The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-20
FIGHTERS IN CONGRESS.
THERE ARE MANY HARD HITTERS
ON BOTH SIDES.
But the Most Graceful Fighter Is Gen.
Oates of Alabama-Randau is the
Achilles of the Democratic Wing-A
Passage Of Arms between Tom Reed
and Bill SprinUer

and Bill Springer.
(Copy7ioht 1881
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-The combative
element in congress has again attracted
public attention. II has been brought to
the front by the battle royal waged over
the proposition to change the rules Of the
House Of Representatives. Each combat
ant struck from the shoulder and with the
vim born Of hot head and a hostile heart.
The conflict has been fought in a measure
on the lines of personal interest,
and has been proportionately bitter.
All legislative bodies contain men who
would rather fight than eat This House is
no exception. Indeed, the percentage here
appears to be larger than usual. From the
dawn of its legislative existence to its twi-
light, the race of oratorical ability has been
| almost incessaut. Intellectual explosives
have filed the air, and the fields q battle
have been Redeemed by contending parlia-
mentary squadrons. Politically the COM
| bative element is about equally divided.
| On the republican side it includes Reed,
| Cannon, Anderson of Kansas, Payson,
Payne, Browne of Indiana, Dmgley,
| Butterworth and others. The democracy
| is represented by Oates, Mills, McMillin,
aud some Of their associate. Randall is
the Achilles of the democratic wing He
remains in his tent until great occasion
calls him into the swirl o, battle.
Gen. William c. Oates of Alabama is
probably the most magnificent of these
| fighters. His pluck and endurance were
| thoroughly tested in the fight over the di
rect tax refInding bill. The general was
| born in Alabama flfty-three years ago. He
was a poor child and he is self educated.
He served in the confederate army during
the war, was wounded four times, and
| finally lost an arm in his twenty-seventh
battle. He is lawyer by profession. The
general made his first appearance in poll
| tics as a delegate to the rational convention
which nominated Horatio Seymour for the
| presidency. After serving two terms in
! the Alabama le9isat ire, he ran for gov
| ernor Of that state and was defeated. In
the same year he ran for congress and
suffered a second defeat. In 1873 be was the
| chairman of the Judiciary committee OF th3
| A bIma constitutional convention. lie
| has served eight ears in co gress, and was
reelected last fall. Oates represents what
| is known as the Eufaula district He is a
| well-knit gentleman, with keen eyes,
forid face, and gray hair a I'd mustache.
He looked something like John Swinton.
| His empty sleeve swings at his side. He
writes readily with his fit hand. The gen
| tIdl vi CSS-o III bltACh, hil NIAAo nv p 'AA
studs and gold watch chain, bearing
the insignia Of a royal arch mason. His
| fight over the direct tax refunding bill be-
gan las5 winter 1t was based on purely
constitutional grounds. There was hardly
a corporalS guard at his back when he
| openeG fire, The most of the legislatures
! of the states, whose TREASURES wOuli be filled
| by the passage of the bill had urged their
congressional delegations t. vote for the
measure. The genera, at first tried 10 make
| it an educational campaigl. With this
point in view, he sought time for discussion.
| The supporters of the bill refused it. Their
majo ity was so great and their
| triumph apparently so sure that they were
| disposed to carry things with a high hand
! Oates and his little army, however, stood
| ike L}onidas at the pass Of Tnermopyl@.
| Con. Weaver of Iowa and young Breckin-
| ridge Of Arkaus rs acted as his lieuteuants.
| They began TO filibu5ter, and finally threw
| the House into deadlock. This las led for
nearly week. The scenes of the au-night
sessio s awoke the whole country. The
| deadlock was at last broken by the action Of
a democratic caucus. Oltes had Or ginally
| asked for only six hours debate. TIE eau
Gus recommended the postponenent of tho
| question until after the presidential election
and gave three DAYS for discussion. The
proposition was gladly accepted by the ma
| jority.
Inc CnTee Jays NJ NJ pagan on O5C. D. II
was a battle of giants. The general dis
| played superhuman energy. His arsu-
| me lts were convincing, a1d his facts unas-
sailable Men like Randall, Bacon of New
York, Buckalsw, Bymen, 2 t Collins, Sun
set Cox, French, Lawer, Mash, McAdoo,
Russell of Massachusetts, Spinola and
Vance, who would undoubtedly have voted
for the bill at it's Inception, gave way I'M
der the irresistible arguments Of its oppO-
nents, and voted against it. Many did tlis
in defiance of the expressed will of their
state legislatures. The corporaps guard of
last winter hal increased to uinety-sx men
when the vote was taken, and the measure
did not get two-third' majority. In
full House there would have ueen ITO
votes against it. Tho bill is now in tue
Senate, where it is grounded upon a sea
lsla I'd a men iment a lopted in the House.
There is every prospect that it will be We
tosd by the Preside 1t. IL so the House
will undoubtedly sustain the veto, and
Oates will win his fight None Of Napoleon's
ma rshals ever won greater victory.
The most combative in disposition Of the
republicans appears to bs the Rev. John A.
And srson of Kansas. There are four An
dersons in the House, and John seems to do
the talking the VIII lie ia nily. He is an
ardent champion of the rights of the people.
He watches railroad legislation as an Os-
prey watches school of mulet, and he
trDtnS at the mouth VINE the RACINE r al
draws a long breath. Anderson was born
in Pennsylvania nearly fiftY-fiye years ago.
A graduate of Miami university, he filed
tn pulpit Of a Presbyterian church in San
Francisco when Cora and Caiey were
hanged by vigilance comm ttee. He was
a chaplain in the army, aud saw consider
able service a nong the Norm ms. He has
been in congress ten years, and bids fair to
remain here ten year longer. 1t is the only
elective Office ne has ever filed. He fl hts
on the slightest provocation, AMI has the
grip Of bnll dog he would have made
splendid lieatenant for Joshua Of the scrip
lures. With Anderson to rally the troops
thsre would have been no necessity for the
sun to stand still, and fjr the moon to squat
over the valley of Ascalon. Anderson has
an admirable physique. His hair stands
up like the hair of a Jackson. His eyes are
sharp and gray, and his tongue is active
and incisive. He led the fight against the
proposed c1ange In the rules of the House.
Its object he quickly OWNED. His hostility
was rooted in his hatred Of the Pacific rail
road re undiag bill Under a change Of the
rules this bill might be dragged before the
House. Without cha go Anderson could
throttle it. Like all rip-rosring preachers,
he is man of intense conviction. These
convictions led him into uncompromising
antagonism to the leader Of his party 4 tue
House, who posed as the champion Of the
committee Oh rules.
Not less combative in nature Is the Hon.
VIM NJ SprlnQer of Illinois No man