Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-03-02
The Senatorial Damon and PythIas

A correspondent of the New
York Times, writing from Wash
ington, says: With few OF thu
Republicans Senator Thurman hal
always been on the NEST intimats
personal terms. This has beer
| particularly true as regards Sena i,
tor Edmunds. Both gentlem er
are members of the Judiciary
Committee, and the Republican
giant In constitutional law has al
ways, but especially since Thur.
mans service on the Elector al
Com mission. had great respect fol
his legal ability. This respect
which was, of course, returned, hal
in late years ripened into warm
personal friendship, which devel.
ops Itself In many odd ways. Fol-
instance, the two Senators almost
invariably take in company that
refreshment and little stimulant
which they find necessary during
long and tiresome session. On
such OCCASIONS their movements
are quite az eccentric as they are
amusing, and to the initiated we'll
understood.
When the opportunity offers or
the spirit moves, one or the other
Of them-it is sometimes one and
then the other-will solemnly and
slowly rise in his place and look
slyly aud significantly toward his
''brother Senator" Then the lat.
ter will In q moment be seen also
to rise in his place. Then they go
out of the chamber, always from
different doors and always slowly
and s0lemnly. In the same manner
they 60, by different stairways,
down to their committee room !.
There they meet, enter together,
and the door is closed upon the out.
side world. What they do upon
the inside can only be surm lsed,
but 1t 10 noticeable that when they
have been oloseted for o few mo.
ments they invariably return to
the Senate Chamber, looking very
much refreshed and strengthened.
Sometimes one returns before the
other. At such times, II it hsppens
that a vote be In progress, Ed
munds being absent, Thurman's
name is called, that gentleman,
with the utmost gravity, though q
close observer may notice sly
twitch in his eye, always replies:
upon this question, Mr.. Presi-
dent, L am paired with my honor.
ed friend, the Senator from Yer.
mont. If he were present he
would vote mol should vote yes"
Exactly In the same fashion, If
the great Republican Senator be
the first In the Chamber and Mr..
Thurman absent during roll call.
the tall straight form of the latter
may be seen slowly rising, and
thsre comes in deep tones from the
close-cut aud scarcely moving lips
the words:
upon this question, Mr.. Presi.
dent, am paired with my honored
friend, the Senator from Ohio. II
he were present he would vote yes
1 should vote no."
Then, slowly again, the Senator
from Vermont takes his seat, and
shortly after, when his "honored
friend" the Senator from Ohio, Is
again in his place, and has used
his now historical bandana hand
kerchier, they exchange glances
and 60 back to work. At such
time he Is an unfortunate man
who attempts to contradict either
of them 10 regard to a question of
constitutional law. Allen G. Thur
man, his rugged red face, portly
form, clear.cut speeches, sound law
and grim humor, will be greatly
missed in the United States Senate.
Most of all, however, will he be
missed by his friend, the Senator
from Vermont.