People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-06
Opposition to Crisp.

There have been many conferences
between the men who are opposed to
the reelection of Speaker Crisp.
The men opposing Mr.. Crisp are not
doing so from personal motives.
Many of them like him personally,
but they hold that he is not sufficient
/ ly advanced on the tariff question to
suit the demands of the country and
of the Democratic party, and that be-
ing an earnest and most outspoken
opponent Of the nomination of Mr..
Cleveland for the Presidency, it
would be no more than the natural
order of things to elect @ Speaker
more friendly to Mr.. Cleveland-one
who at all times would support his
administration earnestly and honest
ly. Mr.. Crisp has many warm per-
sonal friends in the House who are
not in accord with his policy, but
who hesitate about antagonizing him
for reelection. These men would
only oppose Mr.. Crisp when it be-
came known distinctly that MIR.
Cleveland preferred somebody else,
and would make his wishes known
openly. The opposition to Mr.. Crisp
at present centers either in Mr.. Will
son of West Virginia, Breckenridge
of Kentucky or McMillin of Tennes-
see. Either of these three gentle
men would make an excellent Speak
err. All are advanced tariff reform
ers and all were and are friends of
Mr.. Cleveland. Just at this time it
seems that Mr.. Wilson has the most
friends, and the chances are that if
caucus of the Democratic members
opposed to Mr.. Crisp's reelection
should be held in the immediate fu-
ture Mr.. Wilson would be selected
as their leader. It is probable shat
this will be done soon. It has been
practically decided already to do it
that is, to hold a caucus and select
the strongest man and not scatter
the tariff reform strength, as was
done in the last contest.
Mr.. Crisp, it is understood, has
been giving out hints that if re, elect
ed Speaker he would reorganlze the
Ways and Means Committee to con-
form with the sentiments and desires
of the advanced tariff reformers.
This, however, will not be pleasing
news to Messrs. Springer, Shively,
Montgomery and Stevens, and other
members of the committee, whom,
perhaps, to the astonishment of the
House, Mr.. Crisp selected for the
Ways and Means Committee Of the
present House. AS everybody knows
now, MIR. Springer was made chair
man of the Ways and Means Com
mittee as the result Of bargain be-
tween himself and Mr.. Crisp previous
to Springer casting his vote for Crisp
for Speaker. Whether or not that
bargain will hold good for another
Congress remains to be seen. Mr..
Crisp evidently is intimating to the
straightout tariff reformers that it
will not hold good, but whether he
has made this known to Mr.. Springer
is another story. At any rate it
might be fairly said that the fight for
the Speakership of the next House is
now on. Mr.. Crisp, it is understood,
has got some influential men from
each State to write to the new MEM
bers, stating that the opposition to
Crisp amounts to nothing; that he is
sure of being reelected Speaker, and
that it will be advisable for the new
members, in order to get pleasant
and agreeable committee assignment,
to write to Crisp Immediately, pledg-
ing their vote. 1t might be well for
these new members to refrain from
pledging for four, FIVE OF six months
longer.
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