The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-17

portion of the members of the house are
chosen every two years on their record for
ability and usefulness or on account of the
manner in which they please their people
at home with public speeches. On the other
hand, senators are too often chosen for their
wealth Many men reach the senate with
out having ever made a public speech, and
while public speeches are not indispensable
to useful statesmanship. and too much
speaking may interfere with the business
of legislation, as Il rule one likes to feel
that his senator or representative in CON
gress is able to get up and acquit himself
handsomely ii called upon.
Genuine Orators.
Of the three hundred and fifty odd mem
bers of the house, l suppose fully one-half
are able to make pretty good speeches. with
or without preparation. y dozen or Il score
of them are entitled to rank as genuine
orators. If were called upon to name the
10 best speechmakers in the house, the 10
orators of our house of commons would
make up II list something like the follow
ing:
Bourke Cochran of New York.
John Il. Fellows of New York.
John c. Black of Illinois.
Thomas B. Reed of Maine.
w. j. Bryan of Nebraska
w. c. Z. Breckenridge of Kentucky.
Charles a. Boutele of Maine.
Jonathan T.. Dollver of Iowa.
Julius Cesar Burrows of Michigan.
Amos Cummings Of New York
Bourke Cochran is without much doubt
the finest orator in the house today.
Though what is known as n natural ora
tor, with native gifts of uncommon bril-
liancy, he has not been content with these.
For years Cochran has been most earnest
student. Though for long time identified
with Tammany Hall in New York CITY and
exceedingly active in the politics Of that
organization, he has always made good use
of his time. His evenings he has spent Mt
home in efforts to perfect himself for
public career. Hundreds of books on his
tory. political economy and philosophy
have passed in review before his eager eyes.
Moreover, he used to take lessons in elocu-
ton from one of the best teachers in New
York and by these means has polished and
perfected those gifts with which nature so
lavishly endowed him. The result is an
orator who stands without peer in the
American congress. In my humble judg-
ment, there Is not another man, either in
the house or senate, who compares with
him in this respect. This is pretty proud
position for man to occupy who is not vet
40 years old, and who was born a poor boy
in Ireland.
NOCkTsill Is intensely AMBITIOUS. HIS hope
IL to occupy seat in the United States
senate and there TO make great name for
himself. He had hoped to be elected to
the senate last winter, when Mr.. Murphy
was chosen, and quarrelcd with Grand Sa-
chem Croker of Tammany because the or
ganiZation would not make him it's candi-
date. But Mr. Croker had given his word
to Mr.. Murphy and could not withdraw it.
Men are curious TO know what will be the
effect OF this quarrel upon Mr.. Cockran's
political future. If he does not patch up
his differences with Croker it is assumed
he will not he returned to congress, and his
public career may come to nm untimely
end.
If this should be the result, it will he re-
GREETED by all who know him, for such or
ators arc not TO be spared even from a body
as rich in cloquence as our house of repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Cochran and his accom-
plishcd wife are social leaders at the CAPT
tai, too, where they have n handsome house
and entertain literally. Cochran made
enough money during his practice of law
in New York to make him independent so
far as income is concerned, and he had
settled down to n public career with zest
and accomplishments for it which are rare
ly met with.
L