Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-10-10
MIR. EDMUNDS ON TELEPHONES.
His Argument for Daniel Drawbaugh.

From the New York Tribune, Sept. 30l
Yesterday was "A field-day in the Bell
Peoples telephone suit. Judge Wallaces
court room was crowded by people who
wished TO hear Senator Edmunds speak
Ex-Judge Hill closed his argument at
2:3O p III. and gave way to the Senator
from Vermont. Mr.. Edmunds addressed
the court with easy gestures and impas
sive force His ringing voice was easily
heard in all parts of the room. The voice
was that of man in the prime Of life eX
cept when the speaker seemed particular
ly DESTROYS of enchanting attention, when
it changed to Il treble, clear as Il bell and
indicative of youth rather than age. Much
of Senator Edmunds's speech was of il
humorous character, and not the least
humorous feature of ii was the unmoved
expression of the speakers face while his
auditors were indulging in hearty though
suppressed laugh. Even the court at
times felt constrained to smile Senator
EdmundS said:
My learned brother has so carefully
gone through the case that | do not con-
slider II necessary to say one word, but my
clients think that | ought to make some
effort in their behalf We all know that
persons can be found in "A community who
have had the same opportunity as others
to become acquainted with well-known
object, who will, in all sincerity, say that
they have no recollection on the subject
So it is, to small extent, in this case
Four or five witnesses are found
out of hundreds who failed to
testify that they knew of Daniel Draw
baugh's telephone. My friends on the
other side held that thing so valuable
could not have slept in this little hamlet
for years. But it did until Daniel Draw
baugh struck the bridge that carried him
('nlnmInS nnnnln ha-
lieve discovered America, had an idea Of
the rOtundity of the earth and could there
fore attempt to prove with some conf
dence that there was something on the
other side He wasted much time before
he could induce kings or princes to take
any stock in his enterprise Morse caught
his idea of the electric telegraph while in
the middle of the Atlantic ocean. 1t was
years before he could get means to de
mOnstrate even to his friends that he had
made great discovery. 1t took him even
longer to convince the world. After many
struggles the Congress Of the United
States was worked upon, and being
of generous disposition, with other
peoples money, it made an approprla-
ton for an experiment at Baltimore,
So, | repeat, You must consider the inVen-
ton of this man in the light Of events sur
rounding him and not in the light of to-
day. Drawbaugh had no more idea of the
scientific results of ms discovery than
NcOdemus had of the second birth. He
was Interested in electricity. He tried
this and that, and finally, with far less
disappointment than Professor Bell.
struck the right point The statutes OF
the United States provide that IA man is
considered an inventor and worthy of
protection if he brings into the world,
knowingly or unknOwingly, anything
which had never been brought into the
world before.
This man was hunting for the unknown.
He was student in electricity, He pos
sessed genius for tinkering. He is de