Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-22
Opposition in His Party Has Aided
His Advancement.
His FIGHT FOR THE SPEAKEROHIP
How He Won Over More Expe-
rienced Men.
THE GEORGIA SENATORSHIP

VIII opposition to Judge Crisp as leader
of the minority in the Fifty-fourth House
improve his chances for the Georgia sena-
torship?
This question grows out of a bit of his
tory which tells the rise of the popular
Georgian in Congress, and, as related, shows
now profitable in the past ill-directed oppo-
sition has been to him. In fact, as his
friends believe, he reached the Speakership
as we'll through the blunders of his oppo-
ents as through his undoubted talents and
attractive personality.
His Entry Into Congress-.
Judge Crisp first entered national politics
as a member of the Forty-eight Con-
gress. He took good rank in that body,
and in the next Congress, and still in tie
next. He showed the qualities of a trained
lawyer and all-around debater, and his
name appeared on the list of promising men.
Old members predicted that he would make
ms mark on affairs is he stayed long enough
HIS committee assignments, while we'll
enough, were not what his warmer friends
thought he was entitled to. They wanted
10 see him member of the ways and
means committee, and Judge Crisp him
self had longing in that direction AM
btious young men all keep an eye on that
committee. But Judge Crisp did not re-
pine because he failed to make that port
but trimmed his sails and made the best
progress possible in the c!rcumsts noes that
surrounded him. Had he left the House at
the close OF the Fiftieth Congress his record
would have been that of a capable man,
who had done everything well that had been
intrusted to him. but who had not enjoyei
full opportunity for the exercise of all his
powers.
His Opportunity Came.
This opportunity came with the Fifty
first Congress. The democratic minority
was then put on its mettle Who was TO
tackle the strong man who, with a very
clear head and will of iron, began reyolu-
tionizing business procedure from the
chair? Somebody must do so. The leader
of the minority IVES Mr.. Carlisle and when
he went over to the Senate, which hap
pened at that session, the mantle of the
leadership fell On the shoulders of Mr.
Mills After Mr. Mills on ways and means
came Mr.. McMill;n, Mr.. Breckinridge of
Arkansas and Mr.. Flower. in the order
ramed. Judge Crisp stood at the head of
the minority of the committee on elections
mot post favorable to the grasping of
leadership, but which, in his hands as mat
tiers turned out-served that purpose.
As the parliamentary revolution progress
ed the difficulties of the democrats increas-
ed. Mr.. ReeC, with a firm hand and an
imperturhable temper, kept straight ahead
and met and vanquisked all comers Every
member on the democratic side at one time
or another and in one way or another, ad-
Vanced to the encounter, but all failed. 1t
was agreed. however, when all was over
that in some particulars Judge Crisp had
carried himself in his contests with the
Speaker with more success than his fellows.
and this brought Kim much distinction,
He had gone down like the Others but he
had fenced well, had kept his temper well
and his feet little longer than the others.
The republicans themselves complimented
him on his skill, and wished him returns
from it if his party should return TO power.
His Election ms Sneaker,
The democracy. it so happened, carried
the next House, and as Judge Crisp's sue
cess was fresh in the public mind the an
ncri &C ment of his candidacy for the speak
ership tcok nobody by surprise. The tariff
issue vas, of course, still uppermost, but
another issue was now to be considered
The party had just had a taste of Mr..
Reeds quality in the chair. 1t had now to
meet his leadership on the floor. The same
agSressiveness and even temper that had
marked his course in the one place would
mark his course in the other. This, il was
corterded, called for the election as Speak
er by the democracy of a coil as we'll as
clear-headed man, who could be-Seled on
to Withstand in like spirit the /Sol and
cle&r-headed attacks of the leader of the
other side on the floor. Judge Crisp's
friends insisted that he was pre-eminently
this man, ard despite the fact that he had
never been a member of the principal com.
mittee of the House, and that the man who
had been the chairman of that committee
was also candidate, the Georgian, after
a spirited contest won. Here, then, after
opposition in his own party to his aspira-
tions for a committee assignment that
might open the way to him to leadership,
he had achieved leadership through the
banishment to a subordinate committee
which that opposition had inflicted on him.
Will he be able to realize as handsomely
on the present opposition in his race for
the senatorship?
1t is remarked as strange feature OF
political fortune that Judge Crisp should be
on the eve of finally rea ching the ways and
means committee through The agency of q
republican Speaker and the man in con-
flict with whom in the arena of the House
he won his spurs, and the right to the as
sigrment awaiting him.