The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-06-02
JOHN MoRR,ssEY.scom MirrEE
How the Old-Timc COnGressmnA
Head on schemes of His COnstitu-

How the Old-Time Congressman
Head on schemes of His COnstitu-
cnts.
Schuyler Colfax used to delight In
telling of an incident that occurred
when he was speaker Of the house ana
John Morrisscy, the New York cX-priZe
fighter and gambler, was a representa-
tive in congress. Like I'LL presiding or
ficcrs Of the house, says he st. LOUIS
Post-Dispatc,l Mr.. ColfaX ound the
making up of his standing committees
a pcrplcxing problem. 1t was on the
evening of the day previous I" the an
nouEccmcnt Of the list III the house mat
the speaker. in his room at the caI)ltoi,
receiving members and lii trnln= TO
their pleas for good places was ut last
left alone with his secretary. Just rs
the tired speaker Was cOngiatulatlng
himself that his task vas at last com
pletcd. the stalwart eX-pugilist from
New York anne into the room AND
with Il dcfrrcntial duck Of his head
inquired If MIR. Speaker" was too busy
to hear Il few wolds that he had to
say. Mr.. ColfaX began to parry the ex-
pcctcd request before Mr.. Morirssry
could prefer it.
Why the speaker began in his
smoothcst manner its the committees
you want to sec INC about. Mr.. Norris
soy. of course; but you know new
members are never given very i'm
portant places, and there is such pres
sure by state delegations and prom
incnt mcn for positions that tirst-timcrs
have to be content with minor places.
and
Eyes. Mr.. Speaker Morrissey broke
in, that's just the thing I've come to
see you about. My friends down in my
d~istrict-thcy want"
"CcrtaiEly," interrupted ColfaX, you
would like to please your friends and l
would be delighted to give YOU u place
on Il good committee, but"
Morisscy at this point suddenly broke
in on the flow of words with:
Say. Mr.. Speaker, how'd you like
them cigars!"
In relating the incident Mr.. Colfax
said that IT then came TO his mind
that Il few days previous he had re-
ccivcd two boxes Of especially fine
cigars. and supposins they had been
sent him by on" Of his old friend, in
Irdiar". had already consumed Il good
many of them. He now realized that
MOrrisscy had sent him a bride and he
had accepted it. The pugilist's qucs-
ton. under the circumstances, was a
clear knockout, and ii gave the pusilist-
congressman 81 chance to say what up
to this time he had no opportunity for
doing.
".Now, Mr.. Speaker lie went on.
you can talk a good deal faster and
better than / can. but just let me finish
what | came to say and then you can
talk all YOU want to. Ever! body knows
that I've been Il prize fighter, gambler
and generally speaking Il tOlcrable
tough sort Of customer. And I've got
n boy at home thatll BIZ told all OF
this as he grows up and runs agin the
world. Till king about this before last
election came on. l concluded that It
would be Il good counter to those shots
if my boy could say after awhile, yes.
that's so. tho old man was something
CT a roundrr in his time, but he was L
embcr Of til" American congress- So
l just pulled off my % last fall.
waded in. got elected. end here I am.
Now. said he, ] know just as well as
you do. that l amt fit to be in con
grrss-l don't know nothing about max
ing laws and am too old to learn.
There is Il gang of fellows in my dis
trict. over there in New York, who are
coming down here to see me about my
being put or Il big committee where l
can help them out OF some of the
schemes they're going to bring before
congress. Now, l don't owe them fell
lows a rap and don't want to I've made
a tool of. and | was afraid some Of
them had fixed up the thing with yM.
and I'd better come to see you. And"
Morrisscy concluded. now I'll tell you
just what / want I'm a congressman.
and | suppose I'll be forced to go on
So mc committee that has nothing to
do or eve has Il meeting. put me on
it and Ill keep YOU in cigars for the
whole session."
When the list of committees was an
ncunccd by the speaker in the house
next day MorrisScy was the last man
of the committee on revolutionary
claims.