The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-13
The Snubbing of Mr. Crisp at the Reform Club
Dinner Regarded as an Affront to the Ma
tional House of Representatives
Ovation Given the Speaker Yesterday
on His Appearance in the Chamber.
Grain and Cochran Loud in Denouncing the Con-
duct of Cleveland's Allies-The Georgian's
Candidacy Helped BY the Incident.
WAR ON MUGwUMPS.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-There IS war,
bloody war, between the Tammapy
hatehet and mugwump knife between the
regular Democracy and what Mr.. Cleve-
land called Its allies"
The concealed jealousies end animosities
of the discordant elements which have
elected Mr.. Cleveland to the presidency
were revealed as by fash at the Reform
Club dinner to the Democratic leaders in
Congress. The slight put upon Speaker
Crisp by f. Ellery Anderson, the
president Of the Reform Club. was the one
topic of converse tion at the Capitol to-day.
The feeling that an insult has been offered
to the Speaker, and not only TO the regular
Democracy, but to the dignity of the
House itself, found dramatic expression
this noon. When Mr.. Crisp entered the
hall of the House and walked to his chair,
spontaneous outburst of applause
Immediately followed his appearance 1t
was noticeable that this applause came
from the Republican side of the House
as well as from the Democratic. The
party enemies of Mr.. Crisp joined with his
own political associates in showing him
most emphatically their personal esteem
and their wish to rebuke the indignity
whIch the mugwumps had henped upon
him. Ex-Speaker Reed. who has always
been q personal friend of his successor in
the chair, was conspicuous in leading the
hand-clapping on the Republican side.
Mr.. Burrows. of Michigan. was equally
vehement In his applause, and rushed for
ward to the Speakers dais and shook Mr..
Crisp firmly by the hand.
Members OF the House of both parties
have been outspoken to-day in their de-
nunciation of what they consider the IN
hospitable and discourteous conduct of the
managers of tho Reform Club banquet.
The most frequent comment is that either
Mr.. Crisp should not have been invited at
sll, since he was not in political sympathy
with the Reform Club. or else that having
been invited. those in charge of the feast
should have not permitted Representative
Tom johnson, of Ohio. to deliver his
speech crlticising the Speaker and his
associates In the management of the House.
Moreover, it is felt that, having been in-
vIted to the dinner. Mr.. Crisp. as the
Speaker of the House. and hence ranking
second to the President-elect in the Demo-
cratic party. should not merely have been
requested, but urged, to make the speech
which was not delivered. Now that his
speech, which was not delivered, has been
published, 1t Is evident that il would have
been thoroughly in harmony with the
platitude delivered by Mr.. Cleveland him
self.
HAS HELPED CRIsP's CANDIDACY.
Should the feeling which now exists
among the members of this Congress who
have been reelected continue it is evident
that the opposition to the reelection of Mr.
Crisp as Speaker has received fatal blow.
The enemies of Mr.. Crisp and of his policy
within his own party have done him the
best possible service by their insult The
opposition to his reelection which. while
still unorganized. had begun to make it's
strength evident. would have chosen as it's
candidate either Mr.. Wilson. of West Vlr-
ginia. Mr.. Bynum, of Indiana, or Mr.
BreckinridGe. of Kentucky. but to-day the
regular Democracy as represented IN the
House, feels that the time has come to as
sert itself and TO stamp the despised mug
marked to-day that Mr. Anderson and his
club friends had practically made certain
the reelection Of Speaker Crisp.
The Associated Press correspondent in
discussing the insult to Mr. Crisp, says
that the first gun In the speakership con-
test of the FIfty-third Congress has been
fred by the Reform Club of New York.
and the battle is now on. 10 one respect
the declaration of hostilities at this early
stage of the session is favorable to Speaker
Crisp and his followers, as 1t tends TO solid
ify his forces for the coming contest and
make future surprises impossible. At the
opening of the House to-day almost
the only subject of discussion among
cident and so significant was the
matter interpreted to be that interest in
the episode rather increased than d.
minished as the day progressed. While
in New York may tend somewhat to preju-
dice the Speakers interests throughout
the country, there Is no doubt the atfront
has caused reaction in his behalf among
Congressman themselves who, in the
end. must elect the Speaker of
the Fifty-third Congress, the Incl
dent appears, therefore, to have really
siren gthened the candidacy of Mr. Crisp.
While the Reform Club was doubtless in
ignorance of the philippe which Tom
Johnson. of Ohio. pronounced against the
Speaker and Chairman Springer, OF the
ways and means committee, the disposition
of Congressman Is to consider Mr.. John
sons utternnces and the disoourresy
offered Speaker Crisp. by his hosts
as only parts of plan winch has
Its origin out of Congress. and
which Is the attempt of o New York
II
of the Fifty-third ConGress. For the first
time there 10 q desire expressed for a list of
the mem bership of the Reform Club" and
Mr.. w. Bourke Cochran and others who
have succeeded In examining such a list
assert that at all times the mugwumps and
Republicans are able TO control the desti-
nies and policies of the Reform Club. and
that. therefore. it is not much of o Demo-
cratic club after all.
TRYING TO SHIELD CLEVELAND.
There is q general impression in congress
sional circles that Mr.. Cleveland and
Speaker Crisp have thorough understand
ing as to the tariff reform course to be pur.
sued in the Fifty-third Congress- and that
tho President elect was in entire ignorance
of tho intended slight to be placed upon
Speaker Crisp and. in his position as q
guest. powerless to prevent it. even had he
suspected 1T. after looking over the pro-
gramme of the evening. Members are to-
day comparing the speech of
Mr.. Cleveland and the one intend
ed to be deliveeed by Mr.. Crisp
and find therein remarkable accord on the
methods to be pursued in the reform of the
tariff. Speaker Crisp's speech. had IL been
delivered Saturday night, would have
shown that while in the present Congress,
with a RepnblIcan Senate. he favored the
tentative plan of separate bills his opin-
- l. - "a