The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-06-17

1 Hfft ~ tAc tAtnts anu flfOFt On WIN the
crowd to the dining room. Here
light refreshments are served TO those
who crowd up. The refreshments
probably consist of light. dry punch
and waters or tea and thin sand
wiehes But the crowd around the
table reminds you OF a herd of cattle
around water hole on a, dry ranch
In dry season. and you are apt to
say to your wife that you don't intend
to spoil yonr dinner with any ahre-
waited lunch at that hour. and you
crowd on through the crowd. visiting
with whomsoever you may meet
whom you have met before.
South America and the Spanish
countries furnish good many mem
bers OF the diplomatic set, and at the
Colby reception the Spanish type of
beauty was very prominent.
congressman in Washington has
very little opportunity for fun or rec
reation. ! have been here now for a
solid year. have been TO one ball game.
three shows and very little society
About the only recreation | haye had
is in attending Republican confer
ences. There have been about six OF
them.
A conference Is a denafurized eau
Gus. In the good old days. as old men
say. II was called a caucus. But
about 1910 the name caucus came into
disrepute. A bunch of Republicans
bolted the caucus. Joined with the
Democrats, and threw Uncle Joe Can
non and elected Champ Clark speaker
Since those days whenever the Re
publicans OF the House NEE; together
II Is called a conference.
The Republican members of the
House meet on call. in the House Of
Representatives, at night usually
from until II o'clock. OF until things
become 20 complicated and mixed up
some one forces an adjournment
There are usually about zoe members
present
The doors are closed, and no Irving
soul but Republican members are per
mitied In the room. except, perhaps.
the sergespt-at-arms. The secretary
reads the call. and after a few prelim
inaries. the conference is open for
business
There Is no official stenoeraphcr
present. and nothing that IS said goes
in the record-so members talk open
~ and above board They can be ab~o.
iuteiy frank and unrestrained. They
can talk 60 the point and need put in
no fiourishes as their remarks viii not
be read back home. Rules Of The
House generally prevail. Speeches
are usually limited TO 5 minutes. No
one controls the time and the gentle
men desiring to speak must get recoe-
milton. There are often many men on
the floor at one time seeking reccgni-
ton. Good order fs-usuaily main
tanned. but things 20 at a rapid ciip.
Party leaders may differ as TO policy
and attack each other vigorously. but
in good spirit
They Will talk a good deal about
the freedom OF action OF each member.
and that no one is bound by the con
ference action. but the inference.
sticks out as plainly as a wart on a
iady's nose that all should abide by
the wisdom of the majority-and as .
rule the members do.
Conferences are called only on very
important matters. and most legisla-
tion has never been considered in con.
ference--very little is. in fact.
We had a conference the other night
on an important measure II was 4
hot meeting. The best speeches
have heard In Congress were made AT
this conference Some were for and
some against. but most all were short,
quick. polished flashes of oratory. E'o.
quent appeals were made for. and
weirhty arguments aud strong rea-
sons given In opposition. But in the
end the conference went on record BY
large majority in favor of the bill
The discussion goes on late into
the night In the last hour the lead
ers discuss just how we are going o
bind the Democrats hand and foot by
special rules and push the legislation
through without Interference or
amendments from them. And then
the leaders emphasize the import
ance Of absolute secrecy and urge
every member 10 be MS mum as an
oyster IN the presence of reporters
and outsiders. aud overybody agrees
that nobody shall ever find out what
happened.
AT n late hour we so home. and In
the early morning arise and read all
about the conference in the morning
paper. a tribute. l say. TO the enter
prise OF newspaper reporters.
Champ Clark furnishes us with
about the only amusement we get in
the House. He Is always isoll and
interesting. and very popular mem
ber He made very fair and popu
lar speaker for eight years. Early
IN he session one day ha was con
tending for a point Of order when a
member quoted him as ruling on the
nlher side when speaker He replied,
Il want II distinctly understood that
! will not be bound as a member on
the Goor BY the rulings made as