Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-04

teristic letters of introduction. which read:
This is my friend. He viii not only repre-
sent the Courier Journal in Washington, but
he will be As well my personal representative.
Treat him as you would me-" Mr.. Carlisle
was elected easily over Randall for Speaker,
but il was at least two wears before ] could saw
knew the man. / found him an exceedingly
hard man to become acquainted with. L
studled him closely during his first term IA
Speaker and came 10 the conclusion at the end
OF the term that he cold man and
almost despaired of ever being well acquainted
with him. 1 never dreamed that could be
on intimate terms with him or any one OF
what judged at that time TO be his nature
1t did not seem TO me then that he could be
Intimate and familiar with any one. and as a
matter of fact do not think now that he has
many intimate friends. BY that | mean to
imply that think he has but very few friends
who enjoy his utmost and implicit confidence.
But Nr. Carlisle is a kind and generous man
and lOyal to his friends and when once YOUR
friend Is YOUR friend always All who have his
friendship know this TO be true.
DIFFICULT To GIT ACQUAINTED WITH.
He is one Of the most cautious men that
have met in public life. In the beginning
OF the FOrty-ninth Congress, his second term
of Speaker. he offered me an official and con-
fdentiai connection. Ny duties were. as I
understood them to be. TO keep myself posted
on what was gong on in the House. inside and
outside. note what the leading newspapers of
the country were saying about legislation, and
all. II any. OF the criticisms made upon the
House organization. In Connection with this
j had some little clerical duties to perform
but not enough 10 consume any material por-
ton of nv time. During the next two wears |
got to know Mr.. Carlisle better than / ever
expected and he was not as severe a man as |
had rated him. In many respects he is the
quickest man to see point and clinch il of
any man / ever knew. Every day a dozen or
more members would flock into his room before
the House met, appealing for recognition in
order to get their bills through. He dealt
with these opportunities with neatness and dis
patch. A member would ask for recognition.
what for:" he would ask. Il want to pass
my bill" Where is your biil?' Here it is"
producing the bill. Mr.. Carlisle would glance
over IT, take 1t all in in a minute and hand it
back either saying, Il can't recognize You to
pass this bill' or You will have to come in
your regular turu-there are about twenty ap-
pIlcatiOns for recognition and / cannot recog-
nize more than one-third of them this session."
and the member would depart satisfied or
otherwise, as the case might be.
NOT A TIMIp MAN.
The public impression that Mr. Carlisle Is a
timid man is altogether a mistaken one. He is
g man of strong will and extraordinary nerve
power when emergency requires While
Speaker have seen him tried on several occa-
sions when it took a man of great moral cour-
age TO meet the requirements. An instance of
this kind can be cited during his last term as
Speaker. A strong and extraordinary pressure
was brought 10 bear upon him from his own
SIDE Of the House to recognize some member to
offer bill repeating the tobacco tax Mr.
Carlisle was besieged by members individually
and IN groups for three or four days demand
ing recognition for the purpose alluded to-
He firmly refused all their urgent pleas and
demands. Finally petition was circulated in
the House signed by majority Of the whole
House earnestly requesting that he allow the
repeal bill to be brought in; and one morning
found bis room filed with a clamorous crowd
of members urging him to accede to the
wishes Of q ajorlty of the House. Nearly all
OF the republicans had signed the petition and
many Of the democrats. Then II was that Mr..
Carlisle found that il was a condition and not
q theory which confronted him. and his nerve
and Will power came to the front As remem-
Der, he answered them as follows: Gentle
men, you have presented petition here re-
questing me to do something that / cannot
conscientiously do because II is against nv
principles and against a policy upon which
was elected Speaker. This petition is signed
mostly by republican members. I am not
going to allow the republican side OF the
House to shape my policy, which is the demo-
cratic policy OF the country at the present
time. nor shall | be forced by the republicans
TO change my position upon this or any
other question. When l was elected Speaker
II was July understood by those who voted for
Iuc Was opposed 10 the repeal OF the
tobacco tax Nothing has occurred since to
change nv opinion upon this question 1
shall not recognize any gentleman 10 offer
bill TO repeal this tax. But l Will do this much:
~ majority of the democratic side of the
House Will ask me to change INV policy and the
policy OF the party, l will carefully consider
their request The petitioners withdrew
very much crestfaiIen. As the door closed
upon them Mr.. Carlisle walked ND and Town
the floor several times and said: This tobacco
IA hall mt he afaA l.. 4
vent is, unless some custom house taxes equal
In amount go with il l will resign my posi-
ton first"
ONLY LITTLE THINGS DIsrrRB HIN
On matters Of grea; pith and moment Mr..
Carlisle is always cool and equal to the occa-
SION Big things disturb him but little. IL is
the small things that come up in life which
annoy him. When Speaker he had bu. little
patronage to bestow outside OF two or three
clerks and n messenger. II was made his duty
20 name two men to manipulate the elevator
The naming OF these men think caused MIR
Carlisle more real annoyance than did his en-
sire duties of Speaker. He had about fifty ap-
piicants and the wives and mothers and sisters
and cousins and Aunts of all OF them fiockius
20 the Capitol to get their men IN the place
He was about a week making up bis mind on
account OF the pressure-each one of the appli-
cants having such good case. This was a red
letter week IN the life of the Speaker Toward
the close he came into his room one morning at
his usual hour 90 o'clock after running the
gauntlet Of dozen or more beseeching
women. slammed ;he door and said: Il wish
that elevator would sink. i never could see
what they want with an elevator in this House
anyhow" IL may be that Nr. Carlisle has GOT
ten over the anuOyances OF Office seekers since
then. for he had great dea. % experience
during the term OF Mr.. Cleveland and within
the last two months. II he has not however.
be will have a circus when he takes charge Of
the treasury. There Is not the slightest doubt
among those who know Mr.. Carlisle best that
he will successfully manage the great financial
department. of the government The beauty of
the man is that his great intellectually is en-
tirely absorbed upon the questions which he
viii encounter Secretary of the Treasury.
HE Has KEN DISAGREEMENT
And can see through big knoity questions
% quickly and easily that j; will be Of the
greatest advantage. Other men not so spleu-
didly equipped in that respect would worry
out the mind and body on the same identical
questions without reaching a clear understand
ing. Mr.. Carlisle has great respect for news
paper m-n. IL they quote HIM correctly. but it
always gives him a eonnipiion fit If he fnds
himself misrepresented in a newspaper upon a
question of IMP ortance. and he has a remark
able memory in not forgetting the correspon-
dent or the newspaper containing the misrep-
feseutation. As an Instance Of this. a few weeks
since / Was converting with him at the Capitol
n.