The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-24
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Houston Post bureau,

| things would never find out through him
that he ever did anything worthy OF com
ment or praise He has Just lone some
! thing, and I had to learn OF II from re-
publican sources or his constituents would
never have heard Of 1t. 1t happened that
on February IL, Lincoln day. he was IN
Erie. Pa with chairman Hooker of the
| rivers and harbors committee on business,
the house not being in session. and was,
with him and several other fongressmen,
among whom were Charles and William
Stone OF Pennsylvania, both congressman
and both candidates for governor, Invited
TO banquet given by the Republican
League club In honor OF Lincoln's birthday.
Each OF these gentlemen, all of whom are
republicans, except Mr.. Ball. were invited
TO address the club. They all spoke, and
then as a courtesy to Mr.. Ball, who was
the only democrat, with possibly one or
two exceptions who was present out of
about ZOO he was invited and called on
Tor a speech. Tom responded, and ever
lastingly captured his republican audi
ence by his manliness, his tandor, his
common SENSE and his brilliant oratory.
The hall was ringing with applause from
the moment he uttered his first sentence
until he closed, when he was given three
times three cheers and a tiger.
fe carried his audience off Its feet and
aroused intensest enthusiasm. He was, In
short, the lion OF the occasion. He started
IN by saying that 1t was singularly appro-
pirate that inasmuch as a democrat was
to speak that he should be a Texas DEM
ocrat coming, as no did, from a state
that furnished fewer soldiers who fought
for the Union during the civil war and
Yha a.
any other State In the Union. His speech
then was manly. honest. frank. No hedg-
ing, begging the question or apology for
the part taken by the South during the
war. He assured the Northern men and
ex Union soldiers around that heard him
that he honored them for their bravery In
fighting for what they believed to be right
and claimed from them the same considera-
ton for the men of the South who fought
ior their honest convictions with equal
bravery. He paid glowing tribute to Ab-
raham Lincoln as any Southern man will
do and mean just what he says, and closed
his speech with a brilliant peroration that
brought those assembled republicans to
their feet with yols.
learned all this from republican who
was present viz: Clerk Mcdowell Of tho
house, a former congressman from Penn
sylvania. He was warm In his praises of
Mr.. Ball, and said he could go TO Erie
and get anything he asked for. He said he
had heard Conking, Blaine and all the
great republican orators, and that Mr..
Bdlls speech surpassed them all Joe
Bailey also heard these things of ON
Ball, and was pleased that he hunted |
up Congressman Davenport OF Pennsytva-
MIA. who was present and heard the
speech. and he furnished MIR. Bailey with
an extract from the Erie Daily Times
which he gave me, and is as follows and !
gOlrOhCratiyp all m Inv Mr MpJD /
ell:
The above addresses all speak in
the most eloquent manner for them |
selves, but those not present can not |
form the faintest idea of the enthus-
iasm created in their delivery. 1t
was night that will linger pleasantly |
In the minds and hearts of those pies !
ent as long as life lasts. While nassrs. |
Hooker. William and Charles Stone ana |
reeves were given generous receptions
and frequently greeted with applause
IL fell TO the good fortune OF Congress
man Ball of Texas to be given Il per
feet ovation when he was presented.
For several seconds he was uo,noelleq
to bow his Acknowledgements, linen
when about to commence the applause
would again break out. 1t was tie
proper kind of greeting for an Erie
audience of Lincoln republicans to give !
a Texas democrat, and was scarcely
Lincoln club realized the compliment
had not been misplaced. and the r,em-
bers were kept busy applaud'ng the
constant string of gems that fell from the
orators lips. At times handker ,hinfs We're
flying in the air all over the room, and
then again the guests would take it out IN
hand clapplng and cheering. When Nj
Ball took his seat he was again trealod 10
an ovation.
Houston has reason to be proud of her
All the talk of DeArmond of Missouri
being candidate formidable or otherwise
for speaker against Joe Bailey is dying
out, Baieys leadership on the floor Is
being conceded by all democrats lie has
handled himself well under some very
trying circumstances, and has won the
admiration and confidence of his side OK
The house. Some of the older members of
ne Missouri delegation are not inclinal 10
stray oil after false gods, and simply
Doom DeArmond or McMilin or Richard
son or anybody else simply to beat Bailey
iney feel that all the other gentlemen
mentioned have reached the zenith of their {
Intellectual strength, while Bailey, who is
rs Dig as any OF them now, is still n young
nan and still growing in intellectualitv
q, /
I'M firmly convinced 1t will be- then no
ort OF combination can beat Bailey for /
'peaker, ! say this for the benefit of I
Ills Texas friends, who may be uneasy on
'ecount OF the talk about DeArmond re- s
emily induIged in by the St Louis Re- ]
'ubiic. They may possess their souls in
'eace, Bailey is on top Since the Bailey
ND Mills interviews appeared in The Post !,
much interest has been manifested here )
Yer tho senatorial situation. While every
ody comedies Culberson's election they 4
re anxious TO know what share Senator IL
.niiton is going 10 take In the matter
he stands with Senator Mills, as Mills :
avs he does. for free raw materials and n
aNed manufactured goods then he will q
ave 10 JOIN In the fray in self defense. in
nat case he Will undoubtedly ba,r aSon.
'uon when his turn comes. j. not then "
think he will have no opposition.
now, and assert here. that Bailey Is not o
nrious TO oppose Chiffon. In fact. he
'ouid rather not. but he or some man D
inst DO so, In order for him to mainrain J.
is consistency in his present contention p
the tarih question: that is nroyidad q