The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-06
LIONS In THE HOUSE.
SPEAKER REED IS OF COURSE THE
CHIEF ATTRACTION.
vNssing Show Of statesmen-veterans Of
the senate-The Democratic Triumvi-
rate. HILL Brice and Gorman-An Avow-
cd Presidential Candidate.

the senate-The Democratic Triumvi
rate. Hill. Brice and Gorman-An Avow
I'd Presidential Candidate.
v ,sHINGTON, Dec. o. Special =
A gain we have congress on our hands In
the house the Republican majority Is sc
large that no very exciting scenes are an
ticipated, while In the senate everything
moves along In the lazy. sluggish way
characteristic of that body. OF course Mr.
Reed. the new speaker, Is the hero of the
hour Every one wants TO see him. and al
the occupants of the crowded galleries
crane their necks and Iostle for position
that they may the better study the smooth
tace of the great man from Maine. 1t Il
conceded by every one that Mr.. Reed has a
most difficult role TO play this winter. II
Is not often that an avowed candidate for
the presidency puts himself In position
where on the eve of the battle he is almos,
directly and personally responsible for the
attitude of his party In congress. This IL
q tremendous responsibility. and any one
but bold man, possessing ample conf
dence would hesitate to assume 1t. Yet as
Reed ascends to the chair where some OF
the greatest battles of his life were fought
nearly six years ago he looks every inch
the self possessed, we'll balanced strong
and confident man his friends love to
think him.
Those Who Were.
In the hall of the house, as the members
gather, many faces are missed. Chief
among these Is that of Judge Holman,
who for third of a century has been seen
every opening day, with two or three ex-
captions, in his accustomed place. To
some of the old timers about the capitol IL
seems almost impossible to have n congress
without Judge Holman and his II OBJ
ieot." Charley O'Neill, the veteran from
Philadelphia, is missed, too, and an aching
void is seen in that part of the hall where
Dick Bland, the combative and loyal
champion of silver, always had his seat.
Mr. Springer and his red boutOnniere,
which for 90 years graced the floor at the
right of the speakers desk, is seen no
more. Jerry Simpson is missed by many
who had learned to like the sockless states
man for his frank manners and never fail
Ing good humor.
Those Who Are.
But in the passing show of statesmen
and the Kaleidoscope of life and death and
political ups and downs popular interest
attaches always TO those who are or may
be, and not To those who were. 1t Is with
the living and the ambitious that the pub
lie mind is engaged today After Reed
the most observed man in the hall perhaps
is Mr.. Payne of New York. AS one of the
new speakers chief lieutenants it is con-
coded he has a great future before him.
With the friendship of Reed, the political
backing of Tom Platt and his high place
In the house, he will make his way If
there is good stuff in him, and no one
doubts that there is. Other lions in the
popular eyes are Joe Cannon, the man who
swings his arms so nightly IN debate,
and who Is really one of the shrewdest
men that ever stood on the floor of the ma
tional house: Boutelle of Maine, who has
a tremendous voice and fondness for
making the men on the other side the hall
exceedingly angry; Dingley of the sa me
state bluff, frank Walker, the wealthy
shoe manufacturer of Massachusetts, who
is the Republican leader and spokesman
on matters of finance, which are sure to at
tract SO much attention at this session;
Mr.. Hit of Illinois, looking well after his
long and dangerous illness. the polished
diplomatist, experienced in many capitals,
who is TO lead the foreign affairs commit
tee at a session which is expected To be re-
plete with foreign sensations and difficult
ties; the patriarchal Grosvenor of Ohio,
who is in the house looked upon as the
special representative of the Mckinley
presidential interests and ready TO protect
them whenever the game of politics gets
interesting; General Curtis, the giant from
New York, who carries his wounds, his
years and his stature with much grace;
young and eloquent Dolliver of Iowa,
whose bride, already popular in Washing
ton society, is in the gallery for her first
taste of congressional scenes, and Dave
Henderson of Iowa, one of the veterans,
now happily rid of the evil effects of a war
wound which has bothered him for
quarter of a century.
Those Who May BE.
On the Democratic side of course ex-
Speaker Crisp is the chief personality.
After two terms in the chair he looks out
of place on the floor, but there is d fash in
his eye which indicates determination to
make things lively before the winter is
over. John Allen, the funny man from
Tupelo, Miss, is on hand with a stock of
new jokes. There is no more interesting
figure on the Democratic side than that of
Judge Culberson of Texas, with his mass
I've head and shaggy hair Great as his
career has been, powerful as he has proved
himself in the Legislative councils of his
country, hear men in the gallery about
me pointing to him as the father of the
young governor of the Lone Star State
who knocked out the prize fighters in one
round. Such Is fame. Benton McMillin
of Tennessee Is here again, smiling as us
ual and prepared to defend the Democratic
party from everything that threatens in
Guiding the third term. Young Bailey Of
Texas. no longer the boy of the house, but
still wearing his embroidered shirt front,
is picked out by the ladies in the galleries
as the handsomest man on the floor.
Young George b. Mcclellan of New York,
one of the brightest of all the Tammany
representatives, Is asked for by the curious
on his fathers account.
At the senate end Of the capitol the
crowd is quite as great. There is great
desire TO see HILL Brice and German, the
great Democratic triumyirate which was