The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-11
When Wilson Speaks
in the House Chamber

Ralph Block in The New York Tri-
bune: Washington-At a quarter
after ~ a voice lifts itself and is
heard out of the clatter Of approach
ing and retreating argument. There
! is a motion to suspend the session
Of the house of representatives until
! 1925. The speaker. Mr.. Clark, has
been sitting in the first Of the cir
cular tiers Of seats, an impassive
man, who bears a startling re-
semblance to the face Of sculptored
Romans in art museums. He rises
and resumes the place he has tenn
porarily vacated. A clerk enters at
! the rear and announces: The Sem
| ate Of the United States" 49, -~Ns-.-
After him come the senators, in
pairs, some with Hinged arms. The
house is on its feet to welcome them,
as they march down the center aisle
to the. seats in front. They are an
amazing group Of men, legislators
who are sleek and carefully dressed,
others who bear about them the in
effacea;ble marks that time and
destiny have together put upon them
J in the struggle for place, but they
are typical men; their counterpart
may be found in any Aferican COM
munity.
ment Of waiting, a slight hush. The
gavel breaks into it, sharply and
loudly. Then the committees Of re-
ception are appointed. There is a
slight rustic Of attention over the
house when Uncle Joe Cannon is
named and walks down the aisle with
tight fitting jersey, taking the place
Of a coat, his right arm in sling
from a recent fall.
The President is announced and
enters through the door near the
speaker. The audience, galleries and
all, rise for his coming. He is ap-
plauded lightly and from the CALLER
les come a few cries of welcome. The
President is on the platform, shaking
the hand Of the speaker. He turns
to the audience and applause sounds
again. He waits for quiet, bowling
slightly and with some evident en-
barrassment.
This Is a significant moment but
1T is not easy to find recognition Of
its significance. Here is Nthe entire
elected government Of 100 million
people, yet without pomp, without
ceremonial, without outward signs of
any kind to lift it far out Of the rut
OF the casual. The large audience
coughs, shows nervousness, and
OF silence, allowing the distinct but
unaccented tones Of the President TO |
penetrate to all it's corners.
He is carefully and smoothly dress |
ed in dark clothes, a frock coat that |
discloses surprising weight in the
shoulders, thin braid Of white 1
about the opening Of his waistcoat |
His hair is CRAVING, and the ton of |
his head is bald, with barren !
stretches near his forehead. But this |
only serves to better expose the /
shape of his head. His face is smooth |
and the skin healthy and firm. II IS |
a long face, not sharp or instantly |
penetrating, but none the less dis |
tinctly the face Of an intellectual, It |
has abundant strength though it is |
the strength of persistence, the |
strength. of driving power back of |
Ideas and grooved out Of contempla-
ton. 1t is impossible to find anv
signs Of violence in it, or Of heat
The voice Is cool balanced. well
considered, belying in a slight fiat
ness Of vowels the rhythm Of his /
sentences. He pauses, perceptfbIv |
impatient, when applause interrupts /
though 1t is certain he does not dis |
dain approval. The dTyness Of his
tone is deceptive; it is a voice not /
$1,000 SAlS pOWSL Oh hlBuluCanG en-
phasis. When he approaches the end /
OF his address, he looks deliberately
from the printed notes and says:
hope that 1t is not necessary for
me to add that no word OF what I l
have said is intended as a threat"
At that last meaningfuI word the
tone rises, takes on color, is slightly /
interrogative, a complete double en-
tender in itself, an ILLUMINATING
diplomatic byplay however uncon-
scious