People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-04-22
Simpson After Reed,
Washington Correspopdeuee N Y Ion


core books and clippings in his arms,
wrath in his heart; fguratiyely, Simp.
son was loaded for bear, and Reed was
the cinnamon Simpson was after.
Simpson, in his raiment. presented
the gayeSt figure on the floor. This
statement is needed. because much
has been said to create the belief that
our POpuliSt is ill-arrayed-a man of
rags and patches. Today he was the
best dressed citizen in the house. Be
not misled, however; there was moth
ing gariSh or gaudy about Simpson.
1t was the first meet of the house
for several days. The galleries were
full. A strong percentage'Of men,
berS were in their seats. This last is
due to the newness of many states
men. There's nothing so consoles the
young member like unto sitting in his
seat. Then he feels himself the thun-
derbolt of power that he really is.
On the heels of long, ferVent
prayer-the house needed it-Simpson
arose. could not see his golf socks;
they were submerged, as it we're,
among the desks, but | know they
were where duty called them. Simp-
son arose and said that his excitement
was the fruit Of a question of high
privilege.
"A question of high privilege, Mr..
Speaker" quOth Simpson, giving his
glasses a jaunty position on his nose
the better to stare defiance at Reed.
Estate It," said Reed, with a clang
Of the ivory mallet.
Then Simpson caused the clerk to
read an editorial from Stilson Hutch.
ms paper, The Times, wherein Reed
was failed and fayed for the dOmi-
neering autocrat he is, and the charge
made that he Reed had usurped the
powers of the house.
The reading of all this Reed-directed
bitterness didn't 60 unchallenged.
Dingley leaped to his feet and with a
vast air and flourish snappishly OBJ i.
jected, Dingley couldn't see where
"the privilege" arose.
But Reed, for the sake Of appear
ance, refused to sympathize with
Dingley'S objection. The speaker
waved to Simpson to proceed. The
speaker didn't like it, as we of the
gallery might tell by looking down at
his head. There is space the size of
a saucer on Reeds head, where he
hasn't had luck with his hair; the
growth is sparse and melancholy.
This saucer space was Of a red, not to
say of a perturbed, hue. By this
storm signal, we of the press, perched
over the speakers angry crown, knew
how that potentate was much chafed
bY SimDsOn.
Reed gulped his wrath and motioned
Simpson to 60 on, which the POpulist
leader did blithely. Following the
hot iron of the StilSOn Hutchins edi-
tOrial, Simpson read from Senator
Hoar, who had a bandoned his cham
pionship Of S pain long enough to say
in the Forum that the house was in
an abject state; that the speaker was
all there was to the house show.
Whereas HutChins had displayed Reed
as an Gutocrat, HOar exhibited the
house as the accomplishing ass.
Reed had harnessed it, owned it, and
was clubbingly driving it on his own
missions, in his own business, his own
way, Hoar in the Forum thanked the
skies that the senate was not like the
house. Dingley didn't dare object
to what HOar said, and Reed sat
silent. So Simpson got through that
part uDchallenged.
Then Simpson launched into denun.
citation Of Reed on his own unbridled
hook. He did a good job at that.
Simpson swarmed all over Reed. He
exposed him as despOt, and express
ed his warm contempt for despotS.
Simpson read from house rule, No. 10.
1t declared that when new congress
as Aed the speaker so soon as his
calling and election was assured,
should appoint the committees. This
congress, had been in session since
March Is; Reed had made no commit
tees. He preferred by this sin Of omis-
sion, this plain crime against house
law. to keep all house power in his
own lap, to knit or unravel the affairs
of state as his within, caprice, or
interest might suggest. Reed had
disfranchised the house; robbed every
member Of his right. As matters
stood Reed was the house, the whole
house; the members were the merest
pOllywogs of politics, permitted to sit
in house seats and draw house Salar.
les, but debarred from all voice or in
fuence in house work.
When Simpson got through he had
left nothing to say. He had pilloried
Reed for what he is, a ushrper of house
right aud privilege.