Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-28
HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHS.
Fen Portraits OF Distinguished Wen ~
Seen from the HepOrters' Gallery

PEN Portraits OF Distinguished Men ~
Seen from the RepOrters' Gallery.
SPEAKER CARLISLE, nIs GARMENTS, HIS MANNER,
AND Ills PoPULARfrr--MR RANDALL AND Hn
BLUNT RNERGY-''roN" REED, OF NAME, AND his
sARcAsM-MR M'KrNIErs RLoQUrNcE.
II It is true, as the poet asserts, that "the
proper study Of mankind is man." 1t Is equally
true that the most Instructive study Of the poll
uclan Is politicians and the reporters
gallery Of the House Of Representatives
affords q coigne Of vantage from which to
pursue an investigation into the characteristics
OF the men who are par excellence the politicians
OF the country. sown in the unpromising soil OF
a school-board, nurtured amid the demoralizing
lnnuences OF town-counci, the genus politician
buds among the petty strifes OF a state legislature
and bursts into full splendor in the national
house OF Representatives. As the'blossoms begin
70 wither and die the tree is transferred TO the
senate, where 1t rarely retains its character but
or1es up and transformed into Presidential orCab-
met timber so 1t is that the zenith OF politicians
NE reached when he is seated in the lower House
oI the National Legislature, and 1t was therefore
10 seat In the reporters gallery OF that House
taat TEE STAR reporter escorted the political Mr..
TYPE, upon his expressing desire to take glance
at some OF Americas leading politicians.
THE SPEAKER.
Speaker Carlisle is, OF course, the first figure
which attracts the eye. As he calls the House TO
oroer MS tau slender STOPPING form, about which
his long black coat falls in questionable, though
NOT lnartist1c wrinkles, is Strengthened, and his
luStefless eyes brighten with the fires OF fntelli-
gence winch burn within his well-shaped, we'll
poised head, His face is careworn and the sunken
cneekS and pallid brow tell OF the worry and anX-
iety which are the price OF speakership hOnors He
looks the 1mpersonation OF intelligence, but very
weary. rather disguised, impersonauon. At times,
When heated political debate is in progress, he
moves uneaslly In his chair, as though impatient
at the restraint which keeps him out OF the CON-
Oat; AT other times. when during some long night
session the House resolves itself into circus. the
performers In which are all clowns, he throws him.
sell back In his chair and casts glance OF ineffa-
disguised with himself at being Obliged to act the
part ofringmaster at such humliating exhibition.
but Carlisle Is neither combat1ve nor wanting In
astrong sense OF humor. When on the door ne rarely
entered into debate OF partisan character and on
those rare occasions never descended to PERSONAL
ties Prone to lazlness, 1t was only when some con-
Stltutlonal question was being discussed that ne
completely tn ew on his apathy, and levelled legal
aances VIII nus political opponenta His speeches.
OF S not q, Of sner
ton, but because Of their earnestness and OF the
evident belief OF the speaker In the truth Of his
humor, and was ever ready to join Ia a laugh at
his own expense. As Speaker he has been impair
lal IN his decslons-a little too impartial some OF
MS democratic supporters think-and he has prob
ably more warm personal friends on the repupli-
can slde OF The House than On the side OF his po1t
zeal adherenta In fact his elevation to the
speaXership is not wholly undue to the high es-
TEEN with which his republican colleagues re-
gdrded him. While locally popular he was not
Wen known IN national point OF view until Sena-
tor Frye, OF Mains, then q memo r OF the house,
brought him into promi nence In speech in which
democrats and democratic measures We're scath-
lngly denounced by excepting Mr.. Carlisle by
name, and declaring him TO be ''the tewei OF the
democratic party" This declaration was received
with round or applause from the republicans,
and the eyes Of democrats were opened TO lie TACT
r. a
popular leIder who would gain for their party the
confluence or the country.
Mr.. RANDALL
AS a speaker, Mr. Carlisle has one fault which
was not Shared by his predecessor In the presiding
officers chair, Samuel J. Randall OF Pennsylvania
He has not that strength Of will which character
Heu the latter gentleman when he welded the
gavel. Carlisle's "no" means ''no" with "but"
or an except" or an -unless" AFTER it; Randalrs
mo" meant mo" with procession Of exclamation
marks in its wax In d. ure and In face not un.
ike Carlisle, Randall Is built on a somewh t
heavier frame. Like the speaker, his clothes
though OF finest broadcloth, might so far as fol,
loving the curves or his figure Is concerned have
Deen secured from the most original misfL estab-
lsnnent that ever graced chatham street, New
YORK, or "D street, Washington His stopped should.
ers serve only TO bring into greater prominence the
powerful muscles or his b OK, the breadth OF which
might even win the admiration OF Bostonian
The Intellectually OF his face Is only accumulated
Dy the rapid and frequent contraction OF his fore
mead as he eDdeavors to peer through near-sighted
SnStruct1on-or sOmnolence-of the House an
array OF figures from the book OF estimates
But II Is not often that he throws the House into
siumper his voice generally has the contrary ef-
feet; his tones wake and arouse to attention the
most indolent member. He is not an orator in the
ordinary acceptatIoL OF the term. His words are
not Wen chosen, his sentences are haiiing,
words are bold: his Sentences coa our rs;
speech may be. but 1t is ever .undaunted.
when he talks politics he deals sledge-hammer
blows, and does not dodge the returning str Ike.
Though the accepted leader OF a small minority OF
the party, and the scape-gOat upon whom the ma
1ority seek TO pie Its tariff sins or omission, Ran.
Dali Is not without many warm friends among
those who regard high tariff principles with the
same horror with which Satan Is supposed 10 view
molly water. In its hour OF diEest need the south
found In him a defender who, almost single
hande0, stood forth in successful battle for what
ne reg arded TO De justice right, and constitutional
liberty; and now the representatives OF that sec.
ton. loving not free trade less but liberty more,
cannot forget his good Offices. Randall 1, also a
Tavorite on the republican side OF the House. to
whlcn ne OFTEN pays social visit he and Tom
Reed. OF Maine, have always jocular remark 70
pass, and are evidently On the best Of terms He
IS the only man on the democratic side with whom
Reed does not care TO enler into debate. Superior
70 Randall In ready wit, sharp repartee In dulcet
dow or language, In sa casm, In voice. Reed is
vastly his Inferior in force, In blunt energy, in
simplicity OF expression In passion OF utterance;
ana Reed, While an lndefatigabie hunter after
democratic skius in general usually turns back TO
camp when he finds the Randall tracks too fresh
upon Tie ucl1 Oh controversy.
REED, OF MAINE.
When one glances at Tom Reed the thought sup.
gests itself that had he been in the place or Guilt
yer the Liliputians would have had great trouble
In binding him to mother earth, or that. HAVING
been successful In that attempt, 1t would have
taken tho utmost nerve Of the most intrepid In.
habitant OF Lilliput to scale to the giddy heights
o. the mountain formed by his capaCiouS stomach
Tall and broad, he carries his mass or flesh with
ease and even with ace. His bald head does not
detract from the bOyish innocence and good M.
ture OF his face, which renders IL natural for his
friends 70 drop the formal "Mr.D and 10 use the
more familiar "IOm;" while the slightly celestial
character OF his eyes makes his sobrquet OF Jap.
anese Tommy" any hing but Inappropriate lie
was an unknown member OF the House, jif1dent
ana retlcens: sr w men. ne was placed upon the
threw on his shyness and entered on the work be-
fore him wlLh an energy and zeal which awakened
his colleagues and the country to the fact that be-
meath the surface OF the fat overgrown boy from
Maine there lurked an active, logical brain and a
courageous heart. In the course or one session he
jumped T, ON the rear-guard OF followers into the
front iank or leaders. There he has remained ever
since. he throws no bOmtshellS OF rhetoric into the
camp OF the enemy, but the mimic balls or sarcasm
and OF Wit with which he harnesses his Opponents
are far more dernoraiiz ng and dlsconcertlng. His
dlction Is PERFECT, and his cutting, raspipg
remarks glide OF his tongue without an effort
When speaking TO political Question-and he
rarely speaks 70 any other-hiS method or delivery
Is very exasperatlng TO his antagonists Leaving
his c.,air he careiessly ambles down the aisle 70
the space In front OF the Speakers desk, and with
one land In the pocket or his pantalovns and the
other resting easily on the nearest desk ne pro-
ceedS TO lecture the democratic party in much the
same tone that an axious moLner would use In
scOldlny her naughty children. "Of courser-he
seems to say" oelng democrats you can't help
being bad; but try be as little bad as you can
He tnen proceeds TO depict that badness with al.