The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-04

His Selection as The Democratic Candidate for Speaker Was a Recog-
milton of His Leadership and Of the Fact That the Older
Elements no Longer in the Ascendancy--The
Young Members are in High Feather but
the Veterans are Dubious.

Glass Legislation is his abomination lie
has introduced resolutions :lb%olishinlr
me feired list In the navy, and he prob
Diy regards the retired list Of the army
WIN the same disfavor. If he had 1t in
! ms power, there Is no doubt but What
lie would wipe out both lists.
a keen and discerning politician he
mas won the confidence Of his younger
associates. Indeed, they regard INN
with enthusiasm. They will support him
heartily and without reserve. Thc vcte-
rams. however, will be harder to manage.
iheS may try to wrest the leadership
from him, when important measures are
Icing considered. II will be difficult.
however. for them to do this while
Thomas II. Reed is Speaker OF the
louise. AIR. Reeds recognition of Bailey
as the leader Of the minority will nav.
great weight in making him the real
leader. Mr.. Reed las treated the young
Texan with marked favor. When lie an-
ounce his committees last year. Mr..
Itallcy appeared as Il mcmbc of Tho
Judiclary and Elections Committees and
also OF the Committee on Revision of
the Laws. Speaker Reed made him ono
or the six Democratic members OF the
committee on Judiciary. This gave
TEXAS two places on that committees,
DAVID IS. Culbcrson, of that State, be-
lns n leader or the minority. having
served as chairman for many years,
ItlrfLl) HIM.
a marked evidence OF the Sneakers
favor was shown on the death Of on
speaker Crisp. His death left a vacancy
m the on Rules. To the as
toH1shment OF the House Mr.. Reed
placed Mr.. Bailey in the vacancy. This
was or itself either &. distinctive mark
or the personal confidence of Thomas g.,
teed, or a recognition on the part Of the
peakc Of young Bailey as a Demo-
p lI.l . , - t1oxyT l,-J 80. o..
Two terms i'll The House. His selection
looked III marked ~discourtcsy to Gen.
1IlomaS c. Gatherings, OF MissisSipDi.
VINO had been n mcnibe since March T.,
1890, and who had served on the Com
mittee on Rules through MIR. Crisp's
term as Speaker. When Mr.. Reed an
pointed his Committee on Rules ut the
beginning of the Fifty-fourth Congres
he put Benton McAIil1in in the place
occup1e by Gen. %CatchinEs. This was
strictly In line with precedent. McAIlllin
having served sixteen years in the
House, but when Crisp died he set aside
All precedent by appointing MI. Bailey.
But the most marked sign OF Mr.. Reeds
prcfernent for Mr.. Bailey was shown at
the beginning of this extra session. The
Texan had never been q M Of The
Ways and Means, yet he Speaker placed
him at the head Of the minority on this
committee. jumping McAfillin and other
Democrats who had served many wears
upon it,. Thus Bailcy's six years OF ser
vice have brought him more honor than
the eighteen years spent by McMillin in
the House. There are men who are so
ungencrous as 10 aver that Speaker
Reed made this appointment with The
view of fomenting disturbances in the
Democratic party. MIR. Bailey is, how
ever, no political Beclzebub, as some Of
me conservative Democrats seem to
have imagined. The antiques may not
be taken into his confidence. and at
times he may treat them unccrcmo-
niously, but he probably has too much
good sense and judgment to worry or
TO gaff them.
eyed. classic-fcatured and OF n Dink and
white complexion. His face, like that of
~Bry for that matter, including
Mckinley and reeds smooth shavcn.
He is ~big-boned and in process Of time
may reach the proportions of Governor
Hubbard and Governor HOgE, if not of
Speaker Reed. lie wears q black SOM
brcrO. a Byronic collar, a black frock
coat and low-cut vest, showing an eX-
pansive shirt front with n sick watch
guard across the bosom. His shoes are
always neatly polished, and his trousers
OF the finest hroldcloth. Winter ana
summer he appears in the dress of a
statesman. Indeed, he is by far the
ncatcSt dressed man inHthe Texas dele
cation.
The new leader is sure to attract at
tcntion in more ways than one before
the adjournment Of the Fifty-nfih Con-
gresS. An army of young Democrats
have their eyes upon him as the rep
resentat:vc of the younger element Of
the party. lie voices their aspirations
and their desires. lie has aspircd to the
leadership Of this element in the House
and has won it fairly and squarely. If
his Judgment keeps pace with his am
bition and the hopes of his friends he
isdest!ned to far greater political prefer
ment.
THE REAL LEADER.
The people, however, will keep their