Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-27
THE GREAT SILVER BATTLE.
Review of the Leaders ina Memor-
able Parliamentary Struggle.

able Parliamentary Struggle.
(washington Special to st, Louis Republic)
Senator Voorhees, is not great lead
or. He is very able man, but his ma
ture Is too kindly to permit of sufficient
aggressiveness to carry on with Yigor a
campaign against old friends.
Mr.. Voorhees, record is against him.
He has always been champion of free
silver. was champion of greenbacks
and always was the friend aud ally of
the m ~ who most bitterly fought the
repeal bill. This placed him at dis
advantage, and to certain extent dis
armed him. But even under ordinary
circumstances Mr. VOORHEES, could never
be great parliamentary leader. He is
q great advocate, but has never both
cred bis mind with the smaller details
of parliamentary studies His knowl
edge of the rules, strange to say, not
withstandIng his long service, is not
extensive. He has thought more of
the great questions at issue than the
means Of bringing them forward.
Then, again, his nature Is too kindly.
He could not offend If he tried. He
was never made to be a soldier or com
mander. 1t is doubtful if his heart was
ever really lin the fight, and unless
Voorhees, can get his heart in the fight
1t is easy to do him up.
A SINGULAR COMPOUND.
Voorhees, is y singular compound of
genius and amiability. He Is one of
the poorest men In the senate, although
he has had opportunities to make
fortunes. He never was rich, he al
ways lives up to his income and per-
baps sometimes ahead of it. He has
fought some Of the most desperate law
cases for purely good will, and without
fee.
Mr.. Voorhees,, II appealed to by a
person accused Of crime In Montana,
Louisiana, Tennessee, the mountains of
Colorado, Texas or Maine, would imme-
dlately respond, and undertake his de-
fense without the hope of reward,
without hope of having his expenses
even paid, and with hope of glory, ex-
cept such as the satisfaction of doing
something that he liked conferred upon
him. Mr.. Voorhees, has defended and
secured the acquittal of some of the
most desperate criminals Ia the United
States, and yet he will not admit that
he ever defended criminal.
THE SILVER CHAMPIONS.
On the silver side of the fight Henry
N. Teller of Colorado was the leader.
He did not come to the front unless it
was necessary, but when he took the
lead In person he was skillful, bold,
adroit and aggressive. Unlike Voor-
hees, perhaps, Mr.. Teller had his whole
heart In the contest. He was absolute
ly In earnest, 30 much in earnest, in
fact, that on more than one occasion he
forced tears to his eyes. Teller is al
ways cool, always watchful, and
master of parliamentary tactics. He
can lead filibusterlng party as well as
any man who ever served In congress.
Teller has q profound knowledge of
the silver question. He has made IL a
careful study. In fighting for silver he
was executing the mandate of his peo-
pie. Entirely indifferent TO public
opinion outside ol the state of Colorado,
desplslng Eastern influence, more par
ticnlarly the voice of New York and
Boston and Philadelphia papers, he
was dangerous adversary no matter
how large the majority against him
might be and with no rules of the sen.
ate TO control him. Teller always had
stock of speakers on hand. He re-
served them when the tiring. out pro-
cess was engaged in and allbusters kept
calling for the presence of quorum
svery five or six minutes. Teller care
'ully kept his Interesting takers silent
ana made his dullest and most weari.
'ome and tiring speakers entertain the
senate aud the galleries.
STEWART, PETER EFT AL.
This Is the reason why Stewart did
o much talking, and why PETER had
0 msny opportunities, aud why Allen
{ Nebraska was allowed 10 hold the
oor for is hours. Teller argued, aud
'isely, that II would be no great hard
hip 70 senators TO sit In their comfort |
BILE cushioned chairs and hear bril-.
ant and interesting speech. Accord
gly he tried to violate the constitu.
on by infiicting "ornel and unusual l
Ia sicking on Stewart and
'ffer and the other dulhrds when the
bate Sas most weary and the calls !
quorum were frequent.
Nj. Stewart Of Nevada. now 90 years
and one OF the best preserved men
Ibe senate, had enough Of extracts v
"a newspapers, pamphlets. reports, d
speeches. tables aud etters from Y
nks on hand 80 that he could talk y
eiinIlely at any line and under any
sible circumstances. Like Teller, X