Evening journal., 1913-10-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How a Noted Tariff Leader
Lost Els 0ppOrtu-
nifty
By Holland.

Thomas B. Reed and some of the
other leaders n the House Of Represen-
tatives at Washington during the ad-
ministration of President Arthur were
Of the opinion in 1884 that the. Demo
cratic party could nominate no stronger
candidate for the presidency than Col.
onel WILLIAM r. Morrison of Illinois
would prove to be. Mr.. Reed often spoke
IN terms OF profound admiration of the
manner in which Colonel Morrison man
aged the canvass for the nomination of
John G. Carlisle of Kentucky as speaker
OF the lower house of Congress.
Political capacity of kind which en-
abled Colonel Morrison 10 defeat the
nomination OF Samuel J. Randall, who
had been for several years speaker of
the house, and to bring about the nomi-
nation of Mr. Carlisle by such accurate
and highly systematized politics as
made il possible for Colonel Morrison to
say on the day of the caucus what the
precise figures would be by which Mr..
Carlisle would be nominated was poll
tics, in Mr. Reeds opinion, which, from
the point OF view of pure politics alone
qualified a man for the Presidency and
for high achievements while serving as
President.
Speaker Carlisle appointed Colonel
Morrison chairman OF the wavs and
means committee, and it was at that
time thought by politicians at Wash
ington and elsewhere that Carlisle ex-
pected of Morrison such signal triumph
in the framing o. a tariff bill and such
success in securing its passage in the
anY nf
nently to indicate Colonel Morrison as
then nchoiee OF the tariff reform element
IN the Democratic party for the Presi-
Dental nomination
had many conversations with Col
onel Morrison when the ways and
means committee was preparing v hat
afterward became known as Morri-
sons tariff bill. He confessed to me
his appreciation that his leadership
would end when the bill was reported
to the House.
You know, | was wounded in the
war; and the wound is of a character
which has affected my voice." he said
Il can speak plainly enough when en-
gagged in ordinary conversation. but
! find that my voice fails me wnen
am addressing a large body. 1t is prac-
| tically useless in such a place as the
House Of Representatives.
NOW, a leader on the floor OF the
House Of Representatives must be a
man who possesses a voice that will
rise above the customary tumult and
noise which prevail. He ought to he
man, too, of imposing personal pres.
encc. / wish / had the figure oI
William NJ. Springer and l Wish | haC
the penetrating voice OF Tom Reed.
Il presume that I shall have to ash
someone else to take my place wher
the tariff bill is introduced"
/ was reminded of this conversation
when the day came for the introduc
tion by Colonel Morrison of the tarif
bill prepared by the ways and meanl
committee. He had swept away al
difficulties by reporting a bill whicl
proposed a horizontal reduction o
the tariff Of 20 per cent. from the rate
established in the law which was thei
on the statute books.
With the difference of a ne membe
unaccustomed TO address large bod
and with,a queer sort of shufling motio
as he stepped from his desk to a plac
In the centre aisle, he offered the report
His voice was husky. The house wa
stilled, and yet no one in the gallerie
was able TO hear the words with whic
Colonel Morrison offered the bill
seemed to many persons amazing tina
this man of nconspieuous appearance
and of hesitating manner and of maud
bic voice should have been the leadin
member of his party to whom was con
mitted the tariff measure upon whic
his party depended in part TO make il
campaign for the presidency in the ia
OF that year.
few DAYS later Samuel s. Cox, bel
ter known as Sunset" Cox. said 10 me
Colonel Morrison was bitterly disal
pointed because he was not able TO gras
supreme opportunity. There was q
his hand a chance which but for his phi,
steal limitations and for the effects
the wound which he had received woul
have made a dramatic scene whc
would surely have placed Morrison a
most pre-eminent among the Democrat
leaders He is a very able man, YER
great politician and he would make
splendid president; but that Office is N,
for him"
Copyright, 1918, by 4. J. Edwards. A
riuhfs ra-qrrqal