The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29
STORY TELLERS In CONGRESS
TIE PRESENT HOUSE HAS MANr,
AND THET ARE GOOD ONES. roo.


0rnint and Humorous Yarns Told by coepe
nuteheson, Everett, TaIbort, sisPso'
CLARK, Mose-. .-d Fence. and Cie.ri
Isetoid by Amos J. Cummings for th
Bepeat OF the Renders OF Tho Sun.
WASHINGTON. Oct. Gin the South and II
the North tho most popular orators seem to b
those who tell the best stories. To be pleas
ing. however. tho story must be pat to TN
point at issue. One OF the most successiu
men In Congress was Washington q. WIFI
thorne OF Tennessee. On tho stump ne was
fnytncible. The stories flew from him Ike
corn popping from Rrddle. and each waf
pertinept to the issue presented He could
adapt himself to all circumstances and
conditions. and have a story that would OK
actlr ne every niche In his argument
This adaptability kept him in Congress for
many years. but In his speeches on tho noor
Of the House he dispensed with anecdotes and
depended upon argument alone. He found 1t
the most effective
At FIRST glance this Congress would seem to
have more thnn It's proportion Of story tellers-
The stories. however. boar no comparison to
the number Of speeches made In tho House.
Aneodotal illustrations are really very few.
Bono are stale. while others are quaint and
original. All are acceptable, for without them
discussion or debate would be dull indeed.
The first story told on the floor this session
eame from Mr.. Cooper OF Florida. The House
had been In session ten days before the aneo-
Aotal vein was revealed. Cooper's story illus
trated precisely a point which he was making
in an anti silver speech. He could not recon-
eile himself tn vote for measure which would
mako 81 cents worth Of silver dollar. II this
was done no thought his people ought to re-
ALL f,ra ri q, 0f Cnt
ton. tobacco. yams and oranges. He did not
say that he supported such proposition. but
informed the House that he would manage to
hold his conscience in allegiance.
An acquaintance OF mine." said Mr.. Coop
or. was cow-attorney for certain railroad.
His duties were to go around and resist claims
for cattle killed on the track. He resorted to le
gal bubbles and delays. and continued in SER
vice about three years. when the railroad COM
pany discharged him. Thereupon he became a
very active and Jealous promoter OF like claims
on the other side. One day as he was address,
ing the Jury in q Justices court he became
very severe not only upon the company but
upon the attorney representing the company.
Finally. the other counsel could stand 1t no
longer. and threw his record at him.
Didn't you for three years represent this
railroad and resist Just such claims as this.
doing what am doing only deal more SOP"
Whercupon the indignant COW attorney re-
piled: "Sir. for three years I held my con-
science in abeyanco. but now 1t is broke loose"
To clinch tho anecdote Mr. Cooper said that
he had not held his conscience in allegiance,
but IL he was to do 1t he wanted to sec some
tangible benefit for his people.
The next anecdote was related By tho Hon.
John G. Hutchinson Of Texas. 1t was an old
timer. Josiah Patterson Of Tennessee had
happened to remark in his anti-silver speech |
that we had come to the fork Of two roads. Mr..
said that II this was 80 he would stand whore |
the colored man In the conversation stood. |
road that leadeth to destruction. and straight |
and narrow am dc path that leadeth to eternal
edamnHtiop." and these were two roads men
A. shis fn a. I'D ds n,, in the cengregnten
s to hs 81,
.Ns. putenesen said that 1t might be that he
Mooas he wsnsed shs 90
party to hew the way. and he wanted tho
sSop sIsns the line and Rsip his party through
classic Scholar oi Harvard Dr. Wiia% E ~
Of Massachusetts He was amazed at the de-
tsrH;inA5 4. Of some gentlemen Of ali three
silver Thes had s0 %on ger.
meal presented to them. II reminded him Of
what happened in u certain poor religious
wanted to procure new hymn books. but they
we're Very poor and could not afford to pay
stood. however. that a certain ing great advertis
Ing house. n business house that made patent
p n edieines. was wiling to furnish them hymn
books. They thought that would be no special
vertlsements bound up with Watts and Dodd-
rldSe. Ihey agreed to the proposition. Tho
@ the church ON The 4S Of "be ap{ got down
On Christmas morning the model Christians
who had no thought OF ANYTHING but religion.
irst line very familiar hymn. Immediately
ne congregation arose to their feet. and In q
ew seconds were aghast to lind themselves
Iinging-
Hnrk the herald angels sing
Peace on earth and mercy mild:
TWO for man and one for child
The House broke into uncomfortable laugh
er and ch eered DR.. Everett to the echo.
ralbert 9: south Carolina day or two after
leal OF earnestness 10 spseches on both sides
4 the question; He had listened SC. seriously
he position Of the little boy whose m other in
q pant HIN his first pair Of put the
the next te sp isTW ssrsd
ully along until lie looked down and dscov-
Sos he tbs, out crying
ont know Whistler am going to school or
ding back home"
The south Carolinian's statement was re-
eiyed with great laughter.
Not long afterward. in referring to the des-
erato effort OF the bankers to choke off the
liver mon. Mr.. Talbert said that charity for.
ado that he should say that Congress was in
ould think. II he did not speak. 70 iIustrat.
ia Idea, he said that down In South Carolina
here was a man who hired lawyer once to
onduct case In court. As the lawyer was
ct talking exactly to suit him. he got up to
iake few remarks himself The Judge of =
ourae. made him take his seat. He got up
gain. and the Judge made him take his seat !
gain. A third and fourth time this ha ppened. :
Well Judge; 4 you won't let me talk. won't :
Why. certainly" replied the Judge. !
We'll. Judge" he said. II think you and all
bose LAWYERS are great set OF rascals."
In referring to the allie cations that the Sher-
ian act had caused bedevlment in the coun-
~. Mr. Talbert said that the passage Of that i
ct reminded him OF something that happened
North Carolina Just after the war. Gen, |
ilpatrick came through the town going home