Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-01-24

time for days in succession without ever
being noticed. When Sam Randall was
Speaker he would seldom allow a member
whose designs he did not know to have an
opportunity to drop "bomhshsll" into the
camp. He would persisteutly fail TO see
or hear o member whom be suspected OF a
pIrp0se 20 Introduce politics or other sub
tets iGimica! 10 himseif or his party. Mr..
blaine, rs speaker had the same s~hrewdueSs
Ii ID customary for members who under,
stand their business to confer with the
speaker before The session opens, explain
their purpose and get his promise TO -ecog-
uizs them at The proper time Otherwise, no
matter how well loaded a new member
may be he stands a poor chance Of being
heard. Nearly every nan who has occu-
pied the Speakers chair has been obliged
at times TO exercise arbitrary authority at
one time or another, but probably the most
striking instance of il, WAS during the cleo
toral count in February, 1877. Ninety
members o. the House had pledged them.
selves to defeat what they believed TO be
unjust decision Of the Electoral Commits.
sion by fllIbusteripg under the rules until
the session expired on the 18th Of March.
Their plan was followed for several days
until Speaker Randall, seeing that the end
would be to leave the country without q
President, swept the rules aside by an ar.
bitrsry decision which cut of all fllibus-
teriDg and involved The power Of his Office
to enforce his decision. Such On exciting
scene as then ensued was probably never
witnessed in u legislative body before.
Every member OF The Hoese was on his
teet; some pounding their desks and rush-
ing down the Aisles aud Representative
Beebo of New York, standing on top Of
bis desk ~gesticulaIing wildly while denounc.
ing the action OF the speaker as revolu-
tionary.
One is scarcely ever at q loss for auuse
ment while watching the sessions of the
House. and it does not take long to under
stand why only a few men, and those the
ables! and strongest, ever attain to
any degree of prominence as Representa-.
iiyts. Even TO be heard in the Hall re-
quires lungs Of iron, and to stand against
the personal assaults, the continued strife
for mastery and the shrewed political man
mqveglng, a member who aspIres to take a
prominent part must combine great cour'
age and physical strength and endurance
With ready Wit, practical knowledge OF par
limen,ary rules aud numerous other com
mGnding qualities. 1t is little woLder that
many men who enter upon q congressional
career With tho belief that they can make
a reputation, are soon content 10 remain
mute, iugloTiUus' members, ambitious
only for the privilege o! p'iEting their un.
delivered speeches in the Record for c rcu-
iatlon among their constituents. To 20
back and recount the "Reminiscences OF not
able sCrinmages in Congress during the
careers Of such men a5 Henry Clay, John
c. Calhoun, John Qaipcy Adams, John
Randolph aud scores Of others who Gchley-
ed national regulations would require 8
volume Ia later days the passage between
Blaine and ConAhng, wherein the latter
was accused Of his "turkey gobbleF gtrut,'
aud the famous "shoo.ty" passage between
Ben Butler aud "Sauset' Cox, are we'll re.
memoere3 occasions. la the present Con
yrsss there is an usually small proportion
men well known il national politics.
President Cleveland took the three most
prominent Democrats from the S-nate far
his Cabinet, aud Mr. Cox Gent as Minister
to Turkey is greatly missed in the House.
In both parties there Gre Yacanries In lead
cr=hip which new men Wal DO required 10
I'll. l. NJ, B.