Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-24

active candidate. The silver men won
their fight. and Mr.. Crisp. had he lived,
would have been the next senator from
Georgia.
He was forceful speaker, but man Of
great tact and possessed of other qualities
that fitted him for leadership in a parlia-
mentary assemblage. His first prominence
in national affairs came from the skill with
which he led his party in several warm
election contests. The prestige he then ac-
quired led to his election to the speaker
ship. after one of the most memorable cam
vases in the history of the house. His
chief opponent was Senator Roger Q. Mills,
of Texas. whom he defeated after a strug-
gle that was so prolonged that the house
OF representatives, contrary to custom, as
sembled on the opening day with the ques-
ton of its next speaker in doubt.
AS speaker, Mr.. Crisp was fair, but firm.
His rulings have been upheld, and though
sometimes they were the subject OF consid-
cradle criticism from his political oppo-
nents. he always commanded their respect
and confidence. He was a pronounced ad-
vocate of the free coinage of silver, and on
one occasion his casting vote as speaker
saved the defeat of free coinage bill. Or
the other hand, it was largely his
firmness in ruling that passed the Sher-
man silver repeal law through the house.
his ruling defeating a formidable filibuster-
ing movement led by Mr.. Bland, of Mis-
souri,, and others.
Mr.. Crisp was an Englishman by birth
! and in his early life had been identified
with the stage.
Governor w. Y. Atkinson, who has just
been reelected chief executive of Georgia
!, for a term of two years. is prominently
mentioned as successor to the senatorial
seat which would have been Mr.. Crisp's
had he survived. Should he enter and be
elected. there would probably be a con-
\ hi hot, 1lnrt
Robert l.. Berner and Hon. A. Clay.
chairman of the state Democratic execu-
tive committee. Governor Atkinson's choice
as senator would render necessary spe-
cial election for governor.
Americus, Ga, Oct. 23.-Charles Freder-
ick Crisp was born on the 10Th of Janu-
airy, 1Si5. in Sheffield. England, where his
parents had gone on visit; was brought
by them to this country in the year of his
birth; received common school education
in Savannah and Macon Ga: entered the
Confederate army in May, 1861; was Eeu-
tenant in Company X, Tenth Virginia in
fantry, and served with that regiment un-
til May II. 1864, wnen he became a prisoner
of war. Upon his release from Fort Della
ware. in June 1860. he Joined his parents
at Ellaville, Schley county, Ga.
He read law in Americus, and was admit
ted to the bar there in 1866; began to prac-
tice law in EI!aville, Ga. In 1872 he was
appointed solicitor general Of the South
western judicial circuit. and was reap
pointed in 1873 to a term of four years; To-
Gated in Americus in 1873; in June. 1877, was
appointed judge of the superior court of
the same circuit; in 1878 was elected by the
general assembly TO the same office; in 1850
was reelected judge for term of four
years; resigned that office in September.
lss., to accept the Democratic nomination
to congress; was permanent president OF
the Democratic convention which assem-
bled in Atlanta in April. 1883, to nominate
a candidate for governor: was elected to
the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth.
Fifty-frst, Fifty-second and Fifty-third
congresses, and was reelected to the Fiji
ty-fourth congress as a Democrat, receiv-
ing S.5G3 votes against 256S votes for George
B. White Populist: was elected speaker of
the house in the Fifty-second and Fifty
third congresses.