Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-08-12

ACuo VI SAANCI "u1CA WdS W 11OW lTOm Uuc
mints, and then, carried away by his own
torrent Of words, he gave Q practical demon
stration of choking by Selling the coat col
lar of Representative McKaig, Of Mary.
land, and giving to that gentleman a very
vigorous shaking.
Mr.. McKaig is a little man and slen-
der; Mr.. Harter is above medium height
and somewhat stalwart in build. Nc
Kaig was no match for the Buckeye,
and he was so taken by surprise that he
made no attempt to resist. For a few sec.
onds the house was almost paralyzed by
such an unusual exhibitions; then Mr.. Har-
ter realized what he was doing, and with
the most humble apologies to his object
lesson ~relinquished his hold, while mem.
bers on every side laughed and gravely
suggested that it would perhaps be wiser
for McKaig to find another seat until Mr..
Harter had finished his few remarks on
the silver question with illustrations. Mr..
Harter and MI. McKaig 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 a good
deal of fun. A few weeks before that
Representative Walker, of Massachusetts,
had made a speech in which he had severe.
ly denounced Representative George Fred
Williams, Of the same state. When the
speech was published in The Record, Mr..
Williams moved that part of it be ''edited"
and that some portions be expunged. The
Democrats were in favor of doing this, but
the Republicans opposed the resolution,
and after a good deal of filibustering it
was agreed that MI. Walker should have
a chance of defending himself before a vote
was taken on the motion to expunge. Mr..
Walker, who is a gentleman of rather VIC.
lent temper, and with a determination to al.
ways have his own way, spent several days
preparing his defense, and the house looked
forward to hearing him read it with some
hopes of fun. They were not disappointed,
and it is doubtful it a speech" has ever
before been made in congress in Mr..
Walkers style.
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 members he had carefully col
lated all the unpleasant things which the
Democrats had said about Speaker Reed
during the turbulent scenes in the last
Congress, and truth compels me to add
that they had given utterance to some
pretty sharp remarks. But Mr.. Walkers
method was decidedly original. Every ex-
tract had been cut out of The Congressional
Record and pasted on q separate slip of
paper. These he had headed with a title,
and these titles gave the meat of the at
tack. Every quotation began with the
words lin which," as, for instance, "In
which the Democrats liken Mr.. Reed to a
heather idol" and then MI. Walker read
how a Democrat in the last Congress had
claimed that the Republicans bowed down
before Speaker Reed as the heather did to
his idol and. said to himself, "You are not
handsome, but you are certainly great"
Such things as these kept the house in one
continuous 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 MI. Walker to the clerks desk, but
before Mr.. Walker let the copy 20 out of
his hands he always read the title, invari-
ably beginning with, I'm which," Mr..
Walkers manuscript "a so bulky that
some of the sheets got mixed up, and Rep
ACoCuodOASO L'OuUCAAC1 VI AAdlA1Cs udu UOCOIlO
to his assistance to try to straighten things
out.
But MI. Boutelle had to give the job up
after ten minutes hard work, and while
the house waited and looked on and
laughed and unfeeling remarks were made
from the Democratic side the author of
the speech was trying to unravel the
Chinese puzzle. Once a page boy did not
move fast enough to please Mr.. Walker
and he called out to him, Here, boy, here;
hurry up!' and when the badly scared
youngster made q rush for that gentle
mans desk Mr.. Walker shook him by the
hand, patted his head and told him always
to be a good boy and he might be happy.
Altogether it was a very comical incident.
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 a new men,
Der with ambitions had shown decided
symptoms of inficting his maiden, effort
OF the house. AS other and more impor-
tant men were anxious to talk the new
man was crowded out, and it was finally de
cided that he should be given q chance by
being heard at al evening session. Much
rejoiced he determined that he would
make a speech which would cause even the
old stagers to open their eyes, and when he
wendell his way to the Capitol that even.
ing 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 colleagues 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 indeed
when more than q mere handful Of men,
bers attend an evening session, and on this
particular evening it so happened that be-
sides the temporary speaker the attend
ance consisted of just two other 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
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