The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-09-03
TOM MERRITT, OF SALEM.
Anecdotes Of the Man From Bryan,s
Town.


Paul Hull. In New York Mail and Elk
press.)
just as much as they do not resemble
each other, Abraham Lincoln and Will
lam j. Bryan did not come before the
world from the same town in Illinois. 1t
10 true that both came from Salem. ILL.,.
but Lincoln's town was New Salem. In
Menard County. and Bryan's town is
Salem, In Marion County.
Lincoln was the only great man who
ever came out Of New Salem, but Bryan
Is not only great man produced by sa-
lem. There Is one other. and he is stili
on earth. but he has not yet become ma.
tonaily famous. although held in high
esteem In Illinois politics Hon. Thomas
Merritt Is a Democrat. and he has been
Identified with the Illinois Legislature
since 1866, either as a member of the
House or the Senate. or as leader Of the
lobby. He was an associate of Judge
silas Bryan. father Of william J. He is
lawyer Of more than ordinary ability.
and his long experience in State affairs
has made valuable member of the Inn.
portant Legislative committees. He ia
weak man. physically-slim, slight
ana stopped. He Is hatchet-faced. His
nose is long and thin. His jawbones are
distinctly outlined. His eyes are small
Keen and close together. His long-tailed
I coat hangs from his shoulders like a
Dag. His habitual mood is interpretive,
and ne walks with his plug hat well
over his eyes. his hands deep in his
Dreeches pockets. While Mr.. Merritt
can pe weighty and serious under pres
sure, ne Is naturally wit. and the slut
ser IN ms speech only heightens the ef-
In Illinois for his sayings as William r
ITavers used to be In New York.
tits not generally known that limited
states senator John M. Palmer, OF I'LL
nois, 10 inclined to stammer In his speech.
with MIN, 1t is contagious, and in the
presence OF one who shutters 1t is i'm
possible for the old man to talk straight.
Malura!iy, Merritt Is acquainted with
this railing OF the Senator. and II used
20 De MS pleasure, when other diversion
was lacking, to hunt up Palmer and en-
gage MIN In conversation, Just to hear
the old man stutter and fume.
u met them together one afternoon. In
the rotunda Of the Illinois State House.
siapping his knees with his hands, and
merritt was convulsed with laughter.
cackiing feebly. Palmers face was red
rom evaporation, and. In loud and
angry tones. ne was suffering: go
ass! You can't t-t-t-talk yourself and
mob body else can when you're r-r-
round. Go w-w-way. I tell your
Inc ridiculous never escapes Merritt.
nor does the opportunity to make the
most or 1t under any and all circum-
stances. His fondness for fun once
ruined prospectively great speech In
the Illinois House, and nearly defeat
measure In which he was specially in
terested. A bill Of unusual Importance
was before the Legislature, and Merritt
was working for Its passage. Associated
with him In this work was ''Jim" Her
rngton, well-known politician and
constitutional lawyer, Of Northern I'LL
nois. Harrington had prepared himself
Tor three hours speech on this blu.
ana the time OF its delivery being known.
the House hoor was crowded with men,
pers and the gallery with visitors, for
talker. ~ a TsN'e
He had talked perhaps an hour when
he reached a peroration. and balkeA in n
He began his flight with solemn tones
and threatening finger. mt. Speaker.
when the American eagle shall fly from
the coast OF Maine to the peaks of the
Rocky Mountains"
He stopped, cleared his throat
changed his foot, raised the other hand
and tried again. II say, Mr.. Speaker.
that when the American, eagle shall fiy
from the coast of Maine to the peaks
OF the Rocky Mountains, and--and-'
BY this time his face was scarlet. and
the veins were swelling on his neck. The
nerves Of his auditors were keyed up
taut. Everybody was praying he would
get 1t and go on. The silence was awful
and at the height Of the crisis Merritt
arose from his seat in the midst Of the
ROOM pointed bony finger at Herring
ton, and yelled at the top Of his voice,
Il say, Ja-Ja-Jim! Why don't you le-le-
let go OF that eagle and ca-ca-catch
another one?"
The House never did come 10 order
again during that days session. The
laughter continued until Harrington sat
down and refused to proceed with his
speech, and the House adjourned.
The last time Merritt was a member
OF the Illinois Legislature, he was in
the Senate. having been a member Of the
House In the preceding Assembly. Soon
after his election to the Senate he met
an old acquaintance, who congratulated
him upon his success. and added. II hope
your elevation In office, Tom, will not
increase your dignity. Will you be as
approachable in the Senate as you were
In the House?"
oh, yes" said Merritt. "Tn be Just
as ap-pro-pro -proachable, but the pri-
pri-price will be higher"
Merritt was a member of the Legisla-
ture that elected John A. Logan to the
Senate the last time. At the beginning
of that session a beggar woman ap.
peared near the door of the Capitol, and
with whining voice and supplicating at
titude, pleaded: Please, gentlemen, give
me few pennies to buy little bread"
She was big, strong, ill-visaged female,
evidently an impostor, but she had
struck the right crowd at the right time,
and she reaped a harvest for several
days. Merritt, In his usual interpretive
mood, had passed the woman many
times, and, hearing the plaintive appeal
for bread, he had always responded with
a coin. and without raising his head
or looking at the recipient Of his charity.
The regularity of the cry for bread
finally arrested him. He stopped, looked
at the woman long and critically, and re-
called the experience Of the past ten
days. At last he put silver quarter
In her palm and said impressively: "He-
he-here. my poor woman, t-take this
and go b-buy pie. You eat too d-d-dern