The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
SENATORIAL ORATORS.
A Description OF the Methods OF Some
Of our Disting uished senators.

The senate is soon to meet again, and
the expected presence of the solons
here inspires us to say that there are
very few men in either house of con-
gress who speak upon any important
measure without having made the most
elaborate preparation. The library is
ransacked for books, old newspapers
files are brought from their hooks, and
cords of paper are used in taking notes.
These notes are filled out, put in order,
and then you have set speech.
David Davis, perhaps more than any
other senator, indu|ges in manuscript,
preparing even five minute speech
with great care. This is his inflexible
rule, and has been since he entered
public life. After he delivers his
speeches, or rather after he reads them,
he hands his manuscript to Mr.. Muir
ply, the senate stenographer, who
sends it to the government printing
office. The compositors never have
any anathemas for the judges writing,
which is large, distinct, and full of
character
Edmunds never uses notes, and once
speech is out of his mouth, he doesn't
bother his head about it. During all
the years he has been in the senate he
has not revised single speech. He
turns everything in his mind before
hand, and never rises to address the
senate without having weighed in the
scales of his great mind what he in
tends saying.
Ben Hill will speak for three hours
without Il scrap of paper. The only
reparation he makes is marking refer
ences or passages in this book or that.
l have seen him time and again, thun-
der away for two hours without stop
ping even for glass of water. He re-
vises his speeches, however, makes ad-
ditions and corrections in clear hand
much like that of college boy, and
gives the printers little trouble with
his proof. Hill has an astounding
memory, and no man in public life,
except Edmunds, has such impertur-
bility. The only man who could we'll
worry Hill or excite his wrath in de-
bate was the late Matt Carpenter. How
it tickled CARPENTER to put some adroit
question at the Georgian and get him
confused IA hard thing to do at any
time, but Carpenter often succeeded.
And it was more the result of an ire
sistible propensity for fun than any
thug else, for never was man who had
less malice than Matt Carpenter
He had a heart as big as noun
tain. He was exceedingly particular
about his speeches when they were
upon legal questions. After he got
the proof from the foreman Of The
Record he would hack it to pieces, send
the corrected proof back, get a second,
and treat it in like manner. His writ
ing was characteristic, hard to read-a
rOllicking, harm-scarum sort of a fist
and study to the printers. He used
to say "The shortest road is the best
road when you're in hurry" and
though he could write a fine, full,
round hand, he dashed off everything
at lightning speed. .os.
Another senator who, like Edmunds
never revised speech, was Thurman
Occasionally he spoke from manuscript
but the stenographer took down every
word he said, as the old gentleman
would forget his manuscript, and DRIFT
into extemporary eloquence. Thur
man, though never graceful speaker
was ways forcible. He was, beyond
all doubt, the ablest Of the democrats
and that from the time he entered tn,
senate.
Bayard works hard at his speeches
and though he writes them out ant
follows his manuscript closely, he re
vises after proof is taken. He make
few changes, however, but holds thu
proof very often until 2 o'clock in th'
morning, as he spends his evening gen
orally in social circles. He is a goot
penman, writing a medium-sized run
ming hand.
Lamar is great reviser, cuts proc
into tatters, writes horrible hand, ant
tries the soul Of q printer. Occasion
ally he goes down to the government
printing Office to look after his speech
es. which, when published, are vastl
different from the stenographers re
port Of them.
Senator Conkling seldom made a cor
rectiOn of his utterances in the senat
chamber. He is perhaps the best ex
temporaneous speaker in the Unite'
States, and even his remarks in runnin,
debate are splendid indices Of grea
ability. During the extra session Q
the Forty-sixth congress he delivered
speech upon the army appropriation
bill without note, papers, book, or rel
erence of any kind. When the vic
president announced, "the senator from
New York." up rose the stately form 9
Roscoe Conkling. Never before or sine
had senator such an audience. H
spoke for four hours. Before the ad
journment of the senate 10000 copie
of his speech had been subscribed fol
Every printing establishment in Wash
ington sent to the senator its lowest es
innate. In very short time, Oyster
one of the best living typos. and fore
man of The Congressional Record, hat
the proof of the great speech ready
He took it up to Wormley's about
o'clock in the morning, and asked 70
Senator Conkling. "Hc is not up yet,
said the private secretary; "the senate
breakfasts about II; however, as you
are in hurry, and want to see afte
the speech l shall call him." 'Tell Nh
Oyster to come in-ah! how do you do
Mr.. OYSTER" and Lord Chesterfield wa
never more polite than was Conkling il
his nightshirt. After rubbing his eye
he looked at the nrOof. made a few