Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-02
IN CONGRESSMAN BEDFORD.

Something About the Well-Known States
man-His Brilliant Abilities Clouded by
His Unsteady Habits.
Information comes from Colorado to
the effect that the personal and political
friends of eX-Congressman James B..
Belford have made up purse and given
him new lease of life. This intelligence,
writes a Washington correspondent to
the Rochester IN. Y Herald, was heard
with much interest in Washington, and
a great deal of pity, but with no surprise.
Judge Belford is one of the best-knOwn
men who have ever figured in congress.
He is 4S years old, and is o lawyer by
profession, Having received college
education in one of the most renowned
colleges of the east, in 1870 he went up
on the bench of the supreme court of
Colorado and remained there for five
years. At the expiration of his term of
judgeship he was elected a representative
to congress, coming here in that capacity
as soon as Colorado was admitted to state
hood. Judge Bedford served in the forty-
fourth. forty-fifth forty-sixth, forty
seventh, and forty -eighth.congresses. Colo
RADIO has had but one representative In
congress, and that one member naturally
attracts more attention than were there
more members from the state. He had q
disposition as warm as his fery-red hair
and brick colored Whiskers. He had the
true western air, and made acquaintance
wherever he went. He dressed like
true frontiersman, and was generous to
fault. During the first five years of his
time in congress he did not permit his
inclination to drink considerably to in
terfere very seriously with his personal
duties, but during his last term he was a
greater portion of his time incapaciated
on that account. He was one of the
most brilliant speakers on the republican
side of the house, and had he been
steady man and careful of his reputation
he would undoubtedly have been q
leader of his party. He was one of the
best bred men on the floor Of the house,
and was always ready on an instant to
combat an enemy in debate or set the
people into uproarious laughter by his
wit and humor. He bad characteristic
manner OF gesticulatiDg and movement
Of bis body in speaking. His arms would
often fly about like the wings of the hos
to'ical Don Quixote's windmill. and
would walk about the aisles of either
side of the house quoting Shakespeare
and the poe's, while the people stood
spellbound. He could fill the galleries
quicker and could hold their occupants
longer than any man on the floor of the
house, even during the last two years Of
his term. In the last congress his seat
was on the extreme western row of the
republican side, and he was as far away
from the speaker as any man on the floor
of the house. His bearing is not very
good at best. and about his seat there was
always considerable noise. 1t used to be
his diversion to rise three or four times
. day and address the speaker on point
Of order. He would always be recognize
ed, of course, on pariiamentry grounds
on such question, and in pleading for
order he would nearly always get off
some humorous remark occupying from
half a minute to five minutes. Some
times he would rise to call for order, and
there would be cries for a continuation
of his remarks until he would speak as
long as fifteen or twenty minutes upon
some foreign question, while the mem
Der who had the floor and was inter.
fered with continued to stand I'D and
roar with laughter. Belford' strongh
in his varied quotations, was the bible.
He seemed to have that book committed
to memory. He could quote from any
portion o. it at will. Frequently when
ne began speaking he would commence
walking down towards the speaker from
his seat, quoting theology, Shakespeare,
and the poets, and interspersing catches
from Methodist and other hymnals in
such potpourri as to excite the admira-
ton and wonder of everyone. When
he reached the semi-cirele in front of
the speakers desk he often paused on
the elevation, and placing one hand on
a desk extended the other toward the
democratic side of the house, and, as
Stunning the posture of q classleader, ap-
pealed in terms that were the most ludi-
crous imaginable to the democrats to re-
form and fee from their sins, and to
come over where the christians dvelt,
etc. Then he would leave his position
and 20 among the democrats, walking
around from aiG1o 10 aiGlO and rubbing
them Over their hoods and po1ting th14
q H. shoold9 81 p1iv61z 1
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