Evening star., 1896-02-13
AN UNFATHERED SPEECH
Mr.. KEN Repudiates One Which the
Record Attributes to Him.
An Amusing Incident in the House
Over a Mistake Made ut the
Printing Office.

An incident of an unusually amusing
nature occurred in the House yesterday
Immediately after the reading of the jour
nal when Mr.. KEN of Nebraska arose to
question of privilege.
Mr.. KEN stated that he desired to correct
the Record of Tuesday, which, under the
heading "Coin Redemption Fund" attrib-
uted to him a straight, radical goldbug
speech. AS Mr.. KEN is a full-fledged pop
ulist the annount ement created consider
able laughter Continuing Mr.. KEN read
the conclusion of the Objectionable speech
as follows:
Sincerely believing that no man would
be benefited by this act except the silver
mine owner, and that it would entail dis
tress, disaster and ruin upon millions, l
must vote against it,.
Mr.. Perkins desired to be informed il
Mr. KEN disclamed the authorship of the
speech, and during the laughter which
followed Mr.. Mercer managed to make
himself heard to the effect that as he
wanted his state delegation solid for once
on the currency question he trusted that
Mr.. Ken would not deny the authorship.
Mr.. kem's Explanation.
"If the gentlemen will possess their souls
in patience" Mr.. KEN went on to say, Il
uation is, so far as 1 know it. I want to
say in regard to the sentiments expressed
ard credited to me that my belief along
that line is exactly contrary to that ex-
pressed by whoever made this speech.
realize that it becomes somewhat funny
when 1 turn back to the Record of Feb
ruary and find that in some remarks
which l submitted at that. time to the
House l made a statement that it was my
belief that no word uttered upon this floor
could or would change a single vote or
sentiment in regard to this matter. Now,
/ find by referring to the Record Of yes
terday that it shows me to have been con-
verted. If it be true that 1 uttered the
sentiments attributed to me in this speech"
Some one over in the corner wanted to
know if the gentleman was hypnotized,
ard Mr.. KEN replied by saying: What
put such a fool idea as that into your
head?" Again there was laughter, and
Mr.. Perkins suggested that perhaps Mr..
KEN got his manuscript mixed.
Now, Mr.. Speaker" said Mr.. KEN, II
can realize how a gold bug might be hyp-
Noticed and l can readily believe that
every last one Of them is hypnotiZed, but
1 never saw a silver man that 1 believed
was hypnotized or one that believed could
be hypnotized."
will the gentleman permit me to sug-
gest that if the Record shows that he had
a lucid interval for once, why not let it
remajn?' interrupted Mr.. Stone
Never Had Such Opinions.
'.The gentleman from Pennsylvania seems
inclined to make merry at my expense, and
l must agree that the Record is against
me-" replied Mr.. KEN. THE only consola-
ton that 1 get out of it is the knowledge
that the Record is not correct and 1 sub
init to the Speaker, while I am perfectly
willing that the gentlemen may have all
the amusement and all the entertainment
at my expense that they can get out Of
Ii
blunder has been made if it is a blunder,
and my charitable ideas must place that
construction upon 1t. But l want to say
that 1t is grave blunder, and l cannot
have been made, because I made no re-
marks of any kind on the floor Of this
House on February o. under any circum-
stances. l suppose some gentleman on this
floor made this speech or filed it under leave
to print. 1t is a very creditable speech, and
an able speech from the standpoint of those
who believe in gold standard, but do not
believe in it. l have never believed in a,
gold standard l never advocated a gold
standard, and 1 Want to say now that no
more believe in 1t at this time than 1 ever
did, and / have not been converted upon
this proposition by any argument present
ed by the other side, but rather have be-
come, If that be possible, more firmly con-
vinced of the truth of bimetallism.'
notwithstanding this speech?' innocent
ly inquired Mr.. Livingston.
Mr.. KEN <tnefeupOn asked tndC the re-
marks credited to him be expunged from
the Record as he utterly, wholly and en-
tirely repudiated them.
Mr. Grout did not think that the remarks
should be wiped out, as some one should
come forward and father them, and, amid
an outburst of mirth, Mr. KEN called upon
the progenitor of the remarks to claim
ownership or he would insist that the
statements be wiped from existence.
A Printing Office Error.
Mr.. Perkins thought that it would not be
proper to expunge the remarks, as the error
was probably one committed in the printing
office 81 suppose. that the parties handling
th4s matter in the printing office were not
familiar with Mr.. Kem's position on this
question:" said Mr.. Perkins, land the chiro-
graphy being bad they accepted the name
as being that of Mr. KEN, and 1t SO appear
ed in the title of the speech. I dare say
the proper owner of this speech will appear,
and that the heading will be changed in the
printing office, and that the gentleman
from Nebraska in due course of time will
be relieved from the responsibility"
The amusement increased when Mr.. KEN
expressed the presumption that the gentle
r1an who made the remarks was just as
much ashamed of having Mr.. Kem's name
appear instead of his as was Mr.. Kem
The latter hoped that there would be an
amicable settlement of the proposition, but
he insisted that the Record be corrected.
Mr.. Perkins thought that a notification
should go to the printing Office to correct
the heading in the permanent Record and
the incident was brought to a close when
the chair stated that, with permission of
Mr.. KEN, it would see that the correction
was made.