The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-22

cry winter. After a time bought the
| other half of the paper, and l have been
its editor and publisher ever since, my
brother being associated with me and
having charge of the paper. -
/ suggested that in many cases a good
editor had been spoiled to make a poor
politician and that the general opinion
was that an editor was better off to
remain an editor. Mr.. Dingley said,
though with modesty, that he believed
that depended great deal on the man.
He had gone into politics quite natural
ly, going first to the legislature, where
he was elected for six consecutive terms
of year each, and for two of those
terms was speaker of the house. After
ward he served again in the legislature
and then was made governor of Maine.
He retired to private life for a time and
then was sent to congress. He is serving
now his fifteenth year in the house.
Ex-Speaker Crisp's Views.
Tt is no small task to be leader of the
! minority in the house of representatives,
even though that minority be very
small. And there is very unpleasant
degree of responsibility associated with
the job.
Mr.. Crisp of Georgia is the leader of
the minority in the present house for
the same reason that he was the unani-
nous choice of the Democrats of the
Fifty third congress for the Office of
speaker-because of his knowledge of
parliamentary law and practice, his ju-
dicial temperament and his experience.
The duties of his present position are
even more exacting than his duties as
speaker, and no man in the house will
do service greater number of hours
than Mr.. Crisp.
I found him at the Metropolitan hotel
one evening after long and trying ses-
sion of the house. He said:
81 believe the Republicans in the
house should have passed tariff bill re-
CARELESS of what was to become of it
after it left the house With such bill
before the country the people would
know in 1896 just what they were vot-
ing for. That bill would represent what
they had to expect if they put the Re-
publicans in complete control of the
government. That is what we did when
we passed the Mills bill in the Fiftieth
congress. -
"But no emergency existed at that
time" I suggested. "There was no de-
ficiency to be met which might require
a Gull p4O4l1S0 OA l11O NuSSb1O1l
''That is true,'' said Mr.. Crisp, "but
the president and the secretary of the
treasury both inform congress there is
no deficiency now"
do you think the figures bear out
that clamp
Mr.. Crisp looked rather uncomforta-
BILE for a moment.
81 am not disputing what the secre-
farV of fbo fToaCuTv NAV - bo
piled, "but do believe the present tar
iff law, even with the income tax elimi-
mated, would produce enough revenue
for the needs of the government under
normal conditions.
''Do you expect those conditions to re-
turn in the near future?''
Probably not for two or three years,
perhaps longer"
"And do you think it possible that
tariff compromise on any temporary
basis can be arranged in the meantime
to meet the deficiency?"
ST do not,'' said Mr.. Crisp emphatic
! ally. Gwen if such a measure should
pass the senate the president is hardly
likely to sign it,
The Free Coinage Question.
"What is the chance of the Democra tic
convention declaring for free coinage?''
Mr.. Crisp looked thoughtful for mo-
ment. Then he said:
Most of the states which give their
electoral votes for the Democratic can
didates are in favor of free silver. How
far the delegates from other states may
be willing to defer to their Judgment /
cannot say
I suggested that delegates from hope
less states had little habit of account
ing themselves as important as any one
else in a convention, and Mr.. Crisp as
sented laughingly, instancing the case Of
the southern delegates in Republican
conventions.
sis there any chance that the Demo
cratic party will split on the silver ques-
ton and put two tickets in the field?"
asked.
81 should think we ought to be able
to settle our differences among our
Selves" said the ex-speaker seriously.
81 have no idea there will be division