The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-06
Thistleqvood'S Day


Representa- tive from Illinois.
Napoleon was very full Of views on
the tariff and really insisted on rldulhg
himself of a speech before the general
debate should end So he got promise
NJ recognition. committed mis- views 10
paper, and waited.
FINALLY he got recognition just in the
exciting minutes Immediately before the
rule was to come up. The House was
crowded, the galleries jammed- MIS-
Taft was listening from the executive
gallery in rapt attention. The party
vhips were rushing about the charnoet
in their last efforts to line up forces Tor
the great final test; state delegations
were holding whispered conferences III
corners of the chamber or in the CLOAK
room
The leaders of the parties and factions
were nerved up to the last enOrt' the
eyes of the nation were turned toward
the chamber Telegraph wires were
cleared in ever direction, editions were
waiting and presses were ready to start
when the bulletin should come giving
the word which side had won. 1t was
A tense and nerve-wrecKing moments
and Just then Napoleon Bonaparte Thls-
tlewood got recognition.
He rose to his feet, and stroked the
funny goatee which adorns his chin.
He looked about, picked up MS paper
and proceeded 10 read speech IN
tone which nobody could hear Inc
expectant House dared not leave. he
might quit soon, the rule might De
sprung. the fight be on, and every mana
must be at quarters. Members settled
back. tired to forget how hungry they
were-for there had been almost no oP-
portunity for lunch, and It was nearing
the middle of the afternoon-and hoped
II was not wicked to wish that fellow
man might drop dead.
Napoleon BoHaparte whanged away at
the atmosphere. and his views on sched-
uIes, with nobody paying the least at
tention. 1t was anti-climax with
vengeance; and it recalled to an old
time member the story Of Lem Quigg's
downfall. He said:
a man up IN New York. He had
brains and ability. He came 10 the
House, but never spoke. Not TIL we'll
into his first term, on the day the Nc
Kin bill was going to the vote on
its passage, Gid he become obsessed with
the notion of making a speech.
Reed, Mckinley, Carlisle, and those
giants of debate were occupying the
! fioor that day, and ii was a great &C
casion. Quigg went to Reed, and hor-
rifed him with demand for time 70
| speak.
Just enough FOR a few words; 1 must
NS And YOU can't get it, insisted Reed.
Then QUigg put it so strong that Reed
i's es1,ti Owe ro,, three Minutes" he said.
/ That was enough.
The giants of the forum, one by one,
| hurled their oratorical thunderbolts; and
suddenly, amid the whirlwind of applause
| following the conclusion by a favorite,
came the still, small voice Of the utterly
unknown. Not one man in three IN the
| House, and nobody in the galleries,
knew Quigg WREN he rose
! THE gentleman from New York" said
ouigg rose magnihcentIy to the occa-
sion EIe rose &c, his full height. ex-
! banded his chest. glanced over the
| minority side, and began:
Booted and spurred-"
The initial suggestion OF grandllo-
auence. the hUmOr Of springing an utter
unknown at such a moment, the rather
! scared look on Quigg's face. appealed
10 everybody at the ne instant Ine
/ House burst into smoker WHICH ueNel-
oped into a laugh, then into q roar, and
then into a resounding, echoing wave
which rolled back and forth over the
| chamber. The chairman pounded fol
order, and at last restored a semblance
| Mr. President" started Quigg again
The gentleman from New York"
! Booted and spuTred-
=
once more the uproaF broke forth
Quigg turned four colors in a second
He was frightened to death. The heart
less audience jumped on him worse
when it saw he was down He tried q
| third time when a lull came.
| Booted and spurred-
That was The last effort He never
got farther The riot made il utterly
Impossible for him to try to proceed
l and he sat down Ais first speech was
/ ended, and Quigg's interest in a parlia-
mentary career in the House died right
| there.
| So long as he remained In the House
| whenever a graudiloquent effort was
made or an especially dramatic situation
developed some evil-minded person
1 would break the charm by shouting:
"Quigg. Quigg; recognize Quigg."