The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
ORATORS In THE SENATE
MEN WHOSE RHETORIC OR FORCI-
BILE STYLE ATTRACT ATTENTION.
PecuIiarities of Voice and Manner of
Fairbanks, Foraker, Turpie, Ma
son, WOIcOtt and Others.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

WASHINGTON, May 22-The United
States Senate has gained rather than lost
in oratorical strength by the changes which
have recently taken place in the compost
ton of that body. BY the mutations of pol
itics the Senate two months ago lost
Palmer of Illinois, Hill of New York, Brice
OF Ohio, voorhees, of Indiana, Dubois of
Idaho, PETER of Kansas. Squires of
Washington, Pugh of Alabama, Villas of
Wisconsin, Blackburn of Kentucky
Blanchard of louisiana and Gibson of
Maryland among others, while last week
the saddening news of the defeat of Will
kinson Call was borne in on the mournful
breezes from Florida. OF the above list
| Senator Voorhees, was the most eloquent
| but failing physical health sent him to the
| background two or three years ago, and
only few weeks since he was followed
to his grave at Terre Haute Ind, by sor-
| rowing thousands. Senator Hill was a fire.
| quent and forcible talker, but toward the
last of his career he became a trifie tire
some Senator Palmer was not an impress
slVe speaker, and was prone to chew up his
words or roar them out like tired old
non. lie became indistinct of utterance
latterly, and could not hold an audience.
Call was an incessant talker and could
empty the Senate chamber as quickly as
any man who ever stood upon his feet in
that body. Before he came into the Sem
ate Colonel Villas was considered a very
fine orator. but of late years he has mere
ly ranked as a scholarly talker, ponderous
and not always interesting For the last
two or three years Senator Blackburn rare
ly took part in debate. His voice which
was wont to electrify the House of Repre-
sentatives in former years became husky
and rusty through disuse. Senator Brice
like his friend Senator Quay, of Pennsyl-
vania, did not shine as an orator, although
if he had anything to say he could express
himself in good language and directly to
the point.
Among the newly-elected senators For
aker, of Ohio, is probably the best taIker,
although on account of his unfamiliarity
with the rules of the Senate he has not
Ventured far from shore as yet. Senator
Spooner, of Wisconsin, is a very forcible
speaker, one of the best lawyers in the
country and a cultivated, high-bred gentle
man. He served six years in the Senate
once before and cannot be called green ma
terial. Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, is a
clean, finished and scholarly talker, who
is certain to make an impression in national
politics. Senator Platt of New York, is
vigorous speaker, although he does not get
upon his feet unless he has something to
say, consequently his name seldom appears
in the Congressional Record. Senator Ma
son, of Illinois, is a breezy, all-rOund talker,
bubbing over with wit and good nature,
quick as a flash in rough-and-ready repair
tee and with large head full of gray mat
ter. He has national reputation as a
joker, but like the late Sunset" Cox, of
New York his humor is backed by good,
strong common sense. Senator Turner, of
Washington, has a heralded reputation as
a fine speaker but has not yet shown the
Senate what there is in him. Governor Nc
Emery, of Louisiana, is a forcible speaker,
but has not opened his mouth to address
the Senate since he became a member.
What there is to Clay of Georgia, Pettus
of Alabama, Deboe of Kentucky and Harris
Of Kansas remains to be seen.
There are some fine orators in the Senate
now. Probably the best of the lot is SEN
ator Vest of Missouri. Since the retire
ment of Senator ingalls, six years ago
there has been no tongue in the Senate
sharper than that of Senator Vest. When
ever he rises to make a speech or to take
part in a running debate the Senate fills up.
Senators stroll in from the cloak and COM
mittee rooms, bolt their food if they hap
or cut short constituents who may be i'm
portuning them in the marble room. The
galleries quickly become packed and every
body takes a deep interest in the proceed
ings. Senator Wolcott, of Colorado, has
rich, sonorous voice, a magnificent deliv-
cry, and his speeches read as we'll as they
sound. The greatest phrase coiner in the
Senate and the best master of language,
as well as the most scholarly senator, is
Turpie Of Indiana but his voice is not
pleasant to listen to- and although his abil
ity is recognized by everybody, he rarely
holds an audience Un1ind critics liken his
voice to the enraged cry of a rat with his
tail caught in a door. This is a brutal
comparison and it really ought not to find
it's way into print. Senator Turpie is one
of the kindest hearted men who ever
breathed and gentle in his personal rela-
tions as a woman. Senator Wilson, of
Washington, has a veritable ripsaw voice.
1t tears it's way through the air like saw
through an oaken knot. Long discussion
of the terrible outrages that have been
perpetrated upon silver has put tears in
the voice of the venerable Senator Teller,
of Colorado but otherwise he is one of
the strongest takers in the Senate, and
personally a lovely character. Everybody
in the Senate admires and respects him.
Like a great many business men who are
accustomed to meeting their fellow-citizens
singly and in groups Senator Mark Hanna
can talk strongly and to the point when
occasion arises but he is not an orator
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, who. next to
Allen of Nebraska, fills up more pages of
the Congressional Record than any man in
Congress, is brainy, persistent and scholar
ly, but he talks in too low a voice to be
interesting. The shorthand reporters say
reports of the speeches of Senators Morgan
and Turpie than any men in the Senate.
Senators Hale, Frey Aldrich, Allison and
Lodge are effective speakers. Senator Hoar,
who looks more like the late Horace Gree
ley as he grows older, has become the Sen
ate censor, and his voice has lately taken
on a peevish accent. He is nevertheless
always interesting and commands atten-
ton. Senator Chandler is another man
who is bright, persistent and very much
of "nagger" 1t is his delight to stir up
the animals. He uses an oratorical rapier.
Senator Tillman, on the contrary, who also
delights to infuse life into the proceedings,
employs a club and pitchfork.
The business of working" Congress by
petitions has become fine art. Labor or
CARNATIONS have it down finer than any
other class When the Industrial orders
want something done by Congress, either
in the line of promotion or obstruction