West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-10-21
Srv4roRItL oRtroRS.
Description oC thc Methods ct
Somc oS our Distinwuishcd soma



Washington Republican.
David Davis, perhaps, moro than any
other Sona'or, hdulgos in manuscript,
preparing even nve-mlnuto speech with
great care. This is his inncNible rule, and
has been since ne entered public lie. Af,
ter he delivers his speeches, cor, rather, M
| ter he reads them. he hands his manuscript
10 Mr. Murphy the Senate stonographer.
who sends 1t to tho Government Printing
Onico The compositors never have any
anathemos for the Judges writing, which
is large, distinct and full oi character.
Edmuuds never uses notes, and once a
speech is out Of his mouth hc doesn't
bother his hoad about q, During All the
years he has been IN the Senate he has not
revised n single speech. llo turns every
thing in his mind beforehand, aud never
rises To address the Senate without hav-
ing weighed In the scalo of his great
mind what ho intends saying.
Bon Hill will speak for throo hours with.
out scrap of paper. The only prcpara-
tiou he makes Is marking rcferenccs and
passages in this book or that have acou
him time aud again thunder away for two
hours without stopping even for glass of
water. lie royiscs hie speeches, however;
makes additions and corrections In clear
hand, much like that of college boy, and
gives the pruters Little trouble with HE
proof Hill has an astonishing memory,
and no man in public life, except Ed.
munds, has such importurbability The
only man who could we'll worry Hi or
excite his wrath in debate was tho late
Matt Carpenter. How il ticklod Carpon-
ter TO put somo adroit question at the
Georgian and get him conusodi--a hurd
thing TO do at any time, but Carpenter
often succeeded. And II was moro the re-
suit of an irresistible propensity for fun
than anything else, for never was man who
had loss propensity for malice than Matt
Carpenter
Another Senator who, like Elmunds,
never revised a speech, was Thurman
Occasionally ho spoke from manuscript,
but the stenographer took down every
word he said, as the old gentleman w0uld
forget his manuscript and drift into ex-
temporaneous eloquence. Thurman,
though ncvor graceful speaker was al-
ways forclble. He was beyond oil doubt,
the ablest OF the Democrats and their
leader from the time he entered tho Sen
ate.
Bayard worke bard at his speochcp, and
though he writes them out and follows hls
manuscript closely he rov'sea after proof
is taken. He makes fow changes, howov-
er, but holds the proof very often ill 9
o'clock In tho morning, as lac spends his
evenings generally IN social circles. tic d
good pcnmaa, writing q medium-eized
running hand
Lamar is great reyiser, cuts prooff
into tattors, writes horrible hand, and
tries the soul Of printer Occasionally
he goes down TO tho Government Printing
Office TO look after his speeches, which,
when published, arc vastly diffsren. from
the stenogIaphers report Of thom.
COnkling seldom made correction OF
/
ia perhaps the beet extemporaneous speak
er In the United States, aud even bis re
marks in running debate ara =. .ondid in
diccs Of great ability. During The exiri
session Of the Forty sixth Congress ho dc
livered a speech upon the Army Appropri
aticn Bill without note, papers, book oI
reference Of any kind. When tho Vice
President announced "the Senator from
New York, up rose the stately form o
Roscoe Conkling. Never before or gincl
had Senator such an audience lie spokt
for four hours. Before the adjournmcn
Of the Senate 100 600 copies of his fpsecl
had been subscribed for. Every piintin,
Office In Washington sent the Senator IL
lowest estimate. la very short Tim
oyster, one Of the best living typos an,
foreman OF the Congressional Record, ha,
the proof Of the great speech ready. III
took It up to Wormleys about 8 o'clock il
the morning and asked for Senator Conk
Ing. Gle if not up yet, eaid the Privat
Secretary; 'fhe Senator breakfasts absu
II; however, ns you are 10 q hurry on,
want 10 soc after the speech, shall cal
him. "Tell Mr. Oyster TO come in- ali
how 30 you do, Mr. OYSTER aud Lor
Chcstcr1old never was more polite thai
Conkling IN bic Digbtsbirt After rub
bing his eyes he locked AZ the proof, mad
q few changes. and struck cut tie "Hon.
before 'Roseoo CYnkiing. You vii
never fad IL prchxed 20 bic namo in an,
speech intended for general distribution
After he received the speech be wrote bi
thanks, vory kindly, TO Foreman oyster
as followF
~. s. SENATE CHAMBER May 2, 1879.
Nv DEAR SWI beg yOu o. receive m'
thsDks for tbg bound epcech and for you
kindness throughout. 7 am gl1l tO haV
made your acquaintance, aud trust / ma
know you Detlor in future.
Cordially yours,
R0tCOE COyKuvg
r. W. oyster Eco.
or all the Senators ConkHng writes tb,
best han3--lerge. easy, graceful and legi
b.o. Ills signature however, would be
study 70 any one not acquainted with &C.
The present Secretary Of State. wbct
member Of ibo Ss1ofo. used 10 looi
carefully after h.s speeches, which. f8