New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-12
SPEAKER CRISP SNUBBED.
TURNED DOWN" BY THE REFORM CLUB.
NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK AFTER HE HAD PRE-
PARED HIS ADDREss-HIs FRIENDS
AMAZED AND INDIGNANT.


of the Democratic President-elect was the absorb
Ing topic yesterday among politicians Of all grades
That the man holding the third highest Office in
rank, and the second in importance, in the United
States. his friends declare, and the highest
Democratic official at present in the country
should lie treated with studied neglect and insult
| az great jubilee feast prepared 10 celebrate the
victory Of tariff feform seemed to many incredi-
BILE, yet the plain facts of the matter will allow
no other construction.
Speaker Crisp came from Washington on Sat
| urday for the express purpose of attending the
dinner of the Reform Club. having received an in
vitation, which was couched in language which led
him to believe that he would be expected to speak
Before leaving Washington he had prepared an
address. and after his arrival here had given
II TO the newspaper men. who sent copies OF it
with the other speeches to the New-Yorl papers
! and telcgraphed it over the country with the
| regular reports Of the proceedings at Madison
Square Garden where the dinner took place. Not
only did the Speaker suppose that he upon
the list of invited speakers, but this also
the impression giveT t. the public in advance
notices Of tic affair, which were printed in scy
eral of the Democratic papers here, and Were
sent ont by the Ncw-Yorll correspond
cnts OF the press in most of the
larger cities of the land. presumably inspired
| by the committee Of the Reform Club.
| having charge Of that part of the much-hcraldcd
! entertainment Mr.. Crisp was permitted to occupy
a prominent place a. the raised table, where sat
the orators Of the evening. f. Ellery Anderson,
Of Mugwnmp and AntSnappcr fame, presided,
with Mr.. Cleveland az his right, and Chairman
w. =. Ilarrity, OF the Democratic National Com
mittce, at his lcft hand Mr. Crsp's seat was
next TO that Of the National Chairman, and be-
side the Speaker was ex-Secrctary Carl Schurz and
next TO him cat Ex-Governor James f. Campbell,
of Ohio. On the other side of the presiding
officer Senator Carlisle, of Kentucky: Sena-
tor Roger Q. Mill', of Texas, whom Mr.. Crisp
year ago defeated for the office Which he now
holds; General p. i. Collins Of Massachusetts,
William l.. Wilson, Of West Virginia, and Thomas
l.. Johnson, of Ohio After he had listened to the
eloquence of all these great Democrats, and when
the hands Of the big clock in the dining-hall
pointed to within a quarter of an hour TO MD
night, the face OF the eminent Georgian, who
wields the gnvel in the lower house, took on
disturbed look
An angry flush maniled his cheek as the full
force of the slight to which he was to be sub
jectcd dawned upon him. Tie Speaker arose
from his chair and without word to any one
walked hastily to the cloalIroom, put on his hat
and overcnat and abruptly left the building.
rumor WIS started that he had been taken IN.
but to a reporter who followed him Mr.. Crisp de
MED that lbs health in the least affected
Aren't you poirg to speal?' lie was asked.
- sn not" Mr. Crisp replied.
WHY" was the next question.
Because it seems that | have not been in
vitcd to speak, was the Speakers answer
But your speech has already been sent out
TO all the newspapers of the country, Just as
you prepared it TO be delivered here,' returned
the aetonished reporter.
That is true enough" said Mr. Crisp with
tremOr in his voice, which showed that his
effort at calmncss not wholly successful
i was invited to the dinncr, and my invita-
tion was worlcd in such a way that | under
stood that | was to be called upon TO make
an address | prcpa;ed one and gave it to
members Of the press. at their request. The
imCre,sion sccms 20 have been general that |
had been asked 70 speak. However, | have not
been asked 10 speak tonight With this he
closed the interview. strobe ont into the street
ard entering a carriage, was driven 70 the
Hoffman House. where he was staying. The
Speaker left the city Cor Washington at ; o'clock
yesterday morning.
1t was said yesterday that friend of Mr. Crisp
who was at the dinner in the expectation OF hcar-
ing the Speakers address seeing ore after another
of the men on the orators rostrum introduced as
the night was waning. and fearing from an inti-
nation that he had heard that Mr.. Crisp was to
he ignored, induced member Of the Reform Club
near him to send a note to Mr. Anderson inviting
his intention 10 his omission TO call upon the
Speaker. Mr. Anderson, however, took no notice
of the hint, and his manner at the moment of
reading the note convinced Mr.. Crisp and his
friends that the slight intentional.
Mr.. Anderson denied yesterday that there
any purpose on the part Of the promoters of the
dinner or the members of the Reform Club to in
suit Mr. Crisp or trile with his feelings.
His name was not the list of speakers at
the dinner" Mr.. Anderson said, "and nobody
WHO had anything 10 do with the arrangements of
the evening. thought Of asking him to speak.
How he got the impression that he would be
called upon | an sure cannot say. have seen
ex-Secretary FairchiId who was chairman of the
committee OH speakers, and Congressman John
Dewitt Warner, who a member Of that COM !
m,tee and | asked them what reason Speaker
Crisp had for supposing that he was to lie called
Nd They both lod me that he had 10 grounds
for his suppositon whatever The same identical
form Of invitation was sen; to him that was sent
TO all the other guests, cxccp, those who were ex
pec,ed 10 make speeches. They said that the com |
mitce never, at any time, considered the propriety |
of asking Nj Crisp to speak az the Reform Club |
dinner.
Congressman Benton NcMlin of Tennessee,
who WAS a candidate for Speaker against Crisp, |
was one of the prominent men NJ the dinner and |
sat on the opposite side Of the raised table from
Ills successful competitor IL should be- rcmem-
hrrcd that Mr. McMn threw the weight of his
ia the contest for the Texas candidate,
but TOO late in the battle 10 do Mr. Milo any |
good The Tennessee Congressman was asked y'r-
fcrlay what he thought Of the Reform CLUBS snuD
Of Speaker Crisp. ,
Bon't ask me-" replied Nlr. McMlllln, bhthely,
don't know anything about 1t, and l refuse 10
say word until | am in possession of all the
facts" But he was evidently in no sorroWing
can exnloi1 this thing, said well-known
,Io pof,r t'lub Yesterday and in