The evening times., 1896-02-15

The condition of Congressman ". II.
Howard, OF Alabama, the author of IF
| Christ Came TO ongress." OH the floor of
| the House yesterday afternoon, led to sew
eral unpleasant reports, and afforded some
OF those whom lie previously denounced in
| his book their first opportunity TO retalia,e
upon the unpopular author.
| stories were set afloat 10 the effect that
| the Alabama representative came TO the
Capitol under the influence OF liquor; that
he had TO he assisted into the chamber,
where he threw himself on sofa, and was
soon wrapped in n drunken slumbcr.
These reports do not bear the light of in
! -estigation. Careful inquiry today into
! the matter shows that, instead Of being in
! toxicated, Mr.. Howard is dangerously
sick man. who, notwith sta nding his physi-
cal condition, insisted on being at his post
| OF duty when the final vote was taken on
| the bond bill.
Times reporter called at the Temple
| Hotel this morning, bu, Mr.. coward was
too i'll 10 be seen. Ills wife, however. gave
the reporter a full statement of her hus-
! bands condition. She WAS naturally in
digDant at the charges made against him.
HIS wIFE's EXPLANATION
Mr.. Howard has been unwell for some
| time she said, and returned but a short
! time ago from Alabama. where he had
gone in the hope that the trip would prove
| beneficial. Wednesday night he collapsed
| completely ard we had two physicians with
him most Of the night.
lie is suffering from nervous prosira-
tion, think. and am afraid he also has
a more serious ailment. He is lying fiat
on his back now, being TOO wea X 10 move.
My husband was determined to 20 TO
the Capitol Yesterday to vote on the bond
bill and DR.. Bovec finally consented 10 his
doing SO. provided lie wrapped himself
up carefully and made the trip In Il car
riagc. Notwithstanding these precautions
the trip proved too much for him and he
was prostratcd.
1t is Crucl TO lay that he was intoxicated.
Why, re was never drunk in his life. and
has not been drinking at all of late
In discussing TIE question of her husband
being ostTaciscd by members OF The House
on account of liis book, Mrs How. ri said
that such reports were untrue. He has
only bcrn oStraciscd by The newspapers
OF Washington" She said. Senators
and Congrcs>m are very friendly To him.
and those who know him intimately love
him.
IF Christ Came To Congress was
written about year aso. Mr.. Howard
spent about that length OF time in wa,h-
ington. gathering facts for the volume. and
lie knew exactly what he was writing
about. No one has ever dared contradict 1
The statements he made in the hook. They
are al; true and he can prove them
Bovec, Mr.. Howard's physician.
Il do not think there is any truth in the
report that Mr.. Howard was intoxicated
yesterday afternoon" said the doctor. L
saw him twice af;cr he returned from the
Capitol. aud had lie been under the infu-
cnco ~ liquor Think wou,dhave noiiccdit |
HIS PHYSICIANS OPINION.
MIR. Howard is a very sick man, and had |
il not bccn for the silver bill / would have |
prohibited his going out yesterday. have |
talked TO him about going On 4 trip Of two |
or three months on sailing vessel. 1t is /
absolutely necessary that be lay aside the |
cares OF public life and take a complete |
rest"
Congressman Robbins of Alabama. who |
made the announcement on the floor Of the |
House that Mr. Howard was detained by |
scrioas illness and would vote fer the bill |
were he able to be present, said that col !
league Gang TO him during the ro!l-call and |
requested him TO make the statement.
AT this time" continued Mr.. Robbins, |
Mr.. Howard had left the Capitol, he hav-
ing arrived there at O'Clock in 4 carriage, |
the vote being fixed for that hour,
but ii was delayed 10y an extension OF time
10 MesSrs. Crisp and Turner. ] saw Mr..
Howard lying on the sofa, but unable to
say what his condition was
number OF other Congressman. in speak
ing Of the matter, said they considered Mr..
Howard very sick man. One needed but
to look at him to tell that.
Mr.. Howard cannot be called a popular
member. That is, with his colleagues.
When his book made its appearance he was
assailetl from all sides, and the feeling is
still strong against him. Then. again, he
belongs TO the Populist party. and in the
eyes of Southern Democrats, this is an un-
pardOnable sin.
81 don't believe / ever saw Howard
hold n five minutes conversation with any
one on the floor of the House. remarked
a member of that body this morning. He
has an unusually large number OF callers,
though. He is kept busy most OF the time
ans werIng cards"
Rev. DIR. Stafford OF st. Patricks Church,
who has been calling upon the Alabama
during his illness, said to-
day
II positively know Congressman Howard
was not intoxicated, as was reported, and
as many people seem to think. He has been
quite sick for the past two weeks as a re-
suit of overcXertion, and, contrary to the
advice of his physicians and counsel of his
friends, he went to the House yesterday for
the purpose of recording his vote on the
silver bill
His physical condition could not stand
The strain, and he was overcome by exhaus-
ton. Mr.. Howard has accomplished a great
service To the community by the work he
has done. He is not a man who is ad-