The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-07
The Chatham Statesman VIM
ming Social Distinction.
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
What He Saw And Did at the
White House Reception.
THE STATES PRESTIGE UPHELD
Butler Meets his Ben Hill in the Person
of Senator Harris who Lays Bare
the Popuist Senator's Poll
teal Perfidy.

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 6.-(SpeciaD
Just before the House adjourned last
Friday Congressman Bell, of Colorado.
Populist) drew up a short memoran-
dunn, addressed to the Speaker, and
passed it over to Congressman Strowd,
who sits next to him, for his sigma
ture. The Chatham county states
man. as did all six of the Populists in
the House, signed the paper, which
was simply request that they might
meet Mr. Reed in his room after adj
journmcnt.
Their grievance was that during the
tariff and coin bond debate, the Popu-
lists had been allowed only ten min
utes. They thought some pulmonary
trouble might oyertake them as par
ty, unless they were given more time
to air their lungs. Statesman StrowGl
said the Speaker met them very kind
ly. and said he wanted to do every
thing that was fair to them, and init
mated that even the short time they
had had in the debate had seemed long
to him. and to the others who had had
to listen to Bell. Speaker Reed be-
gan to compare the Populist six with
that by that arithmetic they were en-
titled to one-sixtieth of the time,
which. for the four hours of the de-
bate would have entitled them to four
minutes, whereas they had had ten.
But, rejoined the man from chatham,
the party had polled one million and
quarter of votes, and stood i'll the
proportion of one-eighth to the whole
ten millions of voters, which would
have entitled them to thirty minutes
out Of the four hours. The Speaker
said he would look to it hereafter that
they should have more time, adding
that the Populists and Democrats
should be treated by him equally well,
as they were both equally bad. The
six Pops then filed out deeply impress
ed with the ratty Jolly, the old Maine
fake had given them.
Nor is this the only distinction won
last week by our Chatham Congress
man. He was, it seems, the only one
of the North Carolina delegation who
called upon the President New
Years day. Mr. Strowd told me
that he presented himself at
the White House door with his
men had already passed in, but that be
could float in with the Navy which
was at that moment passing IN gala
review before the President and his
Lady. Mr.. Stroud says he was not
hurried q little bit, but was permit
ted to stand for quite bit, and talk
to Mrs. Cleveland. and he found her
to be a very pleasant lady, indeed. He
drifted along with the big boats INTO
the next room, where stood the D1-
pIomatic Corps. He said he never
before saw people dressed In so many
fine colors; that it was a sight. and
that aa to the japanese. you couldn't
tell the women from the men; that
they wore diamonds as big as the end
of your finger. Thus was North Car
olina's prestige upheld at this first
social fmnctiono of the year, and though
the keel of Congressman Stroud may
not be built on as fashionable clipper
Yacht lines as is the Dunraven keel OF
Lord Pearson He had his fore-and-aft
sail set and his lib hoisted, and canght
all the breeze there was going.
n
Major Hiram Grant is perfect Ma
rvs lamb in the way he continues to
linger patiently about. But Tom Set
tie told me Yesterday that there
never had been minute when hiram
Grant was in it; that the sure-enough
slate hadn't had his name on 1T at all,
But there is a mix-up OF opinions on
the whole business. Not a few tnink
that no change will be made at all IN
the Offices; that the present force VIII
be allowed to drift along. Congress
man Settle does not take this view,
and says there VIII be changes, and 1t
would seem that Reed and his friends
in the Senate will leave no material
that they can put their
hands upon. Even then, some day,
Sergeant-at-Arms Bright will not be
disturbed, in which case the Goidsboro
aspirant will miss fire, as he says ne
will not try for any other place. lie
saws the rumor that he was trying
for doorkeeper place was incorrect.
Bright, the present incumbent, it is
said. has been personally assured by
Senators Jones and Kyle that they
will do all they can to keep him in
place. 1t is said that Bright gave the
Populists all the appointments last
time they wanted. and, that, there
fore, the Populists could not benefit
themselves by a change. In any
event, no changes are now looked for
for two weeks as they say the Older
Senators are in no hurry to make any
turn-about.
1t viii be remembered that six
months ago in an article in the News
and Observer in which parallel was
drawn between the late Senator Ma
hone and Senator Marion Butler the
statement was made that Malone had
his Ben Hill; and it was asked who
would be Buffers Ben Till?
On the Threshold of his career, just
as with Malone, Bu1ler met his Ben
Hill in the person of old Senator Har
ris, of Tennessee. Strange, too, there
was tie in the Senate with Malone
holding the casting vote, and Ben
Hill uncovered the apostacy of Vir-
sinia's renegade by laying bare his
Republican heart even while his lips
were uttering the words: Il am a
better Democrat than Ben HILL"
Follow the analogy for a moment.
Senator Butler was sending up a RI
diealous whine because forsooth the