Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-04
MR.. DINGLEY'S HAT.


son. of Kansas. called the attention of
the members to Mr.. Dingley's hat. He
began by saying that the gentleman
wore good hat and that it was well
known hat, in facS it was sort OF q po.
iitical barometer, warning. MIR.
simpson added that during the stormy
tlmes of the last session he used to
watch this hat with the most profound
attention. He knew that if Mr.. Ding
~ brought it on the floor and placed it
on his desk, there would be short scs
ion. daughter. If he left his hat in
the cloak room aud entered the House
without it a long session was in pros
pect. AS barometer the hat never
failed. During the present session,
Mr.. Simpson said, he had been much
concerned about the hat. He had no.
ticed that when important matters ap-
pertaining 10 tariff and finance were be-
lore the House many of the republican :
gathered about Mr.. DiDgley's seat, ard
trat when be had 10 a;tenu a commit
&c meeting and left his hat on his desk
.pcbiicans rallied around it just the
ssme ss # its owner was present.
II have watched this so long," said
Hr. Simpson, THAT | became curious.
/ wondered what virtue there was in
his hat that could attract republican
.Iention and reverence. Finally my
curiosity got the better of me and / re-
,,lve1 TO Investigate, aud, SO, yester-
ly, wandered over 20 the old,
lmiliar desk aud gazed on the finely
n4de nat. Then l looked into il.
What do you think l saw ?" When he
asked this Mr.. Simpson glanced aboul
him as if expecting reply. "What
90 you thirk l saw 2" be repeated, +,
answering the question himself. Gas
| gazed down into that hat l saw as
plainly as 1 can Fee anything, printed
10 great letters, London" Shouts of
laughter from all over the House, but
which Mr.. Dingley did not join in)
YES" continued Mr.. Simpson. II
saw it, "Londop," and l thought, is it
possible that the chairman of the COM
mittee on ways and means, the father
of the protective taritflaw now in force,
s wearing London hat? Then it re
Cured to me that perhaps he shipped
it under the Wilson bill before the
Dingley tariff went into effect. It also
occurred to NE that perhaps MIR. Ding
Icy got the hat from the same source be
- ceives his fnancial policy, ard
hat accounted for its attraction for so
many of his republican friends, (l-
p ause from the democrats). The hat
,as absent from the desk yesterday, aud
.e are having a long session. hope
he hat will be restored to its place in
the House, so that the republicans may
rally around it once more" Laughter }
With face flushed with anger at the
ridicule be had been subjected to, Mr..
Dingley arose and said:
That hat was purchased in the town
where | live; it was manufactured by
New York firm, and when received it
md noticed London in it (great shouts
Of laughter from everyone) | asked
where the hat came from, and," con-
tiuued Mr.. Dipgley, with anger in his
voice, 81 was told that it is q habit OF
some manufacturers to place the word
London in their hats to attract the at
tention of dudes" -,
"Aud that is why you bought it p
insinuated Mr.. Simpson, and the sally
was greeted with general laughter.
Ignoring the remark, Mr.. Dingley
continued: "For there are great many
dudes who will pay much more for a
London hat than they will for one made
in America"
.Then this is one of the dude hats J
continued Mr.. Simpson, smilingly.
II do not desire to follow the gentle.
mans argument in this kind OF rot, )"
answered the great protector of Amer
ican industries, with display of much
auger, and he dropped into his seat;
There is belief among the members OF
the House that Mr.. Dingley's London
hat will be a source of comment Tor
many years to come.