The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-12
THE syUBB1Ne OF SPEAKER CRISP,

The snubbing of Speaker Crisp at
the Democratic Reform Club banquet
in New York, Saturday night, was very
markedand evidently intentional. From
a political point of view it was mali
cious and significant, and from a per-
sonal and social point OF view it was de-
cidedly ungentlemanly. Mr.. Crisp &C.
cupies a position which, in respect of
political power and influence, is only
second to that of the President. As
Speaker of the House he is the head of
the popular branch of the legislative
department of the government. His DO
sition makes him a very conspicuous
political figure, decidedly more so than
any other person who attended the
New York banquet except the Presi-
dent-elect. Personally, he has every
claim to- respectful treatment. He is a
manly man and a gentleman. He went
to New York as a visitor and invited
guest, and had q right to expect the
treatment due to the Speaker of the ma
tional House of Representatives. Yet he
was snubbed by not being asked to
speak, and to make the insult more con-
s~picuous several other members of Ccu-
gress. including two or three members
of the House over which he presides,
were asked 10 speak, and did so. He
went to.New York expecting to speak.
and had prepared the remarks which
were printed in the Sunday Journal.
Others expected him to speak, including
the Associated Press people, who had
asked for a copy of his speech. and sent
it out in advance, as is customary in
such cases. Mr.. Crisp himself says:
stood that ! was to be called upon to
make an address," Yet be was subjected
to the humiliation of seeing Senator
after Senator and Representative after
Representative called on to speak. while
he sat mute and mortified. To make
the slight more conspicuous, Senator
Mills. whom Mr.. Crisp beat for the
speakership, was called upon to speak.
In our entire political history there has
never been anything quite equal to this.
The incident will cut a large figure in
current politics, and will become historic.
The cause of Speaker Crisp's snnb-
bling is not far to seek. 1t was done by
Mr.. Cleveland's friends to emphasize
the fact that the Speaker is not in favor
with the Pres;dent-elect, and that he
was elected if not as an anti Cleveland
man at least Over an avowed Cleveland
man. Mr.. Mills, of Texas, whom he de-
feated for the speakership. was 30 dis
tinctly recognized as the Cleveland can
didate that the election of Crisp could
hardly be construed otherwise than as
an anti Cleveland victory. Now he is
punished by being publicly insulted and
Inundated. The fact that the insult
was conceived and administered by Mr..
Fairchild. ex-Secretary of the Treasury
under Cleveland, and now one of his
confidential friends and managers,
brings it close home to Mr.. Cleveland
himself. and makes it extremely proba-
bic that he was a party to it. Whether
he was or not does not matter so far as
the animus and intent are concerned.
If the insult was not administered with
his knowledge and approval it was GER
tainly done by his friends in the conf
dent belief that he would notdisapprove
of it.
The event is evidently part of the
general plan, in which Mr.. Cleveland is
leader. to create the impression that he
is a bigger man than his party. That is
the theory of the Fairchild crowd and
the anti-snappers of New York. and it
is Mr.. Cleveland's theory. They and he
hold that he was nominated and elected
by 'the people" and that he is not un-
der any particular obligation to the
Democratic party leaders or organiza-
ton. So believing, they and he feel at
perfect liberty to snub any Democratic
party leader who has ever crossed his
path or who has not burned incense be-
fore him. The insult to Speaker Crisp
was intended as an insult to the entire
Hill crowd and to anti Cleveland DEM
ocrats of high and low degree every
where.