Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-02
HOUSE ORGANIZED
BY THE DEMOCRATS
CLARK |SRE-ELECTED

Speaker Clark was reelected today
by vote of 217 to EOS over his re-
republican opponent. Representative
Mann, as the first step in the organiza-
ton of the House of representatives
the necessary preliminary to the deliv-
cry of President Wilson's war" ad-
dress.
1t seemed certain that the Presi-
dent would ask Congress to declare
that state of war exists between the
United States and Germany that Chair
man Flood of the House foreign affairs
committee, the administration Spokes-
man there, prepared resolution to de-
clare a state of war and authorize the
President to act.
All of the democrats present and four
of the so-called independents-Mart
essive-protectionist of louisiana
Schall, progressive of Minnesota; Lon
don, socialist of New York, and Ran
dali, prohibihonist, Caiifornia-voted
for Clark.
Two republicans-Gardner and Fuller
of Observation-Disclosures for Repre-
sentative Lenroot Of Wisconsin; Rep
resentatives Dallinger of Massachusetts
and Gray of New Jersey voted for Rep
resentative Fillett of Massachusetts,
and Representatives James of Michigan
and Haskell of New York, republicans.
voted present
The Speaker was escorted to the
chair by a committee of which Repre-
sentative Mann was the chairman He
was greeted with loud applause from
both sides of the chamber as he spoke,
in part,-as follows:
Il 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 i'm
possible to do so without the hearty
cooperation of the members without
regard to party utilization. | will use
my utmost endeaver to be absolutely
fair and l invoke the aid of all the
members in doing so.
Speaker Talks Patriotism.
ut is absolutely unnecessary and
superfiuous to lecture the membership
on patriotism. We are all patriots as
are the people who elected US. We are
all Americans, whether natives or for
eign born, as our constituents. On
many questions we are distinct as the
pillows, yet we are one as the sea
when The honor and safety Of the re-
public are involved. Politics finds no
place in this House when the general
welfare and the common defense of
the nation are at stake. Let ali the
ends we aim at be our country's, and
in the accomplishment of these ends
may the God of our fathers be with
US and guide US in the way which will
of the greatest republic that ever ex-
listed in all the flood of time"
The Speaker took the oath at so
O'Clock and members then were sworn
into office in groups by states:
Immediately after the Speakers cleo
ton new members were sworn in, and
balloting was begun on the minor Of
ficers of the House organization.
While the President and his advisers
are confident that a great majority in
Congress, as well as the country, stand
behind him, a state-ofWar resolution
is not expected to be passed tonight
Its passage may be a matter of one
or two or even more days, but the tenn
per Of Congress gives evidences that
it will be passed by large majority
Meanwhile preparations are being
branches of the government to carry
out the instructions of Congress after
the President has spoken.
CLERK South Trimble and Sergeant
alarms Robert B. Gordon were re-
Joseph Sinnott of Virginia, democrat,
was elected doorkeeper over Bert Ken
nedy of Michigan by vote of PIG
TO 21I.
william NJ. Dunbar of Georgia. dem
ocrat was reelected postma ster over
Lawrence Lyons of Indiana, republican
by Il vote of 217 to 205.
AS is customary. the Rev. Henry N
Couden of Michigan, the blind chaplain
opposition.
The House session opened with Clerk
South Trimble presiding until organi-
cation was perfected.
The chaplain included in his prayer
a plea for patriotism.
diplomacy has failed" he prayed.
Moral suasion has failed. Appeals to
reason and justice have been swept
aside
we abhor war and love peace, but
if war mas beer or shall be forced upon
us, we pray that the heart of every
American citizen may throb with pa
triotic feeling and that a united peo-
pie may rally around our President to
hold up his hand in every measure
deemed necessary to protect the lives
of American citizens and safeguard our
inheritance
Nearly the entire Senate membership
was preseAt when Vice President Mar
shall called for order and, after the
invocation. the Presidents proclamation
Continued on Second Page.)