Evening journal., 1910-07-06

In December Of 1881, short time after
General J. Warren Keller Of Ohio had
succeeded the late Samuel j. Randall as
Speaker of the House Of Representa- ives,
spent an evening with the great Demo-
crat Of Western Pennsylvania at his home
few blocks distant from the national
Capitol Mr.. Randall lived in little two
and one-half story brick house, in
quiet and somewhat obscure corner Of
Washington and it represented practi-
cally his entire savings while member
OF Congress Of which ne was Speaker
from 1875 until change Of party elevated
Mr.. Keller in his stead
was received by Mr. Randall i'm his
study. a little rear room on the second
floor. It was one mass OF documents
books. reports and the various Printed
paraphernalia Of legislation. The con-
versatlon led up to Mr. Randalis great
work in 1874 when. by leading filibus-
ter of forty-eight hours duration, he de-
feated the abnoxous Force Bill Of that
year I remarked that he must have been
under a great strain while leading the
nllbuster, which to-day stands as one OF
the greatest triumphs OF filibusterng our
House OF Congress has ever known.
Well was the reply, "it is true that
during the forty-eight hours preceding the
nna adjournment OF Congress was pres
ent in my seat practically every moment
Of that time. IN order to see that by legis-
lative strategy the vote on tho bin was
delayed until it was time for Congress TO
adjourn. Il was a task that involved COM
slant watchfulness and so IL occasioned
great physical strain. Yet from its effects
II recovs< completely after good nights
slocp VIM from the effects Of a moments
mental strain ! underwent while was
Speaker ] did not fully recover until more
than a day later
"On the whole continued Mr. Ran
dali after = moments pause, ~ think
that was the most tryi~g and eNhaustins
experience ina my entire career as Speak
or II occurred during the closing weeks
Of the ssssion OF 1851 The House was t
committee Of the whole. with Mr.. Covert.
who represented the Eastern Long island
district. in the chair. When the House is
in committee Of the whole, YOU know,
the Speaker has some opportunity for re-
taxation. He goes upon the floor and
meets and chats With his friends IL IS
something like recess for him. 7 was
thus chatting with a group Of friends
in the rear % the rear Of the House when
Of sudden ] seemed TO realize intuitively
that chance had taken place IN the at
mosphere Of the House and a desperate
situation had arisen J glanced down to-
wards the Speakers ders and though no
one had vet taken a bellgerent attitude,
] felt that there was grave danger OF a
personal encounter between two mem
bers.
How reached the Speakers desk
T don't know Nor have 7 any recollec-
ton Of pushing Mr. Covert TO one side
and seizng the gavel. But I do recall
most wildly that as I began TO pound
with all my might with the gavel be.
held directly before me the most por--
tentous scene that ! ever saw in tbs
House In front OF the clerks desk stood
Mr.. Sparks. representing a Missouri dis
trict. with an uplifted chair as a weapon
and directly across the aisle from him
and awaiting the attack in a spirit OF de
hance was General James b. Weaver
the Greenback party's presidential can
dldate Of the year before. And st seemed
10 me that 7 had never seen such malig
nant passion upon mems faces. II wal
the very spirit that leads TO murder--an'
at once the awful thought shot into m,
mind NThe eternal disgrace OF muir
der taking place on the floor OF the Hous
OF Representatives.
, 1T was a thought-a Ntuation-tha
made me desperate I pounded like
? mailman with my gavel summone
? the sergeant alarms TO get the mace
I put all the enersy. both mental an
physical that 7 possessed in the 81