AN UNAPPRECIATED STENTOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 887, 5 August 1910, Page 4

AN UNAPPRECIATED STENTOR.

* ME. LAWEY ANGRY. At four o'clock j-estorday afternoon the Chamber of tko Houso of Eepresentalives and the adjoining rooms and corridors were re-echoing to the stentorian rhetoric of Mr. Poole. The stream of impassioned oratory, which was being listened to by the three or four of the sixteen ; members present, was interrupted by Mr. Wright, who called Mr. Speaker's • attention to the state of the House. Mr." Poole suspended his speech, and the silence came like a thunderclap. The bell rang to summon, a quorum, and a few members reluctantly drifted in. "There is a quorum now present," said the Speaker at last. Tlie unappreciated orator resumed his speech in better voice than ever, and some of the quorum softly evaporated. The incident of the quorum bell'had evidently made a deep and painful- impression on Mr. La wry, who foiled to note that half a dozen of the sixteen members visible to the Speaker were members of the Opposition. Mr. Lawry blamed .the Opposition for the fact that there was no quorum. "I liavn. bf>j>n wounded to-daj," he said, "in my tenderest part, because I bweve in political courtesy and political chivalry. I have never; before been so disgusted in the whole of my political career than when the whole of the Opposition Walked out as Mr. Poole rose to speak. It was an insnlt not only on Mr. Poole,' but on the constituency which he repreI have no hesitation in saying that if the same treatment were extended fo me. I would put in my resignation tomorrow, and I would go back to my constituents. It was a disgrace on the Leader of the Opposition. Wliilo I differ with Mr. Poole on various questions, I don't, think them is n more acute critic than himself iu the 'House. I don!t want to use language which is not Parliamentary, but I say that members went out at the instigation of the Leader of the Opposition, which was a most cowardly and contemptible thing. The Speaker: I can't allow the use of those words. Mr. Massey: And I would like to give his statements a flat contradiction. Mr. Lawry: I withdraw the statement, but it will be placed on' record all the same. • (Laughter.)