The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-19

1llSS W AonC ~ SOA AOu0 NHOSOA
and Finds It Difficult Thing to
Do-Drops into His Natural
Habit and Makes the Hit of the
Session.
The telegraph brought a short story
about Mr.. Bede's speech in congress
the other day in which he established
a reputation not only as a humorist,
but as a sound thinker as Well. The
Geographic reports, however, were too
brief to carry an accurate idea of the
speech. His remarks in full are longer
than could be accomm odated in these
columns, but the liberal extracts CIV
Ell below will convey correct idea OF
what he had to say, particularly Oh
those parts which comport with his
reputation as q funny man.
AT the outset he made a plea for an
era of good feeling, inviting the demo-
Gratis to join the republicans this year
and make ii unanimous.
There is, therefore. no quarrel be-
tween us, and as l have been teach
ing the doctrine Of good will turnout
teach it to you gentlemen on the other
side. [ wish to say that the only OPP
position I have heard to the republic
can president is that which comes
from a little bunch of populists down
in Wall street Gaughter.) BY pop
ulists l mean people who deal in fiat.
We contended against fiat in the west
until we wiped it out. We went out
when we saw populist and threw salt
on his whiskers and caught him and
brought him into the republican ranks.
(Laughter.)
I'VE have wiped out populism in the
west, and it will soon be determined
that this little bunch of populists in
Wall street cannot dictate the nomina-
ton of either party We have put 100
cents in every dollar Of our money,
and it is now time for them to put 100
cents of assets behind every dollar Of
the securities they are selling to the
people"
Mr.. Bede discussed republican and
noting the effect Of the opposing
politics upon the country, in the
course of which discussion he was in
terrupted by Mr.. Thayer, who asked
him if he was led to desire the alb
sorpton of the democrats by the re
publican party from fear that a large
part of the republicans would vote
against '.the stagnant party, the stand
pat party, in the next presidential
election, and come over with the
progressive democratic party
Up to this time Bede had tried with
varying success to be serious, but he
gave it up here.
Mr.. Bede-I would ask the gentle
man from Massachusetts who he is
going to nominate? daughter on
the republican side.)
y Mr.. Thayer-I should be pleased to
answer the gentleman if l had the
power in my hands to nominate, but
ti,n ln, fin .,,,fx
bosses; we have no one man who
dominates the president.
Mr.. Bede--Mr. Chairman, 1 live ir
q state in which they elect congress
men by primaries, where all the peo'
pie have a vote as to who shall be
congressman. | understand there |:
q certain section Of the democratic
. party in New York where congress
men are sent to Washington by ap
pointment. daughter on the repub
lican side.) I understand there are
certain others of this house that would
try to exclude a great many people
from the right of suffrage. I never
heard of a republican Introducing
bill to repeal the thirteenth, four
teenth or fifteenth amendment.
Now, / am not going to say Wheth
er these amendments were right O.
wrong when they We're passed. I an
merely going to say to you that W.
elected a president that was takel
away from us in 1865, and we Nigh
have done differently or have dom
the same thing in a better way hat
he lived but the republican party be
lieves that even if mistakes have beel
made the best way to right them i
to go ahead and not to back up.
AS I have already intimated, it j
far from my heart to say one wore
, that would be a burden to gentlemen
from the southern states. I know w
have had a great many people in Min
nesota from the South, not alone from
southern states like Virginia-ny pre-
rdecessor in this house was from tina
state We have had good friends from
Missouri, too. We had friends from
Missouri who came up there and III
troduced the Missouri system o
finance. Gaughter.)
They distributed money on horse
back, and we kept them there 70
twenty-five years. (Renewed laugh
teri We do not let any Missourian
get away when they come to us wit
malice aforethought. We have a sor
of hospitality and try to keep then
there, and try to reciprocate the kind
ness that we know would be eXtende
to us in that great commonwealth
one of the best and one of the mos
abused states in the union.
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee-Will tn
gentleman yield to me?
Mr.. Bede-Certainly.
Mr.. Gaines Of TennesseeWhat di
you do with the mayor of one of you
great cities in Minnesota? Is he il
for twenty-five years or for life
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Bede-He Is not in yet, and
hope he Is innocent. He was recentl
a democrat and had been a republican
for only six months when he was con
victed daughter on the republica
sde.)
Mr. Gaines of Tennessee-Tha
shows what a good man does when h
gets into bad company. Gaughter.)
Mr.. Bede-We hadn't had time t
reform him.
Mr. Williams of Mississippi-Wi1
the gentleman yield in a good-nature
way?
Mr. Bede-Certainly.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi-Ho1
much advantage has the gentlema
over this mayor that he refers to?
Mr.. Bede-Let me say to the gentle
man, and to this side of the house a
we'll, that the gentleman from lowe
Mr.. Hepburn, received my first vote i
the campaign Of 1880. I want to ad
nit frankly, and you will see it in m
bio9raphV in the directOry that