Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-09
STORY OF METAPHOR.
HOW THE DEBATES IN THE HOUSE
ARE ILLUSTRATED.
McMillin on Speaker Reed-Dingley on
Confldence--Too Much Johnson--Poor
Poor Men.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. tSpecial.l-
fictaphor is great thing in speechmak-
ing. We see this In congress. l have
noticed in the debates so far had In the
two houses an increasing tendency to rush
into metaphor and homcly illustration.
This Is particularly true of new members,
fresh from tho people They bring the
illustration Of tho farm and shop with
them. Indian metaphors arc still popular
among our statesmen, especially those
from the west and south. In the house
the other day Mr.. McMllin of Tennessee
made good point against the Republic
ans, and particularly against Speaker
Reed, with an Indian metaphor. Speak
ing of the rule which the speaker had had
brought In cutting off tho right to submit
amendments to tho bond BILL Mr.. Nc.
Millin said: II have noticed in my reading
that u celebrated Indian chief who roaincd
the plains of the west had very peculiar
and appropriate name. 1t was Young
Man Afraid of His Horses. 1 wonder, sir,
whether we have any such chief here on
this occasion, and whether those i'm au-
thority on the other side dare not trust
the majority in whose hands they find
themselves" This sally was greeted with
laughter and applause on the Republican
side.
A Qualser's Request.
Governor Dngley tho Republican leader
OH tho floor, is for the most part given to
tho use Of serious language, rs becomes
thoughtful and ablo nun. Now and then,
however, no. too finds 1t convenient to
utilize metaphor in making point. In
tho course of speech on tho bond bill no
said: Il remember few years ago there
was run on q savings bank in n city not
1000 miles from my own residence. Some
little distrust arose, and | remember that
during the progress of that run (Which
continued but single day. an excellent
Quaker, "a friend of mine, drove into town
lashing his horse, and, rushing into tho
bank, threw down his deposit book, say
ing, / want my money! There was tho
treasurer sitting before him, with n largo
roll of bills and large pilc of coin, and
hc Immediately counted ont tho amount of
my friends deposit. Tho old Quaker
looked at him u moment and exclaimed
Thee has the money, has thec!' Why, of
course we havo an abundance of money.
We would DO glad to have you take your
money Well, said tho old Quaker, If
thee has the money, don't want 1t, but
If thee hasn't it want it right Oft. Now,
that illustrates tho basis of confidence"
Sometimes statesmen get their metaphor
Mixed though rs yet have not noticed
anything as rank as tho offcnse attributed
TO certain western college professor vino
of late has won some distinction as critic
OF tho presidents Venezuelan policy 1t
Is said of this professor that he started in
with II tornado, changed IL to flood in
tho middle Of his sentence and wound ND
Il not, tix. a.. 81,
tho most remarkable speech of tho past
month WAS that delivered by Mr.. Johnson
new member of the house from Calfor-
mia. ~ am one of the unfortunate class
called now members in this body" said
he. II am simply knecling at the feet of
the political Gamaliels who run and con-
troll tho Republican party here. l am
simply swallowing the drippings of the
sanctuary, not the sweets of the inner
table" This was received with loud
laughter, but Mr.. johnson had other gems
In hand, which no proceeded to fling at
the house.
Pench Seeds.
81 voted for your bill yesterday" he
continued, "but l did SO under protest,
because tho leaders said 1t was all right.
But l felt like the Irishman who had
never before seen any peaches, and when
given some ate ravenously. Sure they
tasto mighty good, said the Irishman,
when asked how he liked the fruit, but
tho seeds scratched my throat going
down. Tho loudest laughter of tho
session greeted this story.
Though II Republican and complaining
of Republican leadership, Mr.. johnson
did not forget to give his friends the Dem
ocrats u slap before he sat down. He did
1t in way quito characteristic of him,
saying: "Now, l do not regard it as tho
duty of the Democrats on this floor to pre-
sent anything. God knows they present
themselves, and that is bad enough"'
The Democrats joined with Republicans
in good laugh at this sally.
Mr. johnson of California was followed
in that debate by Mr.. johnson of North
Dakota who proceeded to make n long
speech, causing Speaker Reed TO remark
10 some ono who stood near his desk,
This seems to be II case of TOO Much
Johnson"
Chandler and Allison.
Metaphor illustration and story arc
good things in public speeches. The man
who does not know how u uso thom is
weak as political orator. There is moth
ing like laugh producing sally or funny
Of representatives. The house is i'm this re
spect very much like u popular gathering.
IL wants to be amused rs well as instruct
ed. was surprised tho other day while
in conversation with one of tho most bril-
liant senators, MIR. Chandler of New
Hampshire, man who Is feared in debate
and accounted tho sharpest tongued man
In tho senate to hear him say that he was
weak as speaker or writer because he has
no faculty of making use of metaphor.
speaking of poor men in public life, /
know man, very prominent man. who
stands good chance of being nominated
for the presidency by one of the two great
political parties next year, who is so Door
that no finds it necessary to 1.-Two in a little
room in hotel without very much furni-
ture and with no pictures on the walls. He
has trouble, too, in making both ends
meet, for he has absolutely nothing to 1.-Two
upon but his salary. He has been in pub
lie life quarter of century, has had the
managing hand in the expenditure of bill
lions OF government money and is COM
PEELED to be economical in order to be sure
OF meeting his board bill. | speak of Som
ator Allison Of Iowa.
l know n cabinet officer who has also
been in public life many years, as repre-
sentative, speaker Of tho house. senator,
ETC., who Is in debt all the time simply
because no has found it impossible to live
ON his salary. l know another statesman,
quarter of century in public life, gov
ernor or his state, representative, senator,
who would almost esteem 1t favor If his
state We're to stop sending him to the sen
ato SO that he might rot ont In the world