Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-13

by the Reform Club OF New York, and
the battle is now on.
In one respect the declaration OF hos
tilities at this early stage OF the session
is favorable to Speaker Crisp and his
followers as it tends to solidify his fore
es for the coming contest and make fu-
ture surprises impossible. AT the open
ing of the House to-day almost the only
subject OF discussion among members
was the Reform Club incident and so
significant was the matter interpreted
to be that interest in the episode rather
increased than diminished as the day
progressed. While the slight offered
the Speaker by his hosts In New YORK
may tend somewhat to prejudice
the Speakers interests throughout the
country, there Is no doubt the affront
has caused a reaction in his behalf
among the members In this city. AS IL
is the Congressman themselves who, In
the end, must select the Speaker OF the
Fifty-third Congress, the Incident ap-
pears therefore to have really strength
ened the candidacy of Mr.. Crisp. While
the Reform Club was doubtless in entire
ignorance in advance OF the phillippic,
which Tom Johnson, OF Ohio, pronounced
against the Speaker and Chairman
Springer, Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, the disposition OF Congressman
is to consider Mr.. Johnson's utterances
and the discourtesy offered Speaker
Crisp by his hosts as only parts OF plan
which has it's origin out Of Congress,
and which is the attempt OF a New York
dining club to dictate the bpeakership
of the Fifty-third Congress. There was
a desire expressed for list OF the
MEMBERSHIP OF THE REFORM CLUB,
and Mr.. Cochran and others who have
succeeded in examining such list as
sert that at all times the mugwumps
and Republicans are able to control the
destlnies and policies OF the Reform
Club, and think therefore it is not much
of Democratic club after all. There
is a general impression in Congressional
circles that Mr.. Cleveland and Speaker
Crisp have thorough understanding as
to the tariff reform course to be pur-
sued by the Fifty-thlrd Congress, and
that the President-elect was In entire
ignorance of the intended slight to
be placed upon Speaker Crisp,
and in his position as guest,
was powerless to prevent it, even had
he suspected it after looking over the
PROGRAMME of the evening. Members
are to-day comparing the speech OF Dir.
Cleveland and the one to be delivered
by Mr.. Crisp, and find therein re-
markable accord on the methods to be
pursued in the reform Of the tariff.
Speaker Crisp's speech, had 1t been de-
lvered Saturday night, would have
shown that while In the present Con-
gress, with a Republican Senate, he ia
vored the tentative plan of separate
bills, his opinion Of the course TO be
pursued after next March, when the
Democrats will control, not only both
branches of Congress, but the Presi-
dency as well, is that the tariff should
be revised by a general bill. On this
subject his speech says:
''The Democrats IN the present House
determined to strike at the existing
law by separate bills, annulling its op-
pressive features. This method pos
sessed two great advantages over any
other suggested. 1t afforded 8 hope
that some OF the bills might pass, thus
GIVING THE PEOPLE PARTIAL BELIEF,
and 1t rendered 1t certain that in the
approaching election our adyersaries
would be forced into the field defend
Ing their own general law.
"If l might speak for my political as
sociates on the subject OF taxation,
would say we believe In tariff for rev.
enue; we believe that unnecessary taxa
tion is unjust taxation; we believe that
all taxation should be for public pur-
poses; we believe that the necessaries OF
life should be burdened least; we be-
ieve that on luxuries higher duties
NAV be imposed, and we believe that all
raw material should be free.
speaking to my political associates,
I would say, keeping these principles
in view, we should now at the earliest
practicable moment enter upon the con-
sideration Of general tariff law TO take
the place Of that now on the statute
books. The people have so decreed
and we are but agents to execute their
will. Great interests are involved and
complicated questions will present
themselves"
As the morning papers OF to-day con-
frmed previous reports OF the slight
imposed upon Speaker Crisp and
strengthened the impression that 1t was
intentional and designed for popular
effect, the House took early and
effectual means to resent the indignity
which had been offered It's presiding Of
ficsr. As the clock in the hall Of the
House indicated II o'clock and the
Speaker entered to rap the House 70
order there Vas an instant clapping OF
hands, and as Mr.. Crisp mounted the
stand the demonstration increased
in volume until IL amounted TO an ova-
tion. For nearly minute the applause
which swept over the entire House and
was confined to no faction and no party,
continued with great vigor, the Speak
er's face flushing with evidant sstisfat-
ton and 8 smile Of gratifcation stealing
over his features. When silence was
finally restored and after the CHaplsin's
prayer many members moupted the
rostrum and grssping the Speaker by
the hand congratulated hiH upon the
esteem in which he was evidently held
by the House.
It is doubtless matter orfreat graf
ifcation to Speaker Crisp at among
those who most emphaticallyl condemn
ed the inhospitality OF the r. orm Club
are many members. who vs. not even
his supporters in the fap64 Speaker,