The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-16
BAILEY VERSUS REED
House Leaders Exchange
Sharp Personalities.
SCENES OF WEDNESDAY,
Furnish Grounds For an AL
Day House WrangIe.

| cident at the session OF the mouse To-Day
was worthy of public notice. Mr.. Bailey.
the Democratic leader, arose to a ques-
ton of privilege to reply to a Philadei-
| phia newspaper criticism charging him
with responsibility for the disordery
scene in the house on Wednesday. Mr..
Bailey said that public man was sell
dom justified in replying to criticism,
| but in this case he could not. in justice
! to himself, allow such a statement TO
pass without reply. He affirmed that if
| there was any individual responsible for
| the scene it must rest upon the speaker
himself. He read from the Congression-
al Record the report of the colloquy to
sustain his position
AS he proceeded with his arraignment
of the speaker there were manifestations
! Of suppressed excitement on the floor
| The speakerk listened with imperturable
countenance. Mr.. Bailey said:
constrained by what I consider the
unfair and unjust treatment of the chair
l objected, and upon that objection arose
the scene of the disorder that IS regret
ted by every member Of this house But
for the results which follow It, the re-
sponsibiity ie upon the speaker OF this
house. who sought a mean, partisan ad-
vantage by forcing his political oppon-
ents into a false position. applause on
the Democratic side) and the country
ought TO know it. I understand that the
speaker OF the house
els this an arraignment Of the speaker
or a question of perso~al priviIege7" in
terposed Mr.. Steele (t.op., Ind.)
''The chair does not know. but Will
probably soon learn" observed the
speaker. blandly,
ut is the daily airing the gentleman
gives himself" calculated Mr.. Dalzell
(Rep. Pa.
II did not understand the oracular
statement of the gentleman" observed
Mr.. Bailey.
We'll, then. I will repeat It," said Mr.
Dalzell. at is the daily airing the gem
tleman gives himself
And that IS only the daily falsehood
that men o nthat side are guilty OF"
retorted Mr. Bailey.
The gentleman has demonstrated
what the papers alleged-that he has lost
his head" Mr.. Dalzell replied.
''The gentleman from Pennsylvania
says because characterize his ungen-
tlemanly interruption as 1t ought to be
characterized, that I have lost nv
head said Mr.. Bailey. 1.-THE truth of it
is that he and his associates imagine
that men can be assaulted 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 now and 7 did
not lose 1t then. That a man may lose
his temper under provocation, and under
very great provocat ton, is a very nat
ural thing; but men may still lose their
tempers and not lose their heads. But
If in order for a man to preserve his
equanimity and appear cool he must al
low insults to pass unanswered. then I
prefer to be classed with those who lose
their heads. would infinitely rather
lose my head in resenting an insult than
to lose my self-respect in submitting to
one. applause on the Democratic side1. |
I did not expect a man belonging TO |
either party to cease to be partisan |
when he became speaker OF this house, |
and the speaker. whenever a fair occa- /
sion offers. will exercise his office for
the advantage of his party I expect the |
present speaker to do It as certainly as |
any man who ever occupied the chair:
but until a short while ago I believed /
that the present speaker of this house /
was as partisan as an honest man could I
be; but after the performances of last
Wednesday I would not be willing to /
father that sentiment any longer. I have (
never known on a great occasion any
more unfair advantage attempted. and .
even If it had succeeded. what little ad-
vantage there was would have passed
from my memory long before the recol-
lection Of the speakers partisan action
Loud applause on the Democratic side) /
When Mr.. Bailey took his seat the
speaker leaned forward slightly and re-
'lied. speaking slowly and distinctly:
''The chair desires to say that what
sver he has done, the other day or any
lay since the commencement Of this ses-
'ion. has been done in the presence Of
he house and of a thousand witnesses.
He does not feel that Il is necessary for
lin to discuss his conduct: loud az
'lause on the Republican s}de). The
Gentleman from Texas. after TWO davs'
has felt that his action de-
handed discussion and explanation.
Laughter on Republican side) With
hat idea the chair entirely agrees.
Laughter) II is not the first time that
he gentleman from Texas has sssaUad
re. To il have no reply. except simply
What the house knew. that the gentle
nan from New York (Mr. Quigz) did not
mean an objection. either really Or tech
icslly. and everybody IN this house
.novs t.
Il therefore. With reference 20 thss