Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-07
ARKANSAS ELOQUENCE.
The Speech Of Baker, OF Benton, In
Changing from BERRY TO Jones.

Legislative Report Of the Little Rock tArk) Gazette
Mr. Baker, of Benton, when his name was
reached, rose to his feet and said: 'Mr. Presi-
dent, cast nv first vote In this senatorial con-
test for Gov. James II. Berry, and have con-
tinued to do so up to the present time. know
him. and like him. He is good man, and
well qualified to fill the office; an honored cti-
Zen. brave soldier, and an able statesman, he
is high In the esteem of the public. am rough
man myself-a man from the mountalns-and
am one of those men who stick by their friends;
l stick by my friends when they deserve 1t, when
they are able and well qualified. until they fall,
and even then III not desert them; am like
Collins Sheep when they fall fall with them.
| hated to see Gov. Berry withdraw from the
field but when / saw it must be looked about
me and took the thing under consideration and
thought on it. / thought long and carefully
over it. and slept with it. kI.aughter] saw
l must cast my vote for some one else. and
must make a choice Of the other candidates I'll
tell you how did it. l looked over the field.
have met the other two, and had studied
them. | met the Hon. Poindexter Dunn aud j
saw In him many good points. l saw fine
head on him Ct greatly admire fine head and
saw IN him great coming man. But tell
you what did the work for me. / met Mrs.
Jones-the wife Of the Hon. James K Jones
and that settled it. This Is how it was. met
her and went and called on her-yes / did.
The room was full Of beautiful women. didn't
hardly know what to do, but she sat by the
for me Iianghterl- asked her that very thing
asked her If she could play NV Old Cabin
Home She said she would II / would sing
a verse of 1t. and said Id try. [Cries, sing
it now. let's hear it.] You wait. / said
would. and she touched up the piano. hit the
very Keynote OF the piece-the tune | know
and love best on earth 1t rang and echoed
about the room. The place was full OF women,
and pretty women, too. tApplause.l And
among them saw Miss ROane, the daughter
OF old Gov. ROane. the ladv of whom Mr.. Nc
MILAN spoke so beautifully a while ago. They
crowded around. and right there stood and
sung the verse. tCries Of 'sing-sing-give US
the verse. alright. gentlemen. to accOmmo-
date you I'll sing It, and clearing his throat,
the gentleman from Benton struck up bear
tone solo aud sang:
"Well hunt no more the grizzly
In the nook,
Wen leave the canon all
So dry;
Well drink no more OF the
Clear crystal brook,
SO, my log cabin home, goodbye"
As the goodbye" floated up among the cob
webs in the dome of the hall the densely packed
throng burst into cheers and shouts, a tornado
OF applause shaking the old house, while bursts
OF laughter broke out like thunderbolts. and
hand-clappings sounded like hal; among the con-
fusion. At length the orator succeeded in get
ting silence again after bowling and gesticuating
several minutes. and said: Hold On--wait and
4hear the chorus;" and then he sang
THE CHORUS.
''Wc1l mind ne more, but play,
never shall forget
That log cabin home
That log cabin home far away"
again the storm broke forth, and it was sew
eral minutes before he could proceed. When a
lull came he continued: ''Weil, those ladies
crowded around me. and when Mrs. Jones
stopped playing seized her hand and said:
Madam, / am In love with you fShouts ]
Yes, told her | had fallen in love with her, and
she said she wished I'd fall in love with her hus-
band as well. She treated me nice-they all did,
too. Now, l am a rough old man, but ladies
have great attractions for the old mountain
boomers. / know do [cheersl, and never
forgot that visit. They looked SO sweet and
nice / wanted to hug them all. When met
Mr., Jones I looked at him closely and saw in
him man could well support. He had big
head, tOO-a head like washtub eyes set away
back in and deep thinking look in them, and
so. with all this to think Of after looking well
about me- after considering the matter well,
after sleeping with it, l have concluded to vote
for the Hon. James K. Jones'" [Cheers, long
and loud.l