The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-16
BABY BAILEY'S AIRING.
'leXaS Statesman Gives His Daily
Exhibition.
WAS QUIETED HOWEVER BY
SPEAKER WITH LITTLE EFFORT.

terest at Yesterdays Session of the
House-Minority Leader Accused the
Chair of Unfairness.
Washington, April 15.-Only single
incident at the session of the House today
was worthy of public notice. Mr.. Bailey,
the Democratic leader rose to q question
of privilege to reply to a newspaper
criticism charging him with responsible
ty for the disorderly scenes in the House
on Wednesday. He arraigned the Speaker
in severe terms alleging that it was the
Speakers unfair and unjust treatment Of
himself which had preciptated the trouble.
The Speaker from the chair listened to
Mr. Bailey's structures and when con-
clufed, declined to discuss the question,
declaring that what he had done had been
done in the presence Of the House andla
thousand spectators and upon the Judg-
ment of these witnesses he was willing to
rest the justification of his action. The
day was spent on the private calendar,
but nothing was accomplished.
Washington, April 15.-At the opening
of the session of the House today there
was an echo of the scene in the House on
Wednesday when the Cuban resolutions
were passed. Mr.. Bailey, Democrat of
Texas, rose to question of personal
privilege and sent to the clerks desk an
extract from Philadelphia paper which
made him responsible for the disgraceful
occurrence upon the floor.
Mr.. Bailey said that public man was
seldom justified in replying to criticism,
but in this case he could not in justice to
himself allow such statement to pass
without reply. He affirmed that If there
was any individual responsibility for the
scene, the responsibility must rest upon
the Speaker himself. He read from the
Congressional Record the report of the
colloquy to sustain his position.
As he proceeded with his arrangement
of the Speaker, there were manifestations
of suppressed excitement on the floor.
The Speaker listened with imperturbable
countenance. Mr.. Bailey said:
Constrained by what l considered the
unfair and unjust treatment of the Chair,
objected and upon that objection arose
the soene of disorder that is regretted by
every member of this House. But for the
result which followed it, the responsible
ty is upon the Speaker of the House, who
sought mean partisan advantage by
forcing his political opponents into false
position. Applause on the Democratic
side) and the country ought to know it,
1 understand the Speaker of the House,
sis this an arraignment of the Speaker
or question of personal privilege?" in
terposed MIR. Steel.
'fThe Chair does not know, but
proba bly, will soon learn,' observed the
Speaker blandly.
lit is the daily airing the gentleman
gives himself" calculated Mr.. Dalzell,
Republican of Pennsylvania.
~ did not understand the oracular
statement of the gentleman" observed
Mr.. Bailey.
swell then will repeat it," said Mr..
Dalzell. ''It is only the daily airing the
gentleman gives himself"
And that is only the daily falsehood
that men on that side are guilty off, re-
torted Mr.. Bailey.
"The gentle man has demonstrated what
the papers alleged, that be has lost his
head Mr.. Dalzell replied.
"The gentleman from Pennsylvania
says because l characterize. his ungentle-
terized, that 1 have lost my head. ~ said
Mr.. Bailey.
"The truth of it is that he and his as
sooiates imagine that gentlemen can be
assailed and called liars and that if they
resent it they have lost their heads.
(Cries of 'ah' on the Republican side.)
II have not lost mine and l did not
lose 1t then. That a man may lose his
temper under provocation, and under
very great provooation is a very natural
thing, but men may still lose their
tempers and not lose their heads. But if
in order for man to preserve his
equanimity and appear cool he must
allow insults to pass, then I prefer to be
classed with those who lose their heads.
I would infinitely rather lose my head in
rssehting an insult than to lose my self
respect by submitting to one. (Applause
on the Democratic side. I did not expect
a man belonging to either party to cease
being partisan when he became a
Speaker of this House, and the Speaker
whenever a fair occasion offers will use
his Office for the advantage of his party.
expect the present Speaker to do it as
certainly as any man who ever occupied
the chair, but until short while ago,
believed that the present Speaker was as
partisan as an honest man could be- and
as honest as partisan could be. But
after the performance of }ast Wednesday
sentiment any longer. I have never
known on a great occasion any more I'M
fair advantage attempted and even If it
had suco seded what little advantage there
was would have passed from my memory
long before the recollection of the Speak
er's action. cloud applause on the
Democratic side.)
When Mr.. Bailey took his seat the
Speaker replied, speaking slowly and dis
tfnctly:
THE Chair desires to say that whatever
he has done. the other day or any day
since the commencement of this session.
has been done in the presence of rhe
House and of thousand witnesses. He
does not feel that it is necessary for him
to discuss his conduct. cloud applause
on the Republican side.) The gentleman
from Texas after tw days elaboration
has felt that his situation demanded dis
oussion and explanation. daughter on
the Republican side.
agrees. daughter 1t is not the first
time that the gentleman from Texas has
as sailed me. To it have no reply, except
what the House knew-that the gentle
man from New York (Mr. Quigg) did not
mean any objection either really or
technically, and everybody in this House
knows it, I therefore with reference to
this whole matter appeal to the witnesses
of the transaction and upon their Judg-