River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-03
HOW CONGRESSMAN TALK.
some of Their Personal Peculiarities
as Exhibited when Addressing the
House.

hhOuSt
A congressman is not always known
by his works. They often become IA
nous for some peculiar gesture or
some eccentricity oil manner. When
YOU mention the "great objector."
one knows that you mean Holman, of
Indiana. Whenever an attempt is
made to pass a bill by unanimous con-
sent, or suspension of the rules, every
one looks to see what Holman Is going
to do. He has been in congress many
years, and by his democratic associates
is termed "the watchdog of the treasu-
ry." He questions every motion cal
culated to appropriate penny. Those
who recoilect him in his early days
say he had a good voice, but he has
lost that attraction now: while his voice
is indistinct, his customary 81 object"
is always understood. He has a queer
habit of throwing his open hand for
ward and describing small circles in
the air while talking. Another man
with an odd gesture is "Sunset" Cox,
who, while facing the republican side,
generally during bis remarks has a
habit of extending his right arm out as
far as possible every now and then, as
though reaching over a neignbors
fence to steal apples. Cannon, of Ill
inois, is distinguished for habit he
has of STOPPING or squatting as means
of gesticulation, and suddenly rising up
as though he had sat upon "Bogard-
us kicker" His left hand he brings up
over his shoulder as if by spring ac-
ton. Springer, whom you may always
see with button-hole bouquet, looks
around shyly when about to speak, as
though he expected a volley of rotten
eggs. Abram s. Hewitt generally
starts off with his thumbs in his panta-
looms pockets, and through his speech,
during which his voice sounds as
though he had hot potato in his
mouth, he whirls about and sinks into
his seat as though overcome with ner-
vous prostration. Robson, whose TO-
tund figure is not often associated with
great orator, is nevertheless an i'm
pressive speaker. However, his ges-
lures are generally labored and peculiar.
One of them is to extend his right hand
high above his head, never lowering it
but for moment or two.
Horr, the funny man of the house, is
another of the fat men, and closely re-
sembles his twin brother who resides
at Wellington, Ohio, and who has just
been nominated for congress. Mr..
Hour has way of clenching his fist
and, after lowering it, bringing it up to
the height of his breast with evident
earnestness. He tells funny sorry of
l., I,n az 1ntS
of Michigan. He had heard much of
the greenback movement, and his in
vestigation of the report, he said, re-
minded him of the story of the Irish
man who for the first time was camping
out as one ola party of backwoodsmen.
Hearing a peculiar noise outside the
tent, Pat, in his superstition, believed it
to be some strange spirit lurking near.
He was persuaded by his companions
to investigate. He returned to the
tent, after finding that the noise was
made by tree toad, with the remark
that there was neither bird or an an
imal outside. 1t was simply blamed
noise. So he weuld describe the green
back movement in his district. kasson
is all politeness and grace. and when
be addresses the house ii is with q
kindness of manner and elegance of
language that always wins attention.
His 60 years make it frequently neces-
sary for him to lean upon the desks on
either side of the aisle in which he
stands. Judge Kelley, though nearly
20 years OF age, stands erect, speaking
with voice that may be heard dis
tinctly in any part of the hall.
s.Richelieu" Robinson of New York,
rarely says anything unless there be
chance to twist the British lions tail,
and then he is greatly troubled because
of defective hearing when any member
interrogates him, and frequently walks
across the hall toward his questioner
with hand to his ear, endeavoring to