Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-25
Which Relieved the Strain of the
Contest Over the Tariff.
CHAIRMAN WILSON AND His old HAT
The Situation, Though Grave, Sug-
gested Witty Incidents.
THEN Me EPIC RAMS

There was a humorous phase to the tariff.
notwithstanding all its seriousness and the
profound effect It was to have on the COM
mercial and POLITICAL interests of the coun-
try. The tariff leaders always had time to
have their jokes, and there Is hardly
crisis in the many which occurred during
the long contest which is not marked by
some good story. The country has heard Of
the prolonged and bitter struggle in the
conference room, and yet these conferees,
wearied with their hopeless task. often
turned aside to tell stories aptly illustrat-
ing tn cir condition.
Even the old gray SLOUGH hat Of Chairman
Wilson came to have Its Significance in the
great struggle. 1t is a weather-beaten tile.
which has gone through several West Vir-
ginia summers, until the perspiration from
Mr.. Wilson's brow has run irregular waves
around the band, 1t IS of the Texas brand,
with spacious brim and the top smashed in
an irregular fashion. 1t has been worn SO
long and has become so marked as the hat
Of no other man than Wilson that 1t never
could be mistaken. And this fact soon be-
came an inestiHiable boon to the eager lob
byists, who swarmed through the Capitol
corridors and sought to get near the man
Of the tariff bill.
MIR. Wilson was seldom to be found in
person. as he was closeted most of the time
with his democratic associates on the ways
ana means committee or with the tariff
conferees during the several months the bill
was under consideration. 1t was in vain
that lobbyists asked for him, as they could
get no information as to where ne was or
wnen ne would return. But the acute lob
Dyist, and, indeed, everybody about the
Capitol, soon learned to look for Wilson's
nat instead of Wilson. 1t was an unfailing
1noicatlon OF his presence at the Capitol.
nd
Tee room when he arrived in the morning
ana le1t II there until he departed.
The Tale of the Hat.
"heh IL was gone 1t was certain notice
that Wilson had departed for the tiay AMI
that tariff figuring had ended. AS long as
II hung there 1t was proof positive that
Wilson was not far of and that the tariff
schedules were being arranged Soon the
nat advanced from its position as a mere
nouce 10 a receptacle for cards and notes
On one evening Representative DaIzell of
the ways ind means committee had a
message OF pressing Importance to convey
10 me chairman. and as Wilson could not
De FOUND. Dalzell thrust the note through
the band of the hat AMI felt confident that
the message would be received before the
day closed. Other members and callers
stroiled In to see the chairman, and soon
the nat band was encircled with cards and
messages. Night after night this hat look
ed ike the card rack In some country tay-
ern. 1t was not until the last days Of the
struggle that Wilson determined to cut off
wearing his hat continually. 1t was a sore
disappointment to the army which sought
him daily and which had until then camped
around his old SLOUGH hat
When Senator German made his men,ora-
BILE speech. bringing II to a dramatic climax
by asking one Senator after another to
rise and substantiate the statements made,
Representative Tarsney Of the ways and
t<l6 ,Ho Ill
soon passed among the members as apply
ing to the German Incident. Tarsney told
of an oil Irish lady living in his district
who was continually complaining Of her
she would explain Patrick's latest misfor-
tune in losing his job and her own trou-
bles with the rheumatism. Besides this
the Oldest daughter was sick in bed and
the youngest was afflicted with the whoop-
ing cough. 1t was a distressing cough ex-
planned the old lady, and then. that there
might be no mistake about 1t, she added:
Now. Elnora, cough for the ladies'"
And So as the result of Tarsney's story,
members got in the habit of inquiring
whether German was likely to ask any Of
the Senators to cough that day.
Birdie aud Her Song.
Miss Birdie Anandale, and her inimitable
song of Down in the Valley will long re-
main as a feature of the tariff struggle. In
fact. during The last few weeks Senators
of the success Of the Senate bill, but have
usually referred to II as the triumph Of
Birdie Auandale.>
Miss Anandale was introduced into the
tariff discussion by Senator Vest of Mis-
souri,. 1t occurred at one of the first meet
IL gs of the tariff conferees. Mr. Wilson
and his House associates declared with en-
phasis that they would never accept such a
constituencies bill as that presented by the
Senate. They said 1t was covered with
scandal and was gratuity to the sugar
and other trusts The Senators merely re-
piled that II would have to be swallowed
&c cd or bad. without the dotting of an 'I'
or the crossing of st" Senator Vest said
that the opposition of the House reminded
him of Miss Birdie Anandale. and he pro-
ceeded to tell the story.
A crowd had gathered in one of the Mis-
souri, concert halls during the early DAYS
and were waiting for the show to begin
1t was the custom for the manager to come
on the stage between the acts and an
rcunce the events. He came out and the
crowd listened intently.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said he II will
have the pleasure of introducing Miss Birdie
Anandale songstress who has charmed
two hemispheres, in her captivating song
Down in the Valley"
At this moment a drunken man in the
audience staggered to his feet and shouted.
Birdie Anandale is no good on earth. and
she can't sing for sour apples"
The stage manager was naturally fiabber-
gastered. He gagged for a moment but
added.
Nevertheless, Notwithstanding ladies and
gentlemen, Miss Birdie Anandale, the song
stress of two hemispheres will now sing
Down in the Valley"
He Had to BE Forced.
When the House was about to accent the
Senate bill Representative Bynum of the
ways and means committee told q story H.
lUs trating the situation. At that time It
YVES generally supposed that Mr. Wilson
and his associates wanted to have the pub
lie appearance of accepting the Senate bill
very reluctantly, while, in fact, they were
quite ready to end the struggle by taking
the Senate measure as speedily as possible
Bynum told his associates that 1t remind
cd him of an old gentleman in Indianapolis
who had been bedridden for some time and
was fond of the bottle He told his wife
low miserable he was feeling one day.
Chills were chasing down his back and
cramps had possession Of his vitals After
specifying each of his miseries, the old gen.
tleman said to his wife:
Get the black bottle and If 1 show any
resistance just force 1t down my throat"
Representative Robertson Of Louisiana
dropped into poetry as a result of the te-
dious tariff debate. and he would frequently
recite to his associates parts Of Spencer's
Fairy Queen" The Louisiana sugar in
terests were particularly anxious to see the
IL 1.of pnha