The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-09

nority always acts as one man, the Rs
publicans will be forced to move In q unit
also. Thus discipline will always be easy
because 10 will be vitality necessary. But
II the opposition get to breaking up on
independent iines, the example 10 liable
to be followed sooner or latsr on the Re.
publican side. thus m element Of unoer-
tainty might be thrown into the situation
that ct times might embarrsss. While
this situation Is not probable 1t is always
DC ssibls In a House 50 evenly divided as
is the present
7hs new minority leader is an able
man In many ways. He is, fret Of all. q
skillful parliamentarian. In the Con-
sress,s Of whioh Mr.. Crisp was Speaker
he was often called to the chair; aud he
has often presided at political conven-
tions, notable at the famous Chicngo
national convention of the Democratic
party In 1895. He hiss, however, been
rather slow In coming to the front In the
House because Of a peculiar condition.
He comes from . region Of Tennessee
which was fought over many times. His
home Is at Murfreesboro. a name sssoci-
atsd with one Of this greatest battles Of
tn, civil war. Many people OF that region
had claims against the Government at
the close Of the war for supplies taken to
fstd the armiss. Thess claims dragged on
for many years. In fact they ars not
all paid yet. Mr.. Richardson, coming
from such o region. naturally becams the
oh ampion OF these claims. This fact up-
doubtsdly prevented him for long time
from attaining the high places In the
hous, that he was entitled to by his
abilities. IL was feared that he would be
devote 10 the special interests Of his con-
stituents to an extent that would impel
him to sacrifice this general interests.
This fear may not have been well
grounded, but IL existed, and that was
sufficient 10 keep MIR. Richardson In tbs
background. Il was only In the last days
Of the Fifty-nfth Congress after more
than twelve years Of ssrvios, that he
reached subordinate place on the ways
and means COMMITTEES. 1his was his first
really important committee assignment.
He had. however, served on the commit
tee on printing and had distinguished
himsslf thsrs By codifying the printing
laws Of the Governments into system,
which remains at this time. He also
served on the District committee. attain
Ing some prominenoe locally In Washing
ton.
While serving ON the printing commit
tee he coiapiled the messages aud papers
Of the Presidents, o work we'll known
and of much value. Congress gave to him
the plates OF the work, and he has since
printed 1t for the trade. 1t 10 generally
believed that this venture has amply re-
paid him for the labor Of the work.
Mr.. Richardson IL ffty-six years OF
age; but he appsats ten years younger.
He 10 tall. with spare figure. and
studious air. He talks with high. pene-
trating voics, the odulations and ac-
cents of which betray the Southerner. He
is ready. debstor; but his oratory is OF
the serviceable rather than the orna-
mental style. MIR. Bailey is decidedly his
superior as dsolaimer; bit in readiness
end adroitness, as well as in judgment,
the Tennesseesn IL superior 1t is to be
remembered that Mr.. Bailey Is twenty
years younger than the now leader. and
has lacked much Of experience. Mr..
Richardson's life, on the other hand, has
been full of rich experience. He was a
boy of eighteen at Frankliu college,
Tenn, when the ci, IL war broke out. he
enlisted In the Confederate army and
SERVED four years In ths forty filth Ten
ness, 20 infantry. He wears the Stars and
Bars Of the Confederate Veterans ascot
alton on the lapel Of his cont, and ID an
active member Of the association.
When he was twenty eight years Of age
in 1871, he was elected to the Tennessee
House Of Representatives. and immedi-
ately on ticking his seat was elected
Speaker. He aftsrwardsi went to the State
Senats, and in 1886 wss elected to Con-
gress, where he has served continuously
since.
Mr.. Richardson has taken great interest
in Masonry. and in 1873. was elected
Grand Master OF the Masnns Of Tennessee.
He has siuoe been grand high priest of
the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Aasons
of the state. and Inspector general Of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Ri;e.
Thirty third degree. In Tennessee.
Il L. generally believed that MIR. Rich
ardson's leadership of the minority will
Dc pacific, avoiding violent scenes and
obstructive tactics. hs IL naturally q
man who relies upon hard work and care
full attention to details for his success
Therefore his leadership viii be more
dangerous than that of more violent but
lefs careful man. He will aim to have
b is party we'll in hand, always present
and always ready to take full advantage |
Of any mistakes the Republican leaders
may make. The Republicans on their
eide expect this, and are taking due
measures to meet the new tactics success
fully.