The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-02-22
THE HOUSE WINDMILLS.
How the Assemb1ymen Who
Do All the Talking
Look and Act.
OUR OWN LITTLE POTTS.
Father Nash's PoeticaI Eloquence
and Vansyckel's Pugnacious
Oratory.
specfaI to the Sunday Mognsno Mems.

9otts introduced his resolution in the
Assembly some time ago providing that
no member should speak more than
twice on one question, nor longer than
i've minutes each time, facetious Re-
publican designated the resolution as an
attempt to stop the windmflls There
was more truth than courtesy. perhaps,
In that designation, for it is fact that
the present Assembly has strong pro-
clivity to talk too much. Il is that pro-
clivity, Speaker Bergen says, that is re-
tarding TIE business of the House, and
about the only thing which stands in the
way Of an early adjournment.
This state OF affairs is no doubt due to
the fact that 1t has been many long day
since there sat in the Assembly chamber
so many takers. There are all kinds of
takers among them Some are fiuent
and even eloquent speakers. and others
always command attention, for it is
known that they never speak unless 1t be
that they have something Of Importance
to say, while there are still others who
appear TO Imagine that the State could
not exist if they did not say something on
every bill which comes mp no matter how
Ill acquainted they are with its scope and
provisions.
One Of the most prominent figures upon
the door is Campbell of Monmouth, who
oy virtue OF his position as chairman of
the caucus is leader Of the House. It IS
his duty to introduce all resolutions and
bills relative to partisan legislature, al
though he does not always do so. The
Lender is expected to advocate or defend all
measures which have the approval Of the
majority. Mr.. Campbell is q Long
Branch lawyer and has been police
justice. It might be incidentally
mentioned that he is the crack
billiard shot of the Assembly. He is tall
and slight with sandy hair and q red
moustache. He is good debater. and
often his words becomes eloquent There
is an earnestness and impressiveness
about tone and manner which makes one
think of an old school divine lamenting
the general peryerseness OF the human
race.
OUR OWN LITTLE POTTS.
Opposed 20 Mr.. Campbell is ''our own
little Potts, who is leader Of the hope
less Republican minority. His oppo-
nents always attenIlveIy follow the little
man from Hudson, for they never know
at what moment he IS going TO spring
some parliamentary trap upon them aud
then retire to the cloak room 70 enioy
their discontinue, as they founder about
trying TO extracate themselves. There is
no better pariiamentarian on the floor
than Potts. And why shouldn't ne bes,'
growled a disgruntled Democrat whom
he fioored the other day. and to whom z
similar remark had been made:-.sHe
grow up in the Assembly Chamber
There IS no member who is listened to
more attentively by members. Hobbies
Camden. Father Nash, as he is
more popularity known. is the
oldest member of the Legislature.
He was born in Bucks County, Penn. in
1924 and is a retired merchant. He once
undertook TO Study law, but it is said that
stick TO torts and trespasses, that Spen-
Ger. Milton, Shakespeare. Byron and the
other poets have more charms for him
than Chitty blackstone and Kent.
Father Nash is a medium sized stout
old man with a patriarchai crown OF
white hair and a long iron gray beard. He
dresses in Infxedpepper and salt sack suit
and wears his vest secured by the lower
buttons only, revealing a wide expanse
OF immaculate shirt 'front.' When on the
street he wears silk hat perched on the
back of his head. Father Nash's oratory
is peculiar TO himself Gems from Shake
speare, pearls from Byron and gold from
the unworked mines of Addison
and Swift is about the manner
in which ne would describe
his own eloquence. When under
The spell of cloak room enthusiasm
Father Nash is most entertaining. He
starts in mild and subaued, standing In
the aisle with his hands resting upon the
desks on either side Of him As he pro-
ceeds he wakes warm. Producing
his bandanua he emphasizes his
remarks by waving 1t ia
the direction OF the Speaker
while he doubles himself up until his
head almost touches the desk in front of
him. His principal drawback is his
voice which, in his most eloquent flights
becomes husky and indistinct. The old
gentleman has something to say on
almost every question, but 1t is
as an upnolder of ''the old
time principles of Democracy as
enunciated By that noble patriot Jeffer-
son, kept alive by the sublime heroism of
the grand old conqueror of New 0rle ans
and emphasized at this latter day by the
supreme craftsmanship of that angelic
old man of Graystone
FATHER NAsH'S OPPONENT.
The laughter aud applause which the
rhetorical flights of Father Nash 1nvar-
iably provoke have scarcely died away
when "BilI'' Cole OF Camden is on his
feet to reply. Cole is one of those men
VINO imagine they have a call to be funny,
and when he first came around many
thought he had heard his call Alright.
bul MS SCOCk Oh funny SUITES SOON
ran out and now he has become tire
some He is long, lank individual,
with lengthy black chin beard and
cast in one eye which imparts TO his face
a quizzlcal expression. He always dresses
in deep black. He is a politician, pure
and simple, and has been building inspec-
tor of Camden since 1866 He also claims
to be newspaper man and writes occar
sionally for the Camden Courier. N a
voice as fwangy as that of the traditional
New Highlander Cole, begins in self con-
scious air, somewhat in this strain
mir Speaker, this bill reminds me OF
Jim Scovel's SOUP and then ne tells a
story which generally creates a laugh
He seldom raises or lowers his voice or
gets excited, but keeps on in an even
tone
There is another Cole in the House who
is frequently seen upon the door, and
who Is considered among the ablest men
on the Republican side Of the chamber.
He is Eugene G. Cole. the little school,
master from Cape May" Although a
teacher by procession Mr.. Cole has tried
his hand at other things.
He studied for awhile at West Point.
He has been admitted to the bar and has
acted as Coroner. He has been closely
connected with the educational interest
of Cape May, as teacher. trustee and
county examiner. Mr. Cole is unfortu-
nate in mis- voice. which is thin and
pitched in high Key: otherwise he
would be one OF the orators Of the House.
When 'sMr. Speaker In his sqneaky
voice rings out, every one in the galleries
strains forward to see who 1t Is. Down