The morning call., 1895-02-24

organized its leadership would have gone
10 one OF the two, probably to Ford As
II Is there is no leader, no concert of action,
no obedience TO discipline.
TREY /. Ford is regarded as the Senator
from Sierra, though representing the
counties OF Nevada and Plumas as well.
He-is a San Francisco attorney and looks
rs carefully al the bills affecting that city
Is he does to measures bearing upon the
interests of miners. He has the advantage
OF good looks and q fine flow of language.
The speech in which he nominated George
{. Perkins for the United States Senate
was has masterpiece OF the session. In
eulOgY he Is slngUlarlV fortunate in the
choice OF terms. He is an extremely rapid
thinker and as he warns mp in his adj
dress his words fall faster and faster until
they form q stream of novels and con-
sonanJs. He has IN a measure the faculty
which Phillips Brooks had, a rapidity OF
speech which tries the stenOgrapher. This
4 ally detraCts from the force of his re-
N-4rks. The mental process OF the average
mind IS slow. Much of the effect of Sen
ator Ford : speeches is lost upon the
listeners, whose sluggish brain cOnvolu-
lions do not respond quickly enough TO
fuly digest the meaning. If he would
Slacken his rapid verbal gait at least one
haH he would find himself a much more
convincing speaker.
-. Where Ford disappoints his hearers
*}noSt Is in the climax. He uses this figure
OF rhetoric when attacked. The beginning
IS good He leads up TO the expectation OF
most sarcastic rejOinder and then
through good nature or policy destroys
the climax by half saying what he intended
TO say, by regretting the attack made upon
himself instead OF VltrlOGc Genunciation.
1t Is like attempting to close a musical
composition half-tOne below the key
note. 1t IS Il weak ending to q vigorous
beginning. His hearers know what he
should have said, and they are displeased
that he does not crush with viudictive
when the threat 10 do so leads to the belief
that it is TO be done.
His command of words is great. He is
IeNer at a loss Tor terms, never hesitates.
never StammerS, never stops in the midst
: OIL his speech. Gestures at the right time,
thinks a easily on his feet as at his desk.
and Is completely at his ease on the floor.
Ife:ls-an experienced speaker and has the
:tQnndence which comes of training and
habit.
b : frank MCGOWAN, when he entered the
Legislature three sessions ago, was re-
garded as one OF the coming men one who
would make a State reputation as an
(ozatOr. He has fulfilled this expectation
part. The Senator from Humboldt and
-sAeyada was not much more than a boy
wien he began TO represent the State's
northwestern coast at Sacramento. His
speech was trlie sophomore then. There
was boyish enthusiasm, backed by Latin
lied and sOnOrous terms. There was a
touch OF spread-eagle oratory, which was
pardonaole in one so young. Stephen N.
White was president pro TEN. of the
Senate then. He took an interest in the
boy from Humboldt and cautioned him to
prune his language, to cultivate exactness.
and in fact set him on the right track to
oratOriCal success. MCGOWAN profted
by the kindly comments. He studied. He
read and he prohted. He became skilled