The times., 1898-12-20
THE CASE OF GEN. WHEELER.
Mr.. Bailey Denounces the Statements Q
Washington Nevspaper.

Mr.. Bailey Denounces the Statements o
Washington Newspaper.
Mr.. Bailey yesterday declared false a
statement in regard to himself printed in
the Post of this city and denounced ary
Republican who might have fathered it
as deliberate far.
The statement charged that Speaker
Reed and other Republicans had found
themselves in an embarrassing situation
in regard to the right of Gen. Wheeler to
remain a member of the House. and that
wishing to avoid the popular feeling that
would probably be aroused by any at
tempt to unseat him. had persuaded Mr.
Bailey to make the first motion in that
direction. The paper further limited that
Mr.. Bailey might have undertaken this in
| return for certain favors alleged to have
been shown him by the Speaker.
Immediately after the Journal of Satur-
day had been read Mr.. Bailey rose to
question of privilege and offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved That the Committee on the Ju-
dietary be, and it is. hereby instructed to ascer-
tain and report to the House:
First, whether any member OF the House has
accepted any Office under the United States; and
Second, whether the acceptance OF such oihcs 6,
the member accepting the same.
Mr.. Bailey then continued: Mr.. Speaker,
last Friday gentleman of the press gal
lery called my attention to the fact that
the journal of the first days proceedings
shows that two members of the House
who are understood 10 hold commissions
in the army had answered to their names
on the roil-call and upon an inspection
of it / find his statement to be correct.
As to one of these gentlemen, Mr.. Camp
bell of Illinois. am perfectly certain that
the journal records a mistake. because IN
conversation which had with him upon
the subject he told me that after full
Investigation he had concluded that by ac-
cepting a commission in the army he had
vacated his seat as a member or this
House and that he did not intend to re-
sumo or to attempt to resume his duties
as n member The other case 1t would
be more proper to speak on when the
Committee on the Judiciary makes Its re-
port. II is apparent, however, 10 the
House. as it Will be to the country, that
when a member. the right to whose seat
Is doubtful answers TO his name on the
roll-call, he asserts his rights as a mem
Der of the House and the question ought
to be determined.
81 have nothing further to say upon
! that aspect of the question at this time.
but l desire to call the attention OF the
House to q remarkable statement that ap-
pears In a paper printed in this city TINS
u1.:rlng So far as the statement relates
to me, l should make no reply II II was
only this papers opinion, because doupt
If II has uttered one truthful statement
about me in twelve months, and l have
ceased to expect 1t TO do SO. But there
is an implication in that part OF the aTti-
Gle which l shall read that addresses itseh
to gentlemen on that side of the House,
and il is for their attention l desire 10
read it:
But Speaker Reeds diplomacy has saved his
colleagues in the House from many embarrassing
Situations, and IL does not seem to have tailea
him in this instance. There is TO need OF gong
into the details, which are known to two or three
enough TO state that after certain representations
lad been msde, Leader Bailey, OF the minority,
felt il his privilege TO save the Republicans from
their plight and make announcement 10 the
country He was urged to look at the situation
as though it would rebound to his credit to assam
tie rights OF Gen. Wheeler, Democrat"
Mr.. Speaker. that implies that l have
been comforting with Republican leaders
and am pursuing my course at their In
stigation, and 1t implies further that the
reporter obtained tnat Information from
some Republican member of this House
For my part / do not believe that there
Is a gentleman on that side of the cham
ber so lost to all sense of truth as to make
that statement: but If there ne me. do
not intend that he shall escape, and i
therefore deliberately denounce that state
as an infamous lie. and If any Republican
made it he ought at least to have the
courage to stand up and say he made It.
With that ask a reference of the sesolui
ton"