Arizona republican., 1918-01-21
Alternate Play and Work


 It is the fashion joke about the dulness of the Congressional Record but to those who read it closely and conscentiously many hidden gem of humor or wisdom IS disclosed which has been entirely over looked in the accounts of congressional proceedings gathered by frenzed correspondents of the very papers which follow the fashion of jeering at the Record for its Gulness and matter -factness The consideration of the serious and weighty ques- tons, find, is frightened by the constant play of human emotions. not the least frequent of which is humor. We get hint of that from the newspaper accounts
 Now take for instance, the final debate in the House of Representatives on the national suffrage resolution The reader of only the press dispatches has supposed that the tenseness of solemnity and earnestness reigned throughout. Perhaps it did while of the speakers occupied the floor. There sometimes periods of such tenseness in vaudeville.
 One of the best speeches in the house in behalf of the resolution that of Mir Canrill of Kentucky who in the of his remarks said, Tt my privilege yesterday afternoon to be of mittee of F to ask the president for advice and se this important measure" Here the gentleman Kentucky interrupted by loud uproarious prolonged laughter. The members who participated doubt had in mind that MT. CantriIl not pioneer pilgrim to the White House on some such an errand. Had not the members of the Congressional Union preceded him? Had not the pickets surrounded the White House, not to ask, but to confer counsel and advice?
 When the laughter had subsided, Mir. Cantrll in mock deprecation of the outburst said, "In answer to the sentiment expressed by part of the house. desire to say that at no time and on no occasion am l ashamed to confer with Woodrow Wilson upon any important question and that part of the house that has jeered that statement before it adjourns today will follow absolutely the advice which he gave this committee yesterday afternoon" There then another irruption of laughter and applause The had already shown that the republican mem bers overwhelmingly for the resolution and that only the democrats were to be feared.
 MT. Cantrill without giving the house time to fully from the paroxysm into which he had thrown it. gravely proceeded:
 After conference with the president he wrote with his hands the words which I read to you and each member of the committee authorized by the president give full publicity to the follow ing: The committee found that the president had not felt at liberty to volunteer his advice to members of in this important matter. but when sought his advice Laughter the republican sdel he very frankly and earnestly advised to vote for the amendment act of right and justice to the women of the country and of the world" Now you gentlemen on that side of the house can jeer that statement, if you want to do it.
 MIR. MOORE of Pennsylvania
 THE SPEAKER For what purpose does the genr teman from Pennsylvania rise?
 MIR. MOORE of Pennsylvania To ask if the gen. tleman will yield in order that may ask him whether the president wrote that with his hand?
 MIR. CANTRILL. He certainly did write it with his hand will state for the information gentle To my democratic brethren who have made these halls ring with their eoquence in their pleas stand by the president, will say that is your time stand by the president and vote for this amendment "ss act of right and justice the women of the country and the world'
 This is only of the many instances of relief the routine of lawmaking showing that the sad ness seriousness which is supposed to prevail in congress is not unbroken and inarticulate It also shews that all the funny things in print found in the comic supplement.