The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-04-14
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


hled i'll war session. Seriousness ot
purpose marked the opening There
was Il shadow upon all the members
present. but through il CLEANED the
light of resolution.
The first session of the SiNty-htth
congress is in extraordinary session
With the exception of one year there
has been either the usual long session
or an extra session in every year since
William H. Taft took office. This ses-
sion of congress is the first one when
has been compelled Ia face virtual war
conditions since Mckinley spoke TO
congress III May, 1898, in behalf OF u
war with Spain which should free the
Cuban people from the yoke, and put
All end to the terrorization and tyran-
NJ visited upon the people of the Pearl
of the Antilles.
Congress today is Notwithstanding
body. The Democrats held control of
the last house 10y majority of be-
tween twenty and thirty, and as the
house is pretty evenly divided De
tween the two parties at this session
ii can be seen that only Il compare
lively few Democrats have been sue
cecded by new Republican members.
Most of the Democrats who held Office
in the last congress have been re-
elected. and this is true also of the Re
publicans.
First Woman Member Of Congress.
Every person who entered one of the
galleries of congress on Monday for
got for Il minute the war conditions
which prevail and Centered thought
and eyes on the seat occupied by the
first woman who ever has represented
district of the United States In the
congress of the nation. Miss Jean
nette Rankin of Missoula, Mont, rep
reSentative-at-larye from that state
bore herself modestly and well in an
exceedingly trying position.
There are many Oldtimers in the
present organization of the house. Jo'
seph G.. Cannon Of Illinois, former
speaker, still holds his place, and with
him is Isaac X. Sherwood. Democrat
of Toledo. O., who is eighty-two years
old and who was brigadier general dur
ing the Civil war. General Sherwood
has been pronounced pacitiSt until
recently. The other day he Cancelled
speaking date which he was to make
before a gathering Of peace promoter:
OF I'm W M
declared he was willing tn 90 to wal
and minated that he would like once
more To lead troops.
Watch Legislators Safety.
In a way congress at this session is
meeting under guard. Washington
has the appearance in part of 1
| city (which expects things to hap
| pen" Perhaps there is no rea
expectation that anything is to hap
pen. hut the officials believe there is
nothing like taking precautions.
on the day that congress opened M
| man. woman or child was allowed Il
garry a package into the capitol. Ever
| umbrellas were barred from the hOus'
| and senate chambers. because in thu
folds of an umbrella 1t is possible t
conceal things If one is so inclined.
| Extraordinary measures were takeI
to protect the president of the United
States and all the other high officials
| of the government on the day of thu
| opening of congress, and the SAM
| precautions will be taken hereafter
| Washington has been affected by ;
fever of suspicion.
So far as specific cases are con
cerned there was no truth in the TIL
mOrs which floated about. Men o
high standing in the community SUI
fered from idle gossip of the incOnSid
crate. 1t may be that there are req
cases of reasonable intent in tn
capital and that they will develop an,
punishment be meted out, hut so fa
as the first cases were concerned tn
stories were brewed in the teapots O
the afternoon gossip table.
Appropriations in Order.
At the last session of the last cor
greSS the lawmakers provided for tn
navy but left the army without an
SuStenance. One of the first acts q
congress at the extraordinary SeSSiO
lust opened will be to sanction tn
army bill carrying large appropria
lions Of money.
1t is barely possible that if ii ha
not been necessary for the presiden
in the closing days of the last sessiO
to ask authority Of congress to arr
merchant ships of the United State
all the appropriation bills might hav
been passed. The house had dispose
of them and the senate had taken car
Of several of them, but there wer
four or five big supply measures
which the senate could give no col
Sideration because the days Of III
closing hours were taken up with di
cuSSion which resulted in a contr,
verSy concerning the patriotism {
lack of II of certain senators. col
trOversy of which the echoings III
still heard.
When the house passed the army n
preparation bill II, of course, was sci
at once to the senate. There it WI
amended in the committee on militar
affairs. One of the amendments WI
N DronncoI fnr universal military fra