The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-11
WAS NOT FOUND WANTING
Speaker Crisp Has Been Tried by
His Friends and His
Enemies.
Imperturbable In a Terrific Up
roar Caused by Gear
Reed.
Personal Description by . Collsague-His
Position on the Subject OF
Tariff Reform.

Amos j.. Cummings, the w~ell-known New
York cong ressma ian, furnishes this sketch:
'Crisp 10 always at ease upon the floor.
Rarely will you find him absent. He
watches the proceedings of the house az
closely as the Watchdog of tho treasury.
His speeches show much thought and re-
search. Tn logic ia clear and convincing.
There Is no striving for effect. Assured ap.
p~arently that he is right in his own convic.
tions, in the simplest words and most COM
pact sentences he tries to drive them into
the minds of his hearers. In gesture he is
forcible and illustrative. His voice lis re-
markedly clear at the opening Of an ar9u-
ment, but strained at to high a pitch, it be-
comes hoarse and threatening. CRISP never
rises without commanding the ears of the
house. Eve y seat within range of his
voice is filled. and their occupants listen in
rapt attention. His eloquence is found At
times in the quaint simplicity OF his argu-
ment. Il is almost irresistible in its effect.
"Ihe confidence of his patty in Mr..
Crisp has been shown more than once. At
tho opening of the Fiftieth congress-
Speaker Carlisle refused to appoint the
committee on elections. His W sent was
contested by Mr.. ThGbe, md he asked the
house to select the committee. Each sido
OF the house ooncurred, and appointed n
committee to make the selection. The
democrats, being in the majority, were to
pick out a chairman. Upon the committee
to do this were Samuel j. Randall, William
s. Holman, Gen. Burnes, of Missouri,
Gen. Forney, of Alabama. and others, in
Guiding the writer. All cast their eyes
upon ono man in looking for a chairman
for the committee on elections. This man
was Charles r. Crisp. No other name was
mentioned. He was sent for and asked to
accept the place. 1t was a magnificent
tribute to his sagaoity and abil-
ity. Although he had served
only four years in the house,
his party we're urging upon him the chair
manship Of it's leading committee. Upon
the roll of committees of tho house the COM
mite on elections takes precedence of the
ways and means. Crisp knew the require
ments of the place. Intense application.
careful inquiry and the power to cope with
the men in the ranks OF the OPP
position were necessary. At the urgent
solicitation of his party associates the
Georgian came to the front. He lost the
chairmanship of the committee on Pacific
railroads, to which he was entitled by the
retirement of Gov. Throokmorton, but
gained q place whore he was ever in the
eyes of the people, and where he became a
recognized leader of his party in the house.
mo one questions Crisp's Judgment or
his self-control. At one time Speaker Reed
tried not only to throttle him with tvran-
nical rulings but treated him with agra
waiting insoIence. 1t was in the desperate
fight attending the placing of John M.
Langston in the seat Of Edward G. Venable.
While the house was in call the speaker as
ceruained that a quorum was present and
ordered the clerk to call the roll upon the
approval of the journal. Tbs Reed rules
provided that while the house was in call
only two motions were in order. One was
II motion to adjourn and the other to dis
pense with further proceedings under the
call. Mr.. G lisp raised a point of order aud
called the attention OF tho speaker to the
plain wording of the rule. Caught dead to
rights, Reed was on fire in a moment lie
tried to bulldoze the Georgian and awak-
ened the true Georgia grit.
"'The clerk can read the journal without
objection said the man from Maine.
50 object replied Mr.. Crisp. Such ac.
tion is Unprecedented. Such a suggestion
has never been made in the history of con-
gress.'
'Well,' replied the speaker with much
Rcerbity, it's time that it was made
cat this the republicans raised a shout of
encouragement. Crisp remained standing
perfectly impertutbable, until the tumult
had subsidized.
"'1hat is the Judgment of the chair he
then replied. The chair is not the master
of this house, but its servant. He must
obey it's order.'
"lseed was white witt. rag Democrats
broke into applause in their turn. and the
republicans cried for the regular ordes.'
1.-The gentleman from Georgia need not
recommence,'" the speaker Overwhelmingly
observed as soon as quiet was restored.
with great dignity Mr. Crisp replied:
'The gentleman will insist upon his rights.
No tyrant can take them from him.
"At this the republicans fairly screamed
for the regular order. Mr.. Rowell. ohair-
man of the committee on elections, OBJ
tanned recognition.
'''I make the point Of ORDER he shouted,
that tho remarks of the gentleman from
Georgia are out of ORDER
"'No more 80 than the remarks of the
speaker Crisp calmly replied.
"Ihis remark touched the GEAR like a hot
iron. His eyes flashed, his cheeks flushed,
and he brought his gavsl down with dou-
ble-fold vengeance.
"'The gentleman from Georgia will take
his scat!' he roared.
Crisp remained as calm as a May morn.
Unlike many of his colleagues when suffer
ing from similar tyrannical outbursts, he
recognized the amenities of the situation.
"'Certninly the gentleman from Georgia
will take his seat he replied with perfect
composure, but he will rise, resent and re-
ply to any similar intimation from the
chair hero or elsewhere
He took his seat, but carried lis point.
A Wisconsin republican pulled the speaker
out of the mud by moving to dispense with
all further proceedings under the call.
This was carried and the house got down to
its party business.
mn. Crisp has a very clear complexion.
blue eyes, q straight, well-formed nose, and
II brown mostasche. His head is bald, and
his tanners refined and agreeable. lie has