The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-11
he Is SILVER TONGUED.
60 WoLcoTT, TIE YOUNGEST
UNITED sTATka SENATOR

UNITED STATES SENATOR
Waiter Heitaaan f4Eass o Pea Ftstz<s Of
This Genial. HazAseEas T0uas States
raan frera csisreAe-Seaasa< Caritsls
and HIS Prospects La ths Upper House.
tspecaal cs=-saocaAaasa.i
WASHINGTON, June ss.-A new orator
disappeared u tia senate. The youngest
member Of tbs house Of lords, Mr. Vol
colt, Of ColoraAo, las &C Q single bound
become noted a. CHS Of the most elo-
quent men n cougveas- Es has a voice
for congressional speaking which e1cels
any other voice IL the Capitol, excepting
cnly that Of Senator ingalls,. Il is
u1eloaious yet vigorous voice. voice
that charms audiences, voice &c to
serve as vehicle Of poetry and love. It
easily fills the senate chamber, and it
has the roll" or continuous quality
which the voices OF 81 great orators pos
sess. But it is not voice for war, like
that Of ingalls,. Is Is not Q military
voice. ingalls,, on the other hand, has
the voice Of captain, votcs which
rings and vibrates-s voice which gen.
eral might envy or a caunoneer co7et.
It IS sharp, metallic, pervading. The
wonder is how such mighty tones can
proceed from so slight frame.
When Mr.. Wolcott rose 70 make his
speech he wss clearly nervous. He had
his manuscript close st hand, but for
wonder did'not find it necessary TO con-
suit it. Afterward 1t was learned that
the senator possesses remarkable mem
CRY, for every spokea word precisely
agreed with the written speech. Young
Wolcott-the youngest man in the sen
ate-came to Washington with reputs-
ton for oratory. Ea had won notable
triunphs at college, in the court room
and IN political conventions. But this
speech in the senate was something new
to me-" he said afterwsrd; Il confess
that was nervous. 1t 3 not SO easy as
it looks to get up there before score or
more Of veteran statesmen and orators
men whose names are household words.
l felt young, small and inconsequentiaI.
- " DID 4OS LAO SCN-AA%AAS ~ q j "a ~ -
court room, to political convention or
a great outdoor crowd. It was some
thing new in my experience, and the
first word uttered frightened ne more
than ever. For few seconds I didn't
know whether was a-foo5 or Oh horse
back"
Senator Wolcott came to Washington
with another reputation than that for
oratory. He was known as Il Wild and
reckless young man. Stories Of his bo-
hernian conduct preceded him. At
Long Branch two years ago he won in
single afternoon 81. 900 on horse race,
and being paid his winnings in the
greasy currency Of the betting ring he
found himself in possession Of huge
bundle Of bank notes wrapped in an old
newspaper. At his hotel he concluded
"the STUFF was q burden to him, and
asked his friends what he should do
with it. Some one suggested that mas
much as he was, as the French say, in
"good form" for speculation he try his
luck at Phil Days club room. The fu-
ture senator at once agreed to this and
colored boy was sent for to stack the
promiscuous bundle of greenbacks into
orderly piles.
Il was characteristic Of the reckless
ness of the young man from Denver that
he and his friends went off to dinner
while the colored boy continued his work.
After dinner Mr.. WeIcott and his friends
attacked the game a. the club house.
Fortune smiled, the banker kindly raised
the limit" and soon there lay before the
player lot Of blue and white chips
which were estimated to represent $18.-
coo. Suddenly their cratic owner tossed
a chip on the high card and asked the
dealer If he woHld turn for the full
amount of chips on hand Phil DAILY
was at hand and consented With breath
less interest the bystanders watched for
the appearance Of the card that was to
sweep away Mr.. Wolcott's $18, 600 or
double his stake to S35, 900.
The bank won, and she future sena-
tor. without the slightest trace Of disap-
pointment or vocation on his face, left
the club house. l give in detail this
story. which is not new, though it
has been often incorrectly told. simply
as an indication of the temperament Of
this remarkable young man. The truth
is, he wanted to lose the money which
the fates had sent TO him on the race
track He has sometimes gambled, but
never for the sake of winning money.
He has craved only excitement. a1nuse-
meut. Born and reared a gentleman, his
excuses have been simply those Of one
fond of adventure, never those q down
right viciousness.
Young Mr. Wolcost has always been
Indifferent TO money considerations.
His friends say Of HIN that he Is as vii
ing to give away money as to spend Il
In a single week Of fan seeking ne has
been known 70 make away with $40, 050
Perhaps one-haIf OF this was given or
thrown away IN gifts TO servants or poor
persons. or in wager made out Of sheer
bravado. He has n what is known
in the west s. a thoroughbred, as 8
''plunger." Living al the time Like a
urince. and occasionally throwing away
lsrge SUMS Ike al iEapsrlA speDdthTifs.
Wolcott has often fsGnd his income IN
sufficient fer, his NEEDS For ss<sFal
yeazs he has e&Eaei from 80. 600 20 s85, =
coo a year as lawver-Egures which
speak more eIoqusntly than words Of his
genius and rdsssry-Uut these s1z1s and
others beside have disappeared Ike snow
IN sprlnG san.