Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-29
VIEWS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
As Modified by A&yices From the Con

As Modified by A@yices From the Con-
stitucnts of Senator's.
They tell a great many stories of that
honest old eX-Sena TORI Coke of Texas. He
was e great admireEn of Vest. One day
some bill was pending which, bluntly stat
ed, offered to appropriate public money for
what seemed to Senator Coke some pri-
vate or special puruese. Coke was very
much against it, as was also Senator Vest.
The Missouri Senator made a speech and
showed that the proposed law was uncon-
stitutional. Coke listened to his oratory
with rapt attention, and very much ap-
plauded and approved it. Before the bill
was put to vote, however, the hoof and
mouth disease broke out in Missouri among
the cattle, and Gov. Crittenden wired Sem
ators Vest and Cockrell to gain the aid of
the national government in hunting the
malady to its lair and exterminating it. A
measure was introduced making an appro-
priation to investigate the causes and re-
port remedies for the hoof and mouth dis
ease. The measure made exactly the same
question which Senator Coke was so much
opposed to. and which Vest had so elo-
Guently denounced but week or so before.
Under the stress of danger threatening
Missouri live stock interests, Senator Vest
felt compelled to change his pc sition in the
matter. AMI did it most gracefully. 1t all
anOrded the SOOu-natureQ senator from
Texas much amusement.
Vest" he said. as writer for The Star
was told, that is the first time 1 ever
knew a man to change his opinion on con-
stitutional law on telegram"
But Senator Coke's turn was coming. In
spired by the hoof and mouth appropria-
ton example, the Texas seed bill was in
troduccd. 1t asked an appropriation to
buy farm seeds for drouth sufferers In
Texas. In all it's principles it paralleled
the hoof and mouth measure as well as the
one before, against which Coke had voted
and Vest had GRATED. But this time Sena-
tor Coke felt obliged to bow to fate and
support the Texas seed bill. Senator Voor-
hees offered him irritating consolation by
saying:
''Never mind. Coke, suppose you do have
to switch. Remember craftsmanship is
but the science of circumstances, and a
Senator, like a sailor, may be going north
on one voyage and south on the next"
However, Coke felt very sore over his
fate: and the Texas seed bill was under
stood by his fellow Senators to he sub
ject which must not be lightly Mentioned
in his presence.
One afternoon Senator Voorhees, had Just
introduced an old white-haired, benevo-
lent-looking gentleman to Senator Vest.
They were in the Senate cloak room at the
time. The white-haired philanthropist had
just finished a campaign In Indiana for
seat in the House, and he had been eyre
giously beaten. Senator Vest was consolng
him and expressing regret that his light
was not to shine at the south end Of the
Capitol in the next Congress.
However, I do not regret it, said the
white haired Samaritan. Il was glad to
run, even if 1 was defeated. My slaughter
may do the party good. The blood Of the
martyrs is the seed of the church."
1t was just then that Senator Coke went
by. His quick ear caught the word "see,l,'.
and his face flushed. However, he passed
on to his seat in the Senate. But ais
wrath began to RISE and in ten minutesShe
back in the cloak room again looking
for an explanations. Voorhees, and his
white-hared friend were gone but Vest
was sitting there ALI alone, contented as a
toad under a cabbage leaf. Coke addressed
him.
Senator Vest" said be, who was that
white-haired old idiot T saw talking with
you and Senator Voorhees,"
Senator Vest was somewhat surprised
but furnished the informal ton
II have merely returned to say to him,
sir" went on Senator Coke severely, what
l now say to you, sir; and that is, that
some of you gentlemen sare making your
selves far too merry about that Texas seed
bill, sir. l want to urge on you the neces-
sity of getting through your laugh on that
subject, sir. 1t was no doubt good joke,
but 1t has run long enough, sir. l don't
care to hear any more about it. SIR"
Il did not try" explained Senator Vest
when afterwards he told the story to Sena-
tor voorhees,. ito make any explanation
I simply offered an abject apology and
promised to offend no more"