Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-01-23
WEST VIRGINIA
| SHiTHED N GLORY 5!
Our representatives Thunder a
Protest from the National Forum!
Great and Tumultuous Exotic
ment
Special Correspondence.

| CpGCidI Correspondence.
Washington, D. c., January 10
Since the meeting Of the Fifty fifth
Congress West Virginia has come into
| unusual prominence. The civil service
| discussion has brought forth q wealth
of hidden oratory Of undreamed OF
power and grandeur.
To the older inhabitants the incom-
parable debate between Webster and
Hayne was again recalled-the classic
student in imagination listened to the
impassioned philippics of Demosthenes
and as in dream recalled the eloquent
vehemence of Chatham in the British
Parliament.
In all this, one Of West Virginia S
favorite sons was a vivid centre Of
glory-the storm centre of eloquence.
The galleries were crowded, and d
hush of subdued interest settled upon
the House as Speaker Reed recognized
"the gentleman from West Virginia"
In substance, the gentleman ie-
sponded as follows:
Mr.. Speaker, if your honor please,
l desire to express my opposition to
that infamous carbuncle on the body
polite known as Civil Service" ZAP
plause.)
Gentlemen of the jury-Mr. Speak
err, what would the immortal Wash
ington say to this civil service bust
ness? What would Jefferson say?
What would Jackson say? What would
all of them say? (Applause.) Gen
tlemen, we don't know what they
would say, and we don't care cuss
if they would say it. We are here to
run this government (Applause by
members.)
eff we are here to run this govern
ment, how long will we be here if
this civil service remains? When we
return to our respective districts. how
can we promise each job to twenty diff
ferent men, when they know it is i'll
the clutches of this hydra-handed
monster-civil service, and that they
will have to be examined to get it:
(Subdued applause among members.)
"How can we have the face TO pull
a mans leg for campaign funds, ard
; then have the nerve to tell him that
he will have to be qualified to hold the
office before he can get it?
"Ah, fellow citizens, Mr.. Speaker.
your honor, suppose that this insidicus
measure should become more general
in it's baneful effects suppose, gentle
men, prepare ourselves-suppose 1t
should be extended to ourselves?" "a
shudder passes over the House and
several members turn pale and some
send out for bromide.)
81 ask you, gentlemen, what is the
qualification for Office as we see it,
patriotism or intelligence? | answer
for you-patriotism every time" CAP
| plause.)
"And who are the patriots? The
| patriots are those who fixed the con-
ventions and saw that the boys voted
! right and saved the country and sent
| us statesmen here! They deserve Of
: flee irrespective of qualification!
i (Deafening and continued applause.
Speaker Reed raps vigorously for or
der.)
eve should give an Office to every
bodied, patriotic citizen, with the
only qualification that he will freeze
on to it when he gets it and draws his
! salary with business-like punctuality."
(Volcanic applause Speaker Reed
secures order after uDsparing use of
the gavel. and instructs the Sergeant
alarms to clear the galleries in case
of repetition.)
There are thousands of patriots
in Washington to-day willing, many
anxious to serve their countrywide
cannot pay their board bills-all on
account of this scorbutic anaconda
the civil service. 1 say, your honor,
give them all job, with free railway
passes thrown in.
Gallery breaks loose again. Speaker
Reed raps and raps for order, but in
vain. The Sergeant-atArms attempts
to clear the galleries, but all passage