The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-18
LODGE AND HEMPHIl.l.
PEN Pictures Of the Leaders la tho EIcc-
lions 1911 Contest.

lions BiII Contest.
There is striking contrast be
tween Mr.. Lodge, the leader of the
| Republican forces in the contest over
| the federal election bill, and Mr..
Hcmphill, who by virtue of his posi-
ton on the committee on the election
of President and Vice President, is
at the head of the opposition. Mr..
Lodge has more contradictory traits
of character than any man | know of
III the House. He is curious com
bination of liberal lrcformera and dema-
goguc; of broad intelligence and bit
ter partisanship. In his character as
| partisan he is admired by MS col
leagues and has II considerable fol
| lowing. AS II rcformcr he has scarcely
any following in the House and is
snecrcd at by those who are his as
sociates and admirers in his other
character. His associates arc of two
classes. Those who follow his lead
on the federal election question call
him II political dude when he talks
civil service reform. When he APP
pears as II rcformcr of political meth
| ods he is superb but ineffective, but
in party intrigue he will go further
than some of his less intellectual and
| less enlightened associates. lie IS
clever however, III the assumption of
high motive in his partisan action,
! and is too shrcwd to use denunciation
instead OF argument. The best pre-
scntatiOn of his side of the Federal
election question that has been made,
and the best that can be made. was
that which was made i'll his opening
argument. He is not an orator ana
never rises to the point of cloqucncc.
His speeches are finished literary pro-
auctions, and he delivers them with
an appearances of carncstncss. He is
fair representative of the intelligent
but bigotcd young Republicans of
New England, still retaining the
strain of Puritan blood
MIR. Hemphill is good rcprcscn-
tatlvc of the progressive young men
Of the South. If Mr.. Reed, in II
spirit of mdgnanimity, had so de-
signed it, he could not have done bet
ter for the Democrats than he did in
the appointment of Mr.. Hemphill to
| the head of the minority committee
which was to consider this bill. He
is not fire cater. He is calm, dis
| passionate, logical and good lawyer.
1t would be much easier to throw
Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Lodge or any other
cold -bloodcd New Englandcr into Il
passion than to provoke an indiScrc-
tion on the part of this young South
Carolinian. He is fair and frank
His speech is slow and somewhat
haltinS ut first. There IS never any
thing i'll his manner to provoke an
tagoniSm; he never forgcts to be
courteous TO his opponent, however
bitter that opponent may be. He is
not us graceful u writer us is Mr..
Lodge. his periods may not be quite
rs much effect with his voice, but as
he advances with his argument, feel
ing what he says, as he did Oh open
ing the case for the South in this dis
cuSsion, he becomes eloquent without
effort and without knowing it, There
Is II frank carncStnGSS in what he says
which impressess his hearers. His
! voi"o, hi,, ,uumn"r nnl hio speech an
peal for fair play, and give promise of
fair play in return. His speeches are
the work of lawyer rather than q
literary man, but he is II scholarly
| anu as able rs Is the young statesman
from Massachusetts,. The contrast
between the two men is such rs to
make them suitable antagonists.
Neither side could have been repre-
scented by any one who could present
the case ut opening better than the
men selected
Am expression of arrogance is
stamped on Mr.. Lodges face, and
one naturally expects some bitterness
in his speech. But he is never dis
courteous either III language or man
ncr. He maintains an air of superb
Ority, however, which is sometimes
offensive. Mr.. Hcmphill is extremely
modest and is one of the most amiable
men III the House. During the eight
or ten years | have known him [ have
! never orvn him lose hia temper III
debate.
| \ GrucSOmc Hour.