarian, and
hen representative from Maine was a
member. Speaker Clark said
hat Kinds knew more about parliamen-
.ary law than any other man on earth.
and Mr.. Cannon said Mr. Kinds work
IN presidents would live when every
body had forgotten who had besn speak
80 L.