New-York tribune., 1901-04-21
FRESH TALES FROM THE CAPITOL AT ALBANY,
TIE POWER OF "FRED AND JOEv
IN THE ASSEMBLY AND HOW
1T rs EXPLOITED.

Albany April 20 (SpeciaD.-S. Frederick Nixon
c,aaker Of the Assembly. and lothian P Aids
Iss5er Of the Republican dragons on the floor of
,be House. known by those within the railing
nv the friendly names of Fred and Joe" In
,na manipulation of legislation which requires deli
rate discretion Fred looks to Joe for support
and Joe looks up TO Fred But there have
been only few times in this session when Fred
ana Joe" have found II necessary to do otherwise
than summon the Republican contingent to fall
into line order to defeat their opponents. When
the Democrats make any show of fight joe gets
his lo3 Republicans behind him and charges down
on the thin red line of the A Democrats much
IS moving machine mows down crop of tiger
ulies To be sure. Joe" sometimes finds his
ranks with an occasional hole in their front. For
instance Is likely TO find holes where AS
semblymen Davis, Henry. Bennett, Cooley and Har-
rs Wilson have preferred to vote independently Of
marty dictum But with this loss OF numbers
and Of discipline, Joe puts up for the most part
an irresistible front
Fred and Joe" hold their consultations OF war
above the row of reporters who sit in front of
the clerks desk. When, for example audacious
Democrat is attempting TO discharge the Commit
tee on Gas. Water and Electricity from the
sderation of his BILL Joe is approaching the
desk and heard say:
Fred Fred we've got throw this fellow
down"
We'll. Joe that's easy is the answer I'VE
can do it. can't We? It's only a of 10i to A.
At thlS -fred DrlfgS uOWn MS SaNei SO as 10
start another crack in the top of his desk, and then
shouts:
THE gentleman will please come to order and
conine himself to the subject"
With the aid of this interruption Joe moves
the previous question: and the Democrat is buried
under an avalanche of Republican votes
But on Thursday last Fred and Joe" We're con-
froned with a revolt among the Republicans which
finally got almost beyond their control The insur-
rection occurred the Stranahan Excise bill.
Republican after Republican was deserting from
'Joe's" dragons. The Democrats were exuitant.
The Stranahan bill administration measure.
they said and Joe had lost control of his forces
sutatton of war above the reporters desks.
Fred asked the leader of the dragons anxious
ly, what are We going TO do? 49,
Swing them into line the answer, with
an admonitory rap of the gavel 10 silence a group
of Tammany members who were Laughing over the
OF the tide.
Joe"
"AI right" was the reply
Joe walked back to his seat and II, then 1 turned se
the Speakers eye he looked as If he held r it's
grip the thunderbolts of Jove Judge Lynn. VINO
at this point. asked if the bill was party meas.
The opportunity was golden, and Joe
snatched 1t up and shouted:
Tt is a parry measure. The bill has the Gov
ernor's approval and every Republican in this
Some one wiistied Then another Then half
hundred whstling. The chamber had turned
thrown aside. and then a great laugh went up.
Joe utter rout staring him in the face.
@dS 1o aa%e oe said "a Fed
Better drop everything and adjourn, then said
The next minute. when the Democrats pre-
pairing TO slaughter the bill with the help of
half-hundred refugee Republicans, Joe" shouted:
81 move adjourn"
Motions carried" roared Fred" The disap-
pointed Democrats RACED and rayed at at the sight OF
their foe so neatly slipping away But such is the
power Of Fred and Joe