The record-union., 1892-10-29

Mr. Hafter and Mr.. Mckalg are very
good friends, and after the incident was
over both gentlemen rather enjoyed it
than otherwise.
One Saturday afternoon, a couple of
months or so ago, the House had good
deal OF fun. 4 few weeks before that Rep
resentatlye Walker of Massachusetts had
made speech in which he had severely
denounced Representative George Fred
Williams of the same State. When the
speech was published in the Record Mr..
W llIlamS moved that part of it be ''edi-
ted" and that some portions beexpunged.
The Democrats were in favor OF doing
this, but the Republicans opposed the
resolution, and after a good deal of fill
clustering 1t was agreed that Mr.. Walker
should have q chance of defending him
self before a vote was taken ON the mo-
tion to expunge. Mr.. Walker, who is a
gentleman of rather violent temper, and
with determination to always have his
own way, spent several days preparing
his defense, and the House looked for
ward TO hearing him read it with hopes
OF fun. They were not disappointed, and
it is doubtful if a speech" has ever be-
fore been made in Congress in Mr..
Walkers style.
WALKERS EXTRAORDINARY "sPEECH."
He opened his remarks by an essay on
the freedom of debate, and then to prove
that he was no greater an offender than
many other mem hers he had carefully
cOllated all the unpleasant things which
the Democrats had said about Speake
Reed during the turbulent scenes in the
last Congress, and truth compels me to
add that they had given utterance 10 some
pretty sharp remarks. But Mr.. ak
er's method was decidedly original.
Every extract had been cut out of the Con-
greSSiOisdL RecOrd and pasted OH a sepa-
rate slip of paper. These he had headed
with title, aud these titles gave the meat
of the attack. Every quotation began
with the words ''in which, as, for in
stance, In which the Democrats iikened
Mr.. Reed TO heather idol,' and then
MIR. Walker read how Democrat in the
last Congress had claimed that the Re-
publicans bowed down before Speaker
Reed as the heather did to his idol and
said to himself: ''No ou are not handsome,
but you are certainly great Such things
as these kept the House III one continu-
GUS roar, and even Mr.. Reed had to join
in the general laughter.
AS Mr.. Walker spoke for more than a
couple of hours he naturally got tired be-
fore he had finished, and to save his voice
as much as possible he alternated with
the clerk in reading the extracts. A corps
Of pages was kept busy in carrying copy
from Mr.. Walker TO the Clerks desk, but
before Mr.. Walker let the copy go out OF
lis MINUS ne uiWdSS I0du LuS Litl6. lllNd-
riably beginning with, I'm which," Mr..
Walkers manuscript was so bulky that
some of the sheets got mixed up, and
Representative Boutelle of Maine had to
come to his assistance to try to straighten
things out.
But Mr. Boutelle had 10 give the job up
alter ten minutes hard work, and while
the House waited and looked on and
laughed and un1eeling remarks were
mazda from tho Homo sid 10 haa l,r,.
OF the speech was trying to unravel the
Chinese puzzle. Once page boy did not
move fast enough to please Mr.. Walker
and he called out to him, Here boy,
here; hurry upl' and when the badly
scared youngster made q rush for that
gentleman's desk Mr.. Walker shook him
by the hand, patted his head and told him
always to be good boy and he might be
happy. Altogether it was a very comical
| incident.
HAD AN AUDIENCE OF TWO.
Perhaps the most remarkable scene
which was ever witnessed in either branch
of Congress occurred a few years ago. a
tariff debate was pending and new MEM
Der with ambitions had shown decided
symptoms of intiicting his maiden effort
on the House. AS other and more import
ant men were anxious to talk the new
man was crowded out, and it was finally
=
be being heard at an evenings session.
Much reioiced he determined that he
would make a speech which would cause
even the old stagers to open their eyes,
and when he wended his way to the cap
itol that evening his bosom was swelling
with pride, and he mentally pictured to
himself the plaudits which would greet
him when he sat down, and how his col
leagues would gather about his seat and
welcome the latest Demosthenes.
Alas for the ignorance of youth! This
member did not know that it is rare in
deed when more than a mere handful OF
members attend an evening session, and
on this particular evening it so happened
that besides the temporary Speaker the
attendance consisted of just two persons
the new member, who was to make his
great tariff speech for the benefit of him
self and his constituents, and one other
man who by some mistake had been
curious enough to wander up on Capitol
Hill,
The Speaker pro tenn. decided that, de-
spite the slim attendance, the session
should be held. He brought his gavel
down on the desk and declared the House
to be in order, and then the new member
started in and launched out with his dis
sertation on the tariff. The sole auditor
had to remain and listen TO it, while the
Speaker yawned and twisted about in his
CIldlI anu w ASIGu bllS ldIC6 NOulu
come to am end. For two mortal hours
the new member spoke to empty chairs.
Having finished his speech the "audi-
ence" got up and said: "Mr. Speaker"
and that functionary replied, 1.-THE gen
tleman from Blank
Il move the House do now adjourn" !"
the member said.
With betitting gravity the Speaker said:
''It has been moved that the House do
now adjourn. All those in favor will say
aye, opposed no."
Two ''ayes' came out of that vast space
The Speaker brought his gavel down with
bang and declared the House adjourned,
and the new member. his colleague and
the Speaker went out in the night air.
while a few days later the constituents of
the new member read his great speech
and came to the conclusion that the dis
trict was represented by one of the great
est statesmen the country had ever pro-
duced.