The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-29
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

tirguish Some of Them-Mr. Blanch-
ard Has a Peculiar Plan.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch
washington, July 21.-An great men
have their weaknesses. That is the rea-
,on no man is hero to his valet, In the
vanity of one Of the members of the
Tnited States perhaps is to be found the
reason for the passage of the compromise
tariff bill.
When the Louisiana senators, contrary
n expectation, voted for the bill, Mr.
blanchard was subjected TO a great deal
If criticism because he did not cast his
vote on the first roll-call. 1t is said that
he was under an agreement with his col
league and Mr. Irby of South Carolina to
vote against the bill, and that by absent
inc himself when his name was called he
sycited the distrust of Mr.. Irby, who
tbereupon voted with the democratic ma
tority in the affirmative. The vote of Mr..
Irbv determined the fate of the bill, and
when the roll-call was finished Mr..
blanchard voted in the affirmative.
AfUerward Mr.. Blanchard was charged
with bad faith. and he replied that while
he was absent from the chamber when
the vote was taken and did not remain
in his seat silent, as had been charged,
he would not have voted on the first roll
call if he had been present. Had l been
present in the chamber when my name
was called" said MIR. Blanchard, Il
would for reasons that were quite sufh-
Gent TO me have wlthhelo my vote on The
first call"
ONE OF HIS PECULIARITIEs.
This singular statement has caused
oav1f On a n nj fNr -
MIR Blanchard which has been noticed
nv those who sit in the Senate galleries
regularly. Mr. Blanchard seldom if ever
votes on the first roll call. Sometimes he
remains in the cloak room after the call
has begun and enters the chamber in time
70 address the chair and put himself on
record lust before the vote is announced.
Sometimes he remains in his seat silent
until the list of names has been completed,
then rises and addresses the presiding
officer Only one Interpretation has
been placed on this little episode in Mr..
Blanchard's legislative career, repeated
almost daily He is popularity supposed
to be playing to the grand stand, " as a
base ball player would phrase it. In the
regular call of the roll the clerk does not
dwell on the name of n senator. He calls
one name after another so rapidly that no
one unfamiliar with the faces OF senator's
could follow the responses from the gal
when he answered aye or mo- MIR.
Blanchard is new senator. He is feel
ing his oats He wants the people in the
galleries to see him prance. So, when his
name is called in series with the other
names he remains silent.
REGULAR DIALOGUE.
When the call has been completed, he
rises in his place and addresses the pre-
siding officer mir. President" he saws
Frov I pt,iri ~
presiding officer. All eyes are fixed on
the solitary figure facing the rostrum.
MIR. Blanchard" says the clerk in
loud voice.
~ vote aye, Mr. Blanchard responds,
impressively. Then the people in the
galleries nudge each other and say, as
they point to him; That's Blanchard
that man who Just sat down." And Mr..
Blanchard's bosom sweils with pride, for
Mr.. Blanchard knows that he is the
cynosure of all eyes.
Possibly this is an uncharitable con-
struCtion to put on Mr.. Blanchard S little
by-play. But it is the construction COM
monty put on it by those who sit in the gal
leries And when these people saw the
result-the tragic result-of Mr.. Blanch-
ards little act during the vote on the
tariff bill they shivered. Vanity is
amusing at times; but vanity may be a
very serious thing when a tariff bill is
under consideration.
THEIR wELL-KNowN WEAKNESSES.
The little foible of Mr.. Blanchard can
be matched in great many public places
Almost all of the members of the Senate
have their well-known weaknesses. Mr.
Paddock of Nebraska, who left the Sen
ate before Mr.. Blanchard entered it, had
apeculiarity very similar to that of the
Louisiana senator. Mr.. Paddock liked to
see his name in the Congressional Record
Go bap cd hot hot NH
under discussion MIR. Paddock almost
invariably found an opportunity TO
address the chair. possibly to take part
In the debate; perhaps to ask a question:
and often the question was of the very
least importance; but the colloquy be-
tween the Nebraska senator and the pre-
siding otficer appeared in the Record on
the following,morning and so gratified the
vanity of Mr.. Paddock. People who
knew Mr. Paddock's little failing and it
was matter of comment among the
members of the Senate-used TO smile
when the senator from Nebraska went
through his dialogue with the Vice Presi-
dent.
GRAND STAND SENATOR.
Mr.. Ransom of North Carolina is also a
grand stand" senator but Mr.. Ransom
is not ambitious to see his name in the
record, or to have the people in the gal
lerles identify him. Mr.. Ransom relies
more on his native grace and fine
physique than on any Oratorical talent to
attract attention, especially of the ladies
who sit in the reserved gallery and smile
on him. The North Carolina senator re-
Glnes gracefully in a spring back chair,
looking lazily at the galleries as the de-
pate proceeds. Presently he rises and
makes his way slowly toward the open
space before the Vice Presidents ros-
Vrum. He turns toward the middle aisle
When he is opposite the second row of
seats he stops half minute, looking fix
edly at the gallery, Throwing the
aemon of unrest" into some fair one
Ihere. Then the senator thursts the sec
ohd finger of his right hand up his coat
sleeve, and taking a firm hold of his
Shlrt cuff, draws it into greater promi-
hence with an abrupt motion; does the
same thing for the cuff on his left wrist
ana then passes, smiling, up the aisle and
disappears in the door of the cloak room
ms little parade has given MIR. Ransom
the name Of 1.-THE cuff shooter among
NOSE irreyerent PEOPLE who sit in the
gallery and make merry over the pecu-
Harltles Of the statesmen on the floor.
BREACH OF ETIQUETTE.
Respect for the oDinion of the paople in