Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 176, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1910 — When LAWMAKERS Become PEEVISH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

When LAWMAKERS Become PEEVISH

By EDWARD B. CLARK

2

T IS the custom to speak of the United States senate as the most dignified legislative body in the world, while on occasions the house of representatives has been described as a "bear garden.” The senate is ordinarily a dignified deliberative body, but nevertheless it is a mistake to look upon the house of representatives in any way, except on the rarest occasions, as an assembly given to disorderly pro-

cedure. “There have been within the last few months many scenes of intense excitement In the house, times when personal, political and factional temper has run high and when there was the “high spirited excuse” for scenes bordering on the tumultuous. In the main, however, through all the temper-trying times of the attempt to shear Speaker Cannon of his power, and dur-

ing the intense moments of the debate on the railroad bill, the members succeeded in holding themselves in check, and in giving an exhibition of self-restraint that was admirable. On only a few occasions within the space of seven years that one correspondent has watched proceedings in the house, have there been personal encounters on the floor between members. In only one instance really could these affairs be spoken of as personal encounters, for in only one case were blows exchanged. A former minority leader of the house and one of the leading members of his party, exchanged blows, but the matter was a personal one, and not a political one, and.it might have happened outside of the house as well as inside. It was not brought about by the heat of debate, but by long continued friction which engendered heat enough to cause an explosion while the house was in session. One of the parties to this physical encounter is now dead, and the other, next March, will take his seat in the senate of the United States. Their names probably will suggest themselves at once. Therq are many hot-headed members of the lower house of congress, and some of these “temperamental ones” are leaders In their respective parties. As leaders, however, these men long ago learned that if they were to maintain leadership they must keep a check on their tongues and a check on their birthright willingness to enter on a scrimmage. The members of the house realize that men laboring under excitement, will say things that they will be sorry for in a minute, and so frequently, words that positively are insulting, are overlooked by the offended member for a few minutes in order to give the offender a chance to get his faculties back and apologize. he does not apologize, though he generally does, the one who feels himself aggrieved, has his own way of securing retraction, either by appeal to the house, or direct appeal, sometimes made in pretty sharp language, to the member who has offended. One of the most exciting times in the house of representatives in recent years was a verbal encounter between Representative Bourke Cockran, Democrat, of New York city, and Representative John Dalzell, Republican, of Pittsburg. Bourke Cockran is known as one of the greatest orators of the United States, and John Dalzell is known as one of the ablest debaters on the Republican side of the house of representatives, a small man physically, but absolutely fearless. Dalzell is one of the chief advocates of protection. The New York member attacked the consistency of the Pittsburg member in a speech, and said some things about the inconsistency of the Republican party. To Dalzell, this seemed to give the opportunity that he wanted. He stood on the floor of the house and accused Cockran not only of inconsistency, but practically of using his gift of oratory, first to uphold one side of a question, ana then to uphold another, and the Pittsburg main did not try to conceal the reasons which he thought were responsible for the change of opinion and the change of attitude on the part of the man whom he was criticizing. In that speech against Cockran, Dalzell was waspish. There were men on the floor who expected fully to see Cockran attack him, not verbally, but physically, but the Hew Yorker •at through the spech, and when it was ended arose is his own place. The New Yorker contented himself with Baying that if he were guilty of the charges which the Republican member had made against him. he was not fit <to stay in tho house of representatives, and he (demanded that congress as a matter of personal privilege to him, should make an Investigation of his conduct, make a report therein, and if he were round guilty, the fact should p» published to the country. The bouse refused to take any action on

.the. New Yorker’s demand for an Investigation, and the whole matter went by default with the speeches of both men standing in the . Congressional Record as evidence of a warm day in congress. In a debate on the tariff last year, the dry subject of lumber came near causing a physical encounter between Representative Joseph W. Fordney of Michigan, and Representative Adam M. Byrd of Mississippi. The Mississippian had said that the Michigan member was interested personally in lumber matters and

intimated that he was particularly interested in a section of a lumber trust. The Michigan man said something in retort which was a little stronger than a mere statement that the Mississippian did not know what he was talking about. At any rate, Representative Bryd stripped off his coat and started down the aisle toward the Republican side, and toward Mr. Fordney, who stood perfectly still, awaiting the attack. Not many years ago Fordney had worked in the capacity of what is known as a “lumber jack,” and he is as hard as any nail that was ever driven into a board. Before the Mississippian could reach the scene of intended action, however, he was seized by several members, and his coat was slipped on to his back once more. Later, the two representatives made up their differences. In seven years these are the only instances which can be recalled at this time of troubles between members that did, or sqemed likely to culminate in serious encounters. The truth is that the house is seldom a “bear garden,” and the best test of the tempers of the members was made during the time which pre-

ceded the change in the rules of the house which was secured by a coalition o f so-called Insurgent Republicans and the Democrats. Led by R e p r esentative Norris of Nebraska, the Insurgents and Democrats together s u cceeded in taking away from the speaker his

membership in that committee. It was a great change from former conditions, and it was a direct attack on the power of the speaker, an attack that had in it seemingly much that was personal, although most of the men who had® a hand in it, denied that there was any personal feeling. Men sat white in their seats or stood and spoke with shaking voices, so tremendous was the excitement, but during it all each man kept a firm hold on his temper, and while it seemed to the spectators that encounters must come, they never came, and the change in the rules was effected, involving as it did, tin airing of factional differences with just as little outward show of disturbance as would attend the enactment of legislation of small degree of interest. Every man has mannerisms, but of course in the house of representatives pronounced mannerisms of the leading members are the only ones which become impressed upon the public. Sereno E. Payne, the Republican leader, is the author of the last tariff bill as it passed the house of representatives. Outwardly, Mr. Payne suggests a condition of mind

and temper indicated by the sound of his first name, but the Republican leader is not serene at all times, although he, perhaps better than any other prominent man in the house, keeps control of his emotions. Mr. Payne is fat and he is jolly under ordinary circumstances. Occasionally when his good Republican soul is pierced by an arrow of sarcasm, invective or reproach fired from the Democratic side, Sereno loses his serenity, and he grows quite hot and emits what some members have dubbed bolts of lightning. On occasions of less heat the Republican leader emits sparks only, but they are of the kind that burn. There are po? sibilities of indignation and ar ger in Representative Payne that no one would suspect who looks down from the gallery

upon his ordinarily calm exterior. Champ Clark of Missouri, the leader of the Democrats', loves his jdke and it takes an occasion .that is worth while before he rouses himself to anger. “When Champ Clark does get mad he gets mad,” is the expressive way in which a Democratic colleague of the minority leader put the matter recently. There was an exhibition of how mad Champ Clark can get at the time when he was trying to hold his Democratic colleagues in a solid line in favor of a change in the rules governing house procedure. This was at the time when some of the Insurgents, in connection with the Democrats were trying to secure what is now known as Calendar Wednesday, it was at a time long prior to the fight which ended in the removal of the speaker from the committee on rules. The Democratic leader found that he could not control all his party colleagues, and he had a suspicion that some of them knew that they were to get committee preferment at the hands of the speaker, provided they deserted the Democratic leader in the time of need. One New York Democratic member, with some othern from different parts of the country, deserted their chieftain in the hour of trouble, and later the New Yorker was given a fine committee berth by the speaker. No one will ever forget the castigation which Champ Clark gave this colleague, whom he looked upon as a deserter from the cause of his fellows. It was a scoring the like unto which few men have ever received. The New Yorker took it in apparent humbleness of spirit, and it may be that he did not have any excuse to offer. Time is a great healer, however, and now the Democratic leader and the man whom he excoriated are good friends, and seem to be working in harmony for the party good in the house of representatives. The hardest worked man in the house of representatives, not even barring the speaker, is Representative James R. Mann, Republican, of Chicago. Mann is known as the great objector, and also as the watch dog. It is his duty to be on the floor of the house constantly, and to watch legislation, line by line, and to see to it that nothing is “slipped over,” which the Republican majority does not think proper. Mr. Mann keeps an eye on amendments to the appropriation bills, and all kinds of things as they come before the house.. It is he who objects to the consideration of many small bills when unanimous consent unquestionably would secure passage for them. This makes him In a sense tremendously unpopular with members who want to get something through, and can only get action under unanimous consent.