The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-27
stories of Crisp.


er Reed attempted to throttle the Geor-
gian. The Reed rules provided that
while the House was in call only two mo
lions were in order. One was a motion TO
adjourn and the other TO dispense with
further proceedings under the call. Mr.
Crisp raised point of order and called
the speakers attention to the plain word
ing of the rule. Caught dead to rights,
Reed was on fire in a moment. He tried
to bulldoze the Georgian. and awakened
the true Georgia grit.
1.-The clerk can read the journal without
objection" said the man from Maine
Il object" replied Mr. Crisp. such ac-
ton is unprecedented. Such suggestion
has never been made in the history Of
congress-"
"Wen." replied the speaker, with much
acerbity, its time that it was made"
At this the republicans raised shout
of announcement. Crisp remained stand
ing, perfectly imperturbable, until the
tumult had subsidized.
THAT is the judgement of the chair" he
then replied. THE chair is not the mas
ter of this House, but its servant. He
must obey its order"
Reed was white with rage. Democrats
broke into applause in their turn and the
republicans cried for the regular order"
1.-THE gentleman from Georgia need not
recommence, the speaker threateningly
observed. as soon as quiet was restored.
With great dignity Mr.. Crisp replied:
1.-The gentleman will insist upon his rights.
No tyrant can take them from him.
At this the republicans fairly screamed
for the regular order. Mr.. Rowell, chair
man of the committee on elections, OBJ
tanned recognition.
Il make the point of order" he shouted,
that the remarks of the gentleman from
Georgia are out of order"
mo more so than the remarks of the
speaker" Crisp calmly replied.
This remark touched the czar like hot
iron. His eyes flashed, his cheeks flushed
and he brought his gavel down with dou~
ble-fold vengeance.
''The gentleman from Georgia will take
his seat" he reared.
Crisp remained at calm as May morn.
Unlike many of his colleagues when sur
fering from similar tyrannical outbursts
he recognized the amenities of the situa-
ton.
Certainly the gentleman from Georgia
will take his sea- he replied with per-
feet composure; but he will rise, resent
and reply to any similar intimaton from
the chair here or elsewhere"
He took his seat, but carried his point.
A Wisconsin republican pulled the speaker
out of the mud by moving to dispense
with all further proceedings under the
call.
| If ex-Speaker Crisp had seen the Her
aids alleged likeness of him his sudden
death would not have caused surprise,
says the New York Press. 1t is not be-
| lieved that the Georgian died from to
bacco heart, though an inveterate user
of the weed. He had the reputation OF
smoking more and cheaper cigars than
! any other man in congress. Fellow mem
bers who could afford expensive Havanas
| fell into the habit of keeping him sup
piled so that they could approach to
| within smelling distance while he was
smoking. Mr. Crisp and Tom Reed were
about the only smokers in the House who
respected the rule against smoking on the
floor.
Soon after Crisp was elected speaker,
Col. Fellows, our bustling district attor-
ney, then in congress, called on him in
the speakers room for a friendly chat The
speaker said that he once knew a man of
the name of Fellows who was a prisoner
in Fort Donelson with him, and who used
to amuse his comrades in trouble by ever
lastingly making speeches The boys re-
garded him as a great orator. and listened
to him gladly. why, that must have been
me-! Fellows said, with a smile. 81 was
there, l made speeches and l remember
you. You We're boy about II or 49,"
Yes, and you advised us all never to
take the OATH" said the speaker, until
we knew for certainty that the entire
confederate army had surrendered"
Il never did take the OATH" was Eel
lows reply. Il held that I owed my allie
glance to the confederate government and
not to Gen. Lee. 1 went out on parole,
and never have taken the oath except as
an officer of the government"
Every speaker has in the House of Rep
resentatves a safe man whom he calls to
the chair whenever there is no business of
great Importance before the House. Speak
er Crisp's man was Richardson of Ten
nessee, who was the acting permanent
chairman of the Chicago convention, and
unable to tell afterwards whether certain
amendments offered by Mr.. Hill were
adopted or not. 1t is not etiquette to in.
vite an ex-speaker to preside over the
House. and is, moreover, not always safe
l do not believe that either Tom Reed OF
Crisp would have trusted each other with
the gavel, though outside the walls of the
capitol they were the chummiest OF
friends Mr.. Crisp was not man of great
force, but was magnetic, and one of the
ablest parliamentarians of the day. He
was a fearless politician.