The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-13
DID HE MEAN IT?
WAS ELLERY ANDERSON TRYING 70
SNUB SPEAKER CRISP
why the Speaker Did Not bpeak NJ Ahe1
Banquet of the Reform Club Last sat
urday-AnderSOn Criticised.

Washington. December 11-(Special)--
Though Speaker Crisp was one OF the
guests of honor at the Reform Club ban
quet last night and though he occupied
position at the speakers table almost next TO
Mr. Cleveland he was not called upon tor
a speech.
During the progress of the banquet there
were repeated calls from all over the house
for Crisp" Crisp" but Mr.. Ellery An
derson, who presided, ignored the calls for
Crisp and called upon other gentlemen VINO
were not even at the speakers table to de-
liver brief addresses
Among them were other members of the
house. Representative Tom johnson, OF
Ohio. The Henry George congressman at
tackled the house vjciously and no one was
called upon to defend it, though the ban
queter cried repeatedly for Crisp. VI course
the fact that Mr.. Crisp was not called upon
has been freely commented on here TODAY,
and without exception the democratic mem
bers of congress now IN WASH
ington are disgusted with the
proceedings 1t is said by members who
have returned from New York that Mr.
Cleveland said that it was a great mistake
and regretted 1t very much.
Was 1t Premedttated?
The majority of members here say 1t
was the result of one of two causes, either
Mr. Ellery Anderson as presiding officer did
not understand the etiquette of such an oc-
casion, or else it was premedltated pro
graIpme to have Speaker Crisp there and
then to invite other members Of the house
to speak and to ignore him.
There are those here who are of the optn-
ion that it is the programme Of the Re
form Club to defeat MT. CrIsp
last session and by more than twO-th1rdS
if possible and that they are endeavoring
to get Mr.. Cleveland on their side, but the
men who advance that idea say that Mr..
Cleveland must be Disguised with such
acts as that Of last night.
AS to defeating Judge CriSps reelection
that is out of the question. A large ma
jority of the members of the house are out
spoken in favor of his reelection.
Mr.. Cleveland Did Not Endorse 1t.
prominent member of the house,
personal friend of Mr.. Cleveland, said to
me this evening:
Mr.. Cleveland certainly takes no stock
in the rabd views expressed there last
night and evidently does not endorse the
sIaps that Mr.. Eilery Anderson made at
prominent democratic leaders In his ad-
dress, and especially the way he ignored
Mr. Crisp.
Mr. Fairchild's statement that Mr.. Crisp
was not called upon because there were
so many other pr0mlneHtS democrats makes
it evident that the plan to snub him was
prearranged by few men, but | have no idea
that more than Il few were In it. But In
stead of iniuring Mr. Crisp it will make all
true democrats rally around him. They
know that Mr.. Cleveland nor any other
democrat was party to 1t.
The Way n Southern Senator Puts It.
A southern senator, one of the leaders
of the party. said:
1t was an outrage. The presiding of
ficcr of the club permitted guest of the
club to be inSulted. SU'h acts will make
the Reform Club OdOus to democrats. Its
own members. | have no doubt, are dis
gusted with the acts Of its officer"
Mr.. Blanchard. of Louisiana, said: ''The
Reform Club made a serious blunder in
not calling OH Mr. Crisp for II speech. 1t
allowed member of the house of repre-
sentatives to attack the housan re- snapc,f
and then did not call upon he spec.
of the house for reply ThetiquetsnU.e ~
the occasion should certainly haye required
the speaker to be called upon for an adj
dress before any otuer members of the
house who might have been present 1t
was either a premeditated plan or else
very unfortunate blunder. | am sure that
Mr.. Cleveland could not endorse the occur
renee. ] believe almost every other mem
Der of the house of representatives feels
about this matter as ! DO have heard
mary expressions of indignation. Instead
of injuring Mr.. Crisp, however, it will
make him friends. Democrats do not
believe i'll any such performance as that
of last night"
Crisp Won't he Hurt by It.
Mr. Robertson OF Louisiana. said:
81 cannot understand the failure of Mr..
Anderson to call upon Speaker Crisp.
Perhaps it was premeditatcd. Perhaps it
not. but it will not injure Mr.. Crisp"
The members of the house almost with
out an exception are criticisng Tom John
son very severely upon his speech reflect
ing upon the house.
The report sent out by the press from
New York last night that Speaker Crisp
left the banquet early in q lit of anger
IS incorrect. He WAS one of the last per-
sons to leave after every thing had been
concluded.