The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-08
SIMPSONS ATTACK ON REED.
Graphic Description of Wedne.-
days Scene in the House.

i Lewis telegraphs the journal this morn
j ing the following account OF the sensal-
i uonal occurrence in the House yesterday:
Every dog has his day, and this was
Jerry Simpsons. The once sockless, now
i golf-stockinged, came early. He bore
4 books and clippings in his arms, wrath
in his heart: ngurativeiy Simpson was
| loaded for bear, and Reed was the Gin
/ nanlon Simpson was after.
/ simpson, in his raiment, presented
| the gayest figure on the floor. This state
| ment is needed, because much has been
! said to create the belief that our Popu-
| list Is in-aTaYed "a man of rags and
! patches Today he was the best-dressed
] citizen in the Rouse. Be not nlislcd, how
ever; there was naught of the garsh
! or gaudy about Simpson.
1t was the first meet of the House for
! several days, The galleries were full. A
| strong percentage Of members We're in
/ their seats This last is due TO the new
ness of many statesmen. There's nothing
so consoles the young member like unto
sitting in his seat. Then he feels himself
the thunderbolt OF power that he really is.
On the heels OF a long, fervent prayer
the House needed it Simpson arose. 1
| submerged, as it were, among the desks,
but knew they were where duty called
| them. Simpson arose and said that his
excitement was the fruit of a question +
| hig h privilege
"A question of high privilege, Mr.. Speak
| en-" quoth Simpson, giving his glasses a
| Jaunty position on his nose the better To
| stare defiance at Reed.
tot - u n sla 2 fs1
ivory mallet.
Then Simpson caused the clerk to lead
an editorial from Stilson Hutchins' paper,
The Times, wherein Reed was failed and
| flayed for the domin eering autocrat he is,
and the charge made that he tReedl had
usurped the powers of the House.
The reading of all this Reed-directed bit
terness didn't go unchallenged. Dingley
leaped to his feet, and with u vast air and
| flourish snappishly objected. DingIey
couldn't see where 1.-THE privilege arose.
But Reed, for the sake OF appearance, re-
fused to sympathize with Dingleys objec-
ton. The Speaker waved to Simpson TO
proceed. The Speaker didnt like it, as we
OF the gallery might tell by looking down
at his head. There is space the size OF n
saucer on Reeds head, where he hasn't had
luck with his hair; the growth is sparse
ana melancholy. This saucer space was
OF a red, not TO say OF perturbed, hue. BY
this storm signal, we Of the press, perched
over the Speakers angry crown, knew
how that pUtentate was much chafed by
Simpson
Reed gulped his wrath and n0tioned
Simpson TO go on, which the Populist
leader did blthely Following the hot iron
OF the Stilson Hutchins editorial, Simpson
read from Senator Hoar, who had aban-
doned his championship of Spain 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 autocrat, Hoar exhibited the House as
the accomplishing ass Reed had harncssed
it, owned it, and was clubbingly driving
it on his o wa missions, n his own business,
his own way. Hoar in the Forum thanked
the skies that the Senate was not Ike
the house. Dingley didn't dare object 10
what Hoar said, and Reed sat silent. So
Simpson got through that part unchal-
lengeI
Then Simpson launched into denuncia
ito OF Reed Oh his own unbridIed hook. He
did good job at that. Simpson swarmed
aIlover Reed. Heexposed him as despot,
and expressed his warm contempt for
despots Simpson read from House rule,
No 10. It declared that when a new
Con gress assembled the Speaker SO soon Us
his calling and election was assured, should
appoint the committees This Congress had
been in session since March 5; Reed had
made no committees. He preferred by this
ein ~ IliG TTiYpp a paIngf
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 disfranchisedt 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 salaries, hut
debarred from all voice or influence in
House work
When Simpson got through he had left
nothing to say. He had pilloTied Reed
for what he is, d usuTper OF House right and
privilege.
Following Simpson came Reed himself,
who spoke from the chair. His tones were
low and his words filed forth from his
mouth at funeral pace. Evidently Reed
had the brake on, was retaining, as it might
be stated, his temper by the tail. 1t
wouldn't DO for 1.-The Speaker" to be angry,
don't you know.
Reed quoted Blaine, whom all his life he
hated. as authority for what he did. As
if one despotisIn justified second. Then
he laid the whole blame on the House. 1t
couIl correct him IL he did wrong, guide
him if he went wrong. He was ready to
answer the will of the House. Until the
House moved he Reed would assume that
it indorsed his usurpation of its powers, his
insults to its dignity, with its full name.
Then Reed paused and glared at the
Republicans out of his small, seal-hke
eyes, while his round yisage shone like
new saucepan with the hot anger that
burned about his heart. Reed swept the
Republican side with his eyes, flame
colored as cats He was looking for the
man of his party who would have the
honesty and hardihood to demand House
rights under the rules against the Speakers
wish But the hold heart didn't beat on
the Republican side. Cowed and whipped
and submissive, these spanels of party
crouched in their seats, and at last broke
into a little hysterical flutter of applause
like the beating of birds wings, to cover
their shame.