New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-22
MILLS DECLARES WAR.
HIS PETULANT REFUSAL TO SERVE ON A
COMMITTEE.
crvEREIY CRITICISED BY PROMINENT DEMO
cRArs-H1s MISTAKEN IDEA THAT
HE is INDISPENSABLE.
rpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
vrb,,ctop IAN o1.-EX- Premier MlSs bunglng
t,sa, 70 serve as chairman of the Committee on
,ntorst,te and Foreign Commerce is regarded
,.ce q, beated peulance which is entirely unworthy
=, n man who poses as a statesman leader of his
ortx and IL promises to deprive him of large share
~ tho friendly sympathy and regard which have been
ha.oued upon him since his defeat for the Speaker
chin some OF the men who have been bis warmest
friends not only regret bis course, but critcsc it with
unsparing severity. They made large allowance for
bic sisappointment when the Speaker chose another
man for chairman Of the Ways and Means Committee.
and justified bis refusal to serve As member OF that
committee but they had reason to believe that he
goud refuse the Craftsmanship to which he was ap
pointed The Committee Interstate and Foreign
commerce is not unmportant one, is the chair
manship OF it undesirable one. 1t was formey
6.ld NV Mr. Reagan who statesman OF al least as
long experience and great distinction Colonel Mills
IS and yet the Sage OF CorSicana petuanty ana con
ternptnously thrusts II aside as beneath his dignity
and unworthy OF his re-eminent ability. Not only
g. but ii appears that he did not even take the
trouble to inform the speaker that he would not serve
hut allowed the Information to reach him through the
newspapers.
What the Sage OF CorScana expected to gain by
such course II is impossible to conceive unless he
thought thereby TO administer snub rebuke TO the
Speaker His friends that he didn't think II heceS
sary to inform tho Speaker By his action, however
lp
mapslhp TO one OF his partiSans, who never would
have obtained II at tic hands Of Speaker Crisp. The
motive of Colonel MIls's refusal 10 serve as chairman
Is not so occult Probably the explanation given by
one Of his friends is correct. He said
aMr Mills may, and probably WILL have occasion
during the session to crtcise and oppose the cohduct
and policy OF legislation. and he would feel dehcaey
In doing il he were chairman OF committed ""o"
he will not feel as a member OF IT.
In other words his refusal ID accept the chairman
ship is 10 be regarded declaration OF war against
the Speaker ard the majority OF the Committee on
WAYS and Means.
II appears that this is not the first exmDuoh ="
Colonel Mills's hostility TO the Democratic ORGANIZATION
Of the House. 1t is understood that before he LETT WASH
tnon several weeks he was advised and urseo oy
promipent and influential leaders OF his party to accept
the craftsmanship Of the Democratic caucus IN uie
interest of party harmony and he refused TO 90 SO WIN
fhe remark that his enemies had obtained conuoi o
the House and might do as they pleased "lth IT, "io
ont ahy interference from him. He was then warned
that neither he nor his party could afford such dis
NAV and that if no persisted he would be likely 10
infer: but lie did persist. it Is said, and sacrificed
the sympathy Of his friends by so doing. one OF
them to-day said 10 a Tribune correspondent;
at Is sad that so good man AS Mills should fall
into the error of thinking vat Congress or lds party
eannot get along without him. I suppose there werV
people who thought the Government conld not go
ON whey, Abraham Lincoln aSsassinaed but 1t did
and Lincoln was "A greater than Roger O. NILS
L. and at that time he seemed to be even lno!e ius
r,nsa able to the country. No, Mills Is greatly nLs
taken II he really believes that his defeat 1or thc
ship was death blow TO his party, and that II VIII
Jali To pieces if lie refuses chairmanshlp 49,.
Another Democrat said cannot heIp COM hi
ing kills's conduct with that of Rancah amer us
defeat by Carlisle still later when the committee Oh
which he was chairman deprived OF hoS ,iiaI'
half its power and dignity in order TO punish MN:
lie never whned went about exhibiting MS %Hu Sc
he never refused to perform any duty 70 whch ne s
was assigned he acted the part OF man. III W"uIu
ne better for Mills as well as for his party, II ne
would initiate Randall who was al least aS se'' man
rs he -. c.,o.o, n,ius,s courSs
Nth Feelings OF sorrow, not unmixed with resignation