Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-03
GOOD STORIES
TOLD IN CONGRESS-
SOME WOULD HAVE DONg CREDIT TO LIN
COLIN HIMSELF.
Others are Old Anecdotes Clothed in 4 New
Dress b1, All Have Point and Pith and
Provoke Laagher-Par. Played BY the
Story Telers in the Debate On the Silver
Question.
Az Riqhts Rsssrr5g By ne wilson Press syn
df-nfG.

AH hlqhta heSerr39 OF me ntssOh FfeSS Sy'
dtcG'e.
WAsHINGrON, Dec. 1-Of all the story
telIers that have breathed the air Of
Washington there was none whose
anecdotes are more often quoted than
those OF Abraham Lincoln. There
was also none more applicable 20 the
subject OF conversation. His story or
swapping horses while crossing q
stream has run over both hemispheres.
The American people appreciate appli-
cable anecdotes, and LincOln's stories
were never told without a purpose
They were lights that made his public
policy clearely distinguishGble. Wheth-
err told upon the stump In Illinois or az
cabinet meetings they were equally
effective. The people appreciated the
moral as we'll as the point or each story,
This story telling gift Of the martyreu
90 President gave him a popularity that
became world wide.
The stories told upon the floor OF the
House are indicative Of the character,
and ability OF the representatives.
Some are old anecdotes clothed 10 a new
dress. Others are new and character
istic Of the district which the Congress
men represent. The Senate is a Staid
and digided body and produces very
few "reminiscences. There is an aban-
don about the House, however, which
produces a storytelling atmosphere.
The debate on the repeal Of the Sher-
man Law would have been q very dry
discussion indeed were 10 not for tho
stories illustrative of the situation.
Some Of these have already been retOld;
others are worth recording. Only one
Senator ventured upon reminiscent
ground. BE was that glorious veteran,
Zebulon r. Vance. In attacking the
repealers be said that they wanted TO
maintain q parity between the metals,
and therefore they cut the only cord
that held silver up, and permitted 10 to
drop out Of sight in the abyss. They
remainded him OF an lrishman who had
been induced to 90 down the shaft Of q
mine in q bucket. There was a charge
for q blast below him. The fuse had
gone out and he was ID descend and
reIight il. When half way down he
saw a spark of fire below him. Thrilled
with fear he shouted, "Pull me up boys!
pull me up Quick!'
They began 70 pull him up, but the
bucket moved very slowly. The excit-
ed Irshman screamed, Haul me
up quick. Begorra If you don't haul
me up quicker, may the devil fly away
wild me but I'll cut the rope.
This was an old story, but the grave
and revered seniors around Gen. Vance
burst into laughter when they heard To-.
Not long after the Senator paid his
respects to Senator Voorhees, for incor-
porating in his bill q part Of the Chica-
20 platform. He expressed his opinion
by saying:
was there ever a cat t%rottIng
through the tangled thickets of the
Alleganies or roaming over the barren
wilds Of the Rocky Mountains so wild
and untamable as this cat? Was there
ever any bug discovered and classified
By science with 4 hum equal 70 the hum
Of this bug?"
This natural flow of language again
set the Senate in a roar. In speaking
Of Senator Sherman he said that he had
never known a Senator more anxious
for the undOing Of his action than
this Senator. at is a confession that
he is wrong and il is an appeal fIOm his
conscience which seems 20 say TO the
court, Hurry up, judge, / IN a great
criminal. Let there De no delay. Don't
even let the jury have water"
And this was the nearest attempt at
story telling that was made in the Sen
ate during the discussion. In the House
it was different. 10 averaged at least a
story a day. Some were good and some
were bad, but all indicated the material
that forms the popular legislative body.
General Hooker, Of Mississippi re-
called an extremely interesting re-
miniscence during the discussion Of the
rules. II was concerning his first ap-
pearnace in Congress. He said he had
been I'm the House. for three months
and had not opened his mouth. Samuel
j. Randall had an appropriation bill be-
fore the House. A friend OF Mr.. Hook
er's went 20 Mr.. Randall and said:
There Is a new member here from
Mississippi. That State has been re-
ferred TO by some one on this side AMI l
wish you would give him an opportunity
to speak for ten or fifteen minutes. -
Mr.. Randall turned and looked at Gen
eral Hooker, closing one eve as he
scrutinized him, aud said: "Well, he
is a new member. There is no telling
what in the devil he may say and /
think he better not speak"
Gen. Hooker said that he never got
even until Mr.. Randall Invited him 10
20 to Philadelphia with q number o.
other gentlemen and make q speech in
his behalf when he was @ candidate for
reelection. He received the PennSvl-
vaniau's invitation by closing one e. .
aud looking az him from head to foot
Then be replied, "WelI, Mr.. Randall, I
AN a new member aud there is no tell
ing what the devil / may say aud I
think I had better not 60"
Randall acknowledged the corn and
Gen. Hooker Went TO Philadelphia and
made as fine a speech as was ever heard
IN tina city.
The Honorable Leonidas T. Livlngs-
ton IN his speech quoted an expression
of Abraham Lincoln that he said be was
very fond Of. Lincoln once said; "G0d
must like common people very much. "
WhereupoC some gentleman present
asked "Way?"
because he made so many of them"
Mr.. Lincoln replied.
NoMMuu pcuEttf MAs ~Alf4ukStOu
said, Town and run the earth when
they can get rid Of the politicians. They
are the bulwarks Of society and God
cares for society"
Colonel William H. Hatch, Of Nilsson
ri wound up his silver speech with a
mighty good story. lie said; 1--WE had
a recent convention Of religious work
ers among railway men. The chairman
said that the proceedings would termi-
Date with prayer by railway workers, q
conductor and an engineer. The con-
anctnr Lnl nI with On narnash ANIMAL