The weekly tribune., 1891-12-12
SPEAKER CRISP.

What promised to be long and oh.
stinately fought contest over the spe ak
ership was ended Monday by the demo
ceatic caucus nominating George +,
Crisp of Georgia as its candidate for the
speakership. Roger q. Mills of Texas
was his most formidable opponent. 1t
can not be said there is any particular
political significance in the election of
the Georgia gentleman over his Texas
rival. though gossips have stated that
the contest between them was really Il
contest between Hill and Cleveland for
the presidential nomination next year,
Hills friends supporting Crisp while
Cleveland's admirers favored Mills. Nor
can it be interpreted as meaning that a
less vigorous fight will be made against
the tariff barons and the gigantic trusts
created by the Mckinley measure. The
contest was one of individual preferences,
no principle that would affect party in
terests being involved. The election of
Crisp makes Mills the leader of his party
upon the floor of the house.
Mr. Crisp is a younger man than Mills.
He is an Englishman by birth, and came
to America when quite young boy.
He has been member Of the house ten
or twelve years. and a leader OF his party
in that body during the past three ses-
sions. 1t was. however, during the
last congress that he distinguished him
self as a parliamentarian and a leader
He took up arms against Reed and
proved himself more than match for
that autocrat in the chair He met the
Maine man at every point and whether
in argument or wit he overwhelmed him
and made him appear the parllamcntarian
freebooter that he was. Tom Reed still
carries many sting inflicted by Crisp
He is by long odds the best parliament
arian In either branch of congress. The
election of Crisp makes the fourth
speaker the democrats have had since
the war-Kerr of Indiana. Sam Randall
of Pennsylvania, and Carlisle of Ken
lucky. Honors are even two northern
and two southern men.
Speaker Crisp's political creed may
be reduced to few words. In his letter
to the New York World in answer to
inquiries he said: Reduce taxation;
permit some reasonable competition in
the market; destroy trusts: accord equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none. Give the farmer free salt; give
him free cotton ties; give him some re-
luction on his hats, on his woolen
clothes and on his cotton goods You
cannot increase the price of the farmers
products by protective tariff duties but
you can decrease to them the cost of
production and of living by reducing
the tariff on those articles used to make
their crops and on those articles of nee
essity which all families must use"
The inference from these is plain. Mr..
Crisp would reduce the tariff on com
nodlties which the agricultural classes
consume. lie is the friend of the labor
ng man and would adjust the tariff in
lis interest and not in the interest of
great trusts and grasping corporations.
ic is sound on the silver question. The
White metal will not suffer at his hands.
lis votes are on record as favoring free
coinage. lie will not stultify it by any
diverse action upon his part. Mr. Crisp
s fair man and will accord the minor
ty a full hearing. There will be no gag
ulrs in force to silence the opposition.
There will be none Of Tom Reeds
'csp"tism IN the house during this Sos
ion Of congress.
SECEETAEN BLAINES very vigorous