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Story
January 5, 1901
Wauwatosa News
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
What is this article about?
Anecdote of Joseph Chamberlain's early career in Parliament: initially denied a speaking chance by a leading politician fearing his unpredictability, Chamberlain later rises to power and uses the same excuse to refuse the now-struggling politician's request for support before an election.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Wanted Chamberlain to Speak.
This excellent story of Joseph Chamberlain demonstrates in an amusing manner that the innate pungent humor he possesses was cultivated early in his career as a speaker, says a correspondent in the Chicago Times-Herald. When he entered the House of Commons he was anxious to try his oratorical powers. A certain leading politician, who was putting a bill through the House, was approached by one of Mr. Chamberlain's friends, who said:
"Chamberlain would like to speak on the bill; can you give him a chance?"
"Well, you know, I think it would not do. He's a new member, and nobody knows what the dickens he might say!"
Time went on. Joseph Chamberlain gained ground—became a power in Parliament. The leading politician, on the contrary, had made a series of blunders which had imperiled his position. An election was imminent. Forgetting his previous record, he thought that if he could get Mr. Chamberlain to speak for him he would strengthen his position. He therefore applied to the right honorable gentleman. The latter calmly surveyed him through his eyeglass and said:
"Well, you know, I think it would not do. I am a new member, and nobody knows what the dickens I might say"
This excellent story of Joseph Chamberlain demonstrates in an amusing manner that the innate pungent humor he possesses was cultivated early in his career as a speaker, says a correspondent in the Chicago Times-Herald. When he entered the House of Commons he was anxious to try his oratorical powers. A certain leading politician, who was putting a bill through the House, was approached by one of Mr. Chamberlain's friends, who said:
"Chamberlain would like to speak on the bill; can you give him a chance?"
"Well, you know, I think it would not do. He's a new member, and nobody knows what the dickens he might say!"
Time went on. Joseph Chamberlain gained ground—became a power in Parliament. The leading politician, on the contrary, had made a series of blunders which had imperiled his position. An election was imminent. Forgetting his previous record, he thought that if he could get Mr. Chamberlain to speak for him he would strengthen his position. He therefore applied to the right honorable gentleman. The latter calmly surveyed him through his eyeglass and said:
"Well, you know, I think it would not do. I am a new member, and nobody knows what the dickens I might say"
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Fortune Reversal
What keywords are associated?
Joseph Chamberlain
House Of Commons
Political Humor
Oratorical Chance
Election Reversal
What entities or persons were involved?
Joseph Chamberlain
Leading Politician
Where did it happen?
House Of Commons
Story Details
Key Persons
Joseph Chamberlain
Leading Politician
Location
House Of Commons
Story Details
A new member, Joseph Chamberlain, is denied a chance to speak on a bill by a leading politician who fears what he might say. Later, after Chamberlain gains power and the politician faces an election, the politician asks Chamberlain to speak for him, but Chamberlain refuses with the same words.