Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-11-13
OUR CONGRESSMAN.
Pen Pictures of the Tennessee Delega-
ton in the Fiftieth Congress.


The Tennessee delegation in the
fiftieth congress will rank well. We
say this after weighing each one Of
the members elect.
Judge Houk and Judge Butler will
represent the republican party. They
are from the first and second districts.
Their majorities are large and their
districts permanently republican.
They are both able men, strong par
tisans and efficient party workers.
Judge Butler, the new member, is
one of the boldest and most aggres-
sive republicans in the south. In
the Tennessee legislature for several
years he has dominated his own party
and defied everybody else, and though
always in the minority he has ex-
ercised great influence. He is a thor
oughly live, progressive man.
Judge Houk is an aggressive par
tisan, hates democrats when he is be-
fore the public, but gets well over it
when mixing with them in social
life. He is a fine debater and a strong
party leader.
John r. Neal, from the third dis
trict, will be filling a second term.
He has had two close shaves. Two
years ago he was elected by less than
100; this time by less than 400. He
is an East Tennessee democrat. That
means died in the wool; but, never.
theless, he is liberal and progressive
is a man of fine character and good
habits, has no vices, works hard and
has the confidence of his fellow.
members as a safe, reliable working
democrat. He holds his constituents
well in hand by never neglecting fol
a single day their correspondence
John R. Neal will grow on his con
stituents as long as he remains in
congress. He was once speaker O
the state senate, and made a gooG
presiding officer. He is fiuen
speaker, but talks but little in con
gress.
Benton McMillin, from the fourth
district, is now elected the fifth time
He is a bourbon democrat, and thi!
surprises many of his friends. AS {
bourbon he is a mystery, for he is ont
of the most thoroughly progressive
men we have in the state, and a
governor, where he would be at thu
head of the procession, and free from
the entangling alliances of old fogie
who have the resolution of '98 miXeC
up with the Bible, he would be 0
great service. He is a cultivated
man, of fine address, pleasing man
ners, gentle in his intercourse will
all people, and most faithful anc
laborious member of congress; an
swering promptly every letter writer
him, and always taking a deep inter
est in his constituents. He is un
doubtedly the best mixer of all gu
public men.
Mr.. McMillin is a great favorit
with Mr.. Carlisle, and now that 81
many leading men have been left a
home, he will stand a good chance t,
be chairman of one of the principa
committees. He is a man of fin
character and excellent habits.
James d. Richardson has servet
one term and is reelected by a yer,
large majority. Mr.. Richardson ha
served several terms in the stat
legislature-sometimes in one hous
and sometimes in the other. He ha
been speaker of the house, and as
presiding officer he has fewsuperiors
indeed, Mr.. Richardson as a presiding
officer has but one equal in the stat
Senator Isham G. Harris. AS
politician he has but few equals
having to great degree the powe
of knowing and recognizing men a
no other man in the state has, eX
! cept Benton McMillin. The lat
election, looking as well to tn
nomination as the election, show
that he has a strong hold on the pee
pie of his district, and he will n
doubt remain in congress q goo
many years. His exceptional quail
fications as a presiding officer
quality found in but few men-tc
! gether with his high social qualities
will make him speaker of the hous
J of representatives before he is ther
many terms. He Is a remarkabl
r well-balanced man, and when tn
: stern realities of public life and