The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-11


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sador to England recalls a story cur
| rent in Washington several years ago.
| Senator Wolcott, Mr. Reed and Mr..
Choate were spending a cOzy evening
together at Senator Wolcotts home. Il
have never smoked a cigar. / have
never played "A game of poker, and /
have never attended a horse race in my
life said Mr.. Choate in the course
of the conversation. Senator Wolcott
| looked pathetically at the Speaker of
the House Il wish l could say that"
he remarked you can" said Mr..
Reed. "Choate did"
The one which opened Mr. Reeds
way to fame as man was short. 1t
was delivered not long after he began
his career in Congress. He had not up
to that date taken much part in debate,
but one day, while he was making a
somewhat labored argument, an older
member tried to freak him up by put
ting a question to him suddenly and
demanding an immediate answer. Reed
gave the answer readily. Then he
paused, turned toward the Speakers
desk and drawled out, And now, hav-
ing embalmed that fly in the liquid
amber of my remarks, l will go on
again" The House roared. The gal
NCCAA
respondents sent it flying all over the
country, and, to his own surprise more
than any ones else, Reed found him
self man of note from that hour.
During the frat session of Mr.. Reeds
incumbency of the speakership Hon.
Charles F. Crisp was the Democratic
leader of the House, and Speaker Reed
had the profoundest respect for Mr.
Crisp. One day, during a heated de-
bate on some parliamentary point, the
Speaker made a ruling adverse to the
Democratic members. Mr.. Crisp re-
membered that the Speaker had spoken
differently as n member of the House
some years previous on the same
point. At once he sent for the records
ana found the speech. Mr.. Crisp argued
the point arsl said that he could not
better present his own view than by
reading the speech made by the dis
tlnguished member from Maine, now
Speaker of the House. The speech sus-
tanned Mr.. Crisp and was adverse TO
the ruling. Concluding. Mr.. Crisp laid
down the book, and( dramatically
pointing to the Speaker, said:
-" Now, Mr.. Speaker, 1 appeal from
Philip Drunk to Philip Sober
Speaker Reeds countenance clear
ly demonstrated that he felt the force
of Mr.. Crisp's criticism, but he merely
raped and said The point has been
decided "
The GOODNESS of Mr.. Reed was we'll
demonstrated one day during the same
session, when by his manner he avert
ed bloodshed and a free fight which,
no doubt, would have meant the death
of several members of the House.
Representative Bynum Democratic
member of Indiana, in the course of a
violent debate, had said something I'M
parliamentary toea prominent Republi-
can member. His words were taken
down and resolution of censure was
at once passed by a majority of the
House. The sergeant=at-arms was .di-
rected to conduct Mr.. Bynum to the
bar of the House to receive the Speak
ers censure. Before the sergeant-at-
arms could approach Mr.. Bynum all
the Democratic members of the House
arose to their feet.
Mr.. Crisp took hold of the right
hand of the member to be punished
and Mr. Holman of Indiana took hold
of the left hand, and they led him to the
aisle. Then, followed by every Demo-
cratic member. off they marched to the
bar of the House, as if all were to
share in the censure to be passed on
Mr.. Bynum- There was much excite
ment, and bad temper was manifested
on both sides. The Republican mem
bers closed in on the Democrats. 1t
appeared as though a riot was una
voidable. Speaker Reed was the cool
est man in the House. Three times he
raped with the gavel and each time
in accordance with the rules of the
House, said: Gentlemen will resume
their seats" Not a man obeyed and
disorder ran high. 1t was expected
that the sergeant-at-arms would be di-
rected to use force, which would have
no doubt caused free fight. But
with quick tact the Speaker said:
IF the gentlemen refuse to perform
their duty in fCcordance with the rules
of the House. the chair will at least
| perform his duty"
Then turning toward Mr.. Bynum he
said in the mildest and apparently in
a most regretful tone:
1T is my duty to pass upon you the
| censure of the House."
His manner and tone were so differ
| ent from what was expected that all
the differences passed away in a mo-
ment, and the angry Democratic men,
bers scampered back to their seats and
! quiet reigned in the House for ten min
utes without a member uttering a
| word.