Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-08
CRISP, THE SPEAKER.


Speaker of the House by the Democratic
caucus last night. belongs to Americus. Ga.
He is 46 years old. He was born in England,
but was brought to this country when an In
FAINT. His parents were well-known Thes-
plans. Crisp attended the public schools in
Savannah and Macon. He entered the Con-
federate army when 16, and became lieu
tenant in a Virginia regiment. After three
years service he was captured and sent to
Fort Delaware. At the end OF the war he
was released. His folks were then living at
Ellaville, schley county, Ga. Young Crisp
read law for year and was then admitted
to the bar. He practiced law in Ellaville for
six years, and was then appointed Solici Tor
General OF the Southwestern Judicial Cir
cult. In 1873 he located permanently in
Americus Four years later he became
Judge of the Superior Court, and i've years
afterward resigned it toaccept n nomination
to Congress. He presided over the Georgia
Democratic State Convention in the ensuing
year, and entered the House of Representa-
tives at the beginning of the session in 1888.
He has served eight years.
In the House he took front rank as
worker and a speaker. Crisp is always at
ease upon the floor. Rarely will You find
him absent. He watches the proceedings of
the House as closely as the watchdog of the
Treasury. His speeches show much thought
and research. The logic is clear and con-
Tincing. There is no striving for effect. His
eloquence is found at times in the quaint
simplicity of his argument. 1t is almost ire
sstible in its effect
The confidence of his party in Mr.. Crisp
has been shown more than once. At the
opening of the Fiftieth Congress. Speaker
Carlisle refused to appoint the Committee on
Elections. His own seat was contested by
Mr.. ThHbe, and he asked the House to select
the committee. Each side of the House con-
CURED, and appointed a committee to make
the selection. The Democrats, bong in the
majority, were to pick out a Chairman.
Upon the committee to do this were Samuel
j. Randall, William S. Holman. General
Burnes. of Missouri, General Forney, of
Alabama, and others. All cast their eyes
upon one man in looking for a Chairman for
the Committee on Elections. This man was
Charles F. Crisp. No other name was men-
toned. He was sent for and asked to accept
the place. 1t was a magnificent tribute to
his sagacity and ability. Upon the roll of
committees of the House the Committee on
Elections takes precedence of the Ways and
Means. Crisp knew the requirements of the
place. Intense application. careful inquiry,
and the power to cope with the shrewdest
men in the ranks of the opposition 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 Governor
ThrockmortOn, but gained place where he
was. ever in the eyes of the people, and
where he became a recognized leader of his
party in the House.
No ONE questions Crisp's Judgment or his
self-control. At one time Speaker Reed tried
not only to throttle him with tyrannical
rulings, but treated him with aggravating
insolence. 1t was in the desperate fight at
tending the placing of John NJ. Langston in
the seat of Edward C. Venable. While the
House was i'll call, the Speaker ascertained
that a quorum was present and ordered the
clerk to call the roll upon the approval of
the journal. The Reed rules provided that
while the House was in call only two motions
were in order. One was motion to adjourn
and the other to dispense with further pro-
ceedings under the call. MI. Crisp ruised a
point of order, and called the Speakers at
tentiOn to the plain wording of the rule.
Caught dead to rights Reed was on fire in a
moment. He tried to bulldoze the Georgian
and awakened the true Georgia grit.
"The clerk can read the journal without
objection" said the man from Maine.
81 object" replied Mr.. Crisp. "Such ac-
tion is unprecedented. Such a suggestion
has never been made in the history of Con-
"well," replied the Speaker, with much
acerbity, "it's time that it was made.
Al this the Republicans raised shout of
encouragement Crisp remained standing,
perfectly imperturbable, until the tumult
had subsided.
THAT is the Judgment of the Chair" he
of this House. but its servant. He must obey
it's order.''r sEt
Reed was white with rage Democrats
broke into applause in their turn, and the
Republicans cried for the Irregular ORDER"
'The gentleman from Georgia need not
recommence,'' the Speaker threateningly
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, Char
man of the Committee on Elections, obtained
recognition.
II make the point of order" he shouted,
"that the remarks of the gentleman from
Georgia out of order.''
mo more so than the remarks of the
Speaker" Crisp calmly replied.
This remark touched the Gear like a hot
iron. His eyes flashed, his cheeks flushed,
and he brought his gavel down with
double-fold vengeance.
..The gentleman from Georgia will take
his seat!' he roared.
Crisp remained rs calm as May morn
ing from similar tyrannical outbursts,
he recognized the amenities of the situa-
tion.
Certainly 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
here or elsewhere"
He took his seat, but carried his point. A
out of the mud by moving TO dispense with
all further proceedings under the call.
MARRIED A MONGoLIAN.