The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-13
CRISP HAS FRIENDS
Resenting the Slight Put
Upon Him.
THERE IS A FIGHT AHEAD
Struggle for the Speakership Precipi-
tated by the UnpIeasantness
at the Reform Banquet.
Special TO THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The first gun In
the contest for the speakership of the
Fifty-third Congress has been fired by the
Reform Club of New York. and the battle
is now on. While the Reform Club was
doubtless in entire ignorance I'm advance of
the philippe which Tom johnson OF Ohio
pronounced against the Speaker and Chair
man Springer of the Ways and Means
Committee. the disposition of Congressman
is to consider Johnson's utterauces and the
discourtesy offered TO Speaker Crisp by his
hosts as only part of a plan which had
origin out of Congress, and which is an at
tempt on the part of the club to dictate the
choice Of Speaker of the Fifty-third Con-
gress.
For the first time to-day there was de-
sire expressed for list of the mem bership
of the Reform Club" and Cochran and
others who have succeeded In examining
such a list assert that at all times mug
wumps and Republicans are able to control
the destinies and policies of the club, and
that therefore ii is not much of Demo-
cratic club after all.
There Is general expression in Con-
gressional circles that Cleveland and Crisp
have thorough understanding as TO the
tariff reform course to be pursued In the
Fitty-third Congress, and that the President
elect was In entire ignorance of the intended
slight to be placed upon Speaker Crisp
Speaker Crlsp's speech, had il been deliv-
cred on Saturday night. would have shown
while in the present Congress, with Re-
publican Senate. he had favored the tenta-
tive plan OF separate tariff bills. his opinion
as to the course TO be pursued after next
March, when the Democrats will control
not only both branches of Congress but the
President as well, was that the tariff should
be revised by general bill.
As the morning papers to-day confirmed
the previous reports OF the slight imposed
upon Speaker Crisp and strengthened the
impression that it was Intentional and de-
sign ed for popular effect throughout the
country. the House itself took early
and effectual means to resent the in
dignity which had been offered to its
presiding officer, and as the Speaker
entered to rap the House to order, there
was a demonstration amounting to an
ovation. When silence was finally restored
and after the chaplain's prayer. several
members mounted the rostrum and, grasp
ing the Speaker by the hand, congratulated
him upon the esteem In which he is evil
dently held by the House. 1t is doubtless a
matter Of great qualification to Speaker
Crisp that among those who most emphati-
cally condemn the inhospitality of the
Reform Club are many members who were
not even his supporters in the last Congress.
To Bourke Cochran of New York the
incident is the subject of considerable mer-
rment. 81 told you all about those people,"
said he. "When we took up the manage
ment of the campaign in New York we
refused to give them q single appointment
or chance to speak. They would have ruined
everything. Yet now, when everything is
over and We have won the battle. these 600
mugwumps come forward and want TO read
Geo. 600 regular Demo oerats out Of the party