St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-27
THE STATESMEN WHO TALK.
PeculidritieS of Some of the Con0ressiont
Debdters.

Peculiarities of Some of the Congressional
Debaters.
Washington Letter to the Baltimore American
The London Truth has been amusing it
self an its readers by noting some of the pc
culiarities Of prominent men in public life in
England. The great men in'this country
have their peculiarities as well as those Of
other countries. An hour in the House will
demonstrate that fact to any close observer.
For instance, it is not an uncommon thing
to see a member of the House, while in his
seat, scratch his head, clean and pare his
nails, run his hands through his hair tickle
his ear with a feather, or do any other alb
sent-minded trife which might seem out of
place elsewhere. Reagan, of Texas, for in
stance, the ex-Postmaster General of the
Confederacy, is never at his best unless he
has a short string, with the ends tied togeth-
err with which he may employ his hands,
pulling and twisting and working it after
the leafs cradle" fashion. If he does not
have the string, his next choice is some
loose bits of paper, which he tears into bits,
scattering them about him until the floor in
vicinity looks as though a sort of blizzard
had struck it. Hewitt. of New York, has a
queer habit eff crossing his legs when he
talks He usually gets into an aisle between
the seats, and putting his hands on desk at
each side of him, crosses his legs as he
| stands. When he gets warmed up he can
stand with his legs crossed, without holding
on to the desk. Judge Kelley, who is the
central figure on the Republican side, does
not talk much nowadays. He is getting
pretty old, and recognizes this fact The
| last time he made a set speech in the House
he began by saying that he did not know
whether or not his strength would be suffi-
cient to carry him through. He has Won
derfully strong voice for one of his slight
physique, and can make himself heard in
every corner of the great hall.
'sTom Reed of Maine who sits near Kelley,
has a very incisiYe manner, and is probably
as much at home on his feet as any other
man in the House. He is never flurried. He
is not an orator, and does not indulge much
in gestures when he speaks, but his antago-
mist is usually glad when he sits down. He
! has way of saying cutting things, and can
be severe as well as witty, when occasion
requires. Frank Hurd of Ohio, has curl
Gus manner of tlinging his arms out at right
angles with the body giving him the appear
ance of a fiying-machine. He walks with a
cane usually, one leg being considerably
shorter than than its fellow, and
finds difficulty in standing without it on
any other occasion than that of speech-mak-
my. When he gets warmed up in his speech,
however, he forgets cane and leg and every
thing else, and the way his arms fly is a eau
ton to those within reach of them. Holman,
"the objector," seldom strikes out from the
shoulder in making his gestures, as do most
orators. Nearly all the gestures are simply
by the motion of the hand, or at least of the
arm, from the elbow down. He has very
funny way of of checking up his sentences
spectacles in hand, with chopping motion
of the right hand, which is rather amusing tt
the observer but quite annoying to the gen
| tleman who wants 70 get little bill through
and cannot because of Holman's objection
Hewitt, of Alabama, is a queer-looldne
man at best, but when be is making speech
he certainly presents a very peculiar appear
ance. He has a way of pinching up his hanG
as is it were half full of salt, and of stretch