Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-06-22

GFNDEh\1 ever sailed the
Span sh NJ a H.
Looking at this old
man. with his heavy figure, beetliag
brows and ferocious mustache. obsery-
ing his constant pugnacity OF manner,
and listening to the firece, raucous
voice OF him, it is easy TO picture him
upon the forward deck OF some black
low-lying schooner, while me half
gale huns in the booming canvas and
the skull and crossbones whip over his
head. No one knows how old he is.
For many year he has refused TO STATE
his age to the compilers OF the Con-
gressional Directory-that remarkable
work wherein congressman write their
own biographies and say warmly
praiseful things of themselves. No
doubt some member OF his family
knows, but the secret is carefully
guarded He has seen. however. more
than eighty summers and a correspond
ing number of winters. lie is umiGae.
His eye still CLEANS kindly for pretty
woman. He still preserves and uses
the most wonderful swear-word vocab-
ulary east of the Rocky Mountains. He
is still game for a twenty-four-hour
sitting when it takes Jacks or better 10
open" and the limit is the ceiling.
He still contends that the pharmaco-
peia holds no medicine like eight
year-old Bourbon, and gives daily proof
OF his beliei in its virtues. His long.
long term in the legislative service of
his country has taught him one thing:
He does not make speeches. He has
no time to give to set orations. De-
casionally he has his secretary write
one and prints it in the Congressional
Record bur he does not waste his voice
on il. He saves that organ for harass-
ing and browbeating his opponents.
His influence-Which is greats re-
served for work in the committee
rooms. He knows the inner ways of
legislation thoroughly. His mark is
upon many of our statutes with which
his name was never publicly connected.
He is an acute manager of debates, and
his advice is always listened TO and
ates. Many times, when the fate Of
motion is in doubt, he will take the
loor and attempt to carry it or defeat
L by aggresSiyenesS. "Bulldozing" is
the common name for it. lie is in
srainedly honest. His word is SIS good
as his bond. He is not popular even
in his own state, but he is respected
and largely feared. Free coinage of
silver is his shibboleth. He has been
4 steadfast champion of the white
metal since it got into difficulties more
Than twenty years ago.
For his honesty: When the EeGerals
got possession OF Tennessee. Harris.
who was governor, disappeared with
$4,000 belonging to the state. Parson
Brownlow put price on his head
More than a year after the war ended
Harris walked into Brownlow's oi.ice
The "Parson," who was near TO deaths
loor. was stretched on sofa. Hello.
Harris said Brownlow. Hello.
3rownlow," said Harris. Where's that
60,000?" said Brownlow. Here il is"
said Harris, laying the money in bills
on the table. Il was determined that
you Id Yankees shouldn't get it,"
All right" said Brownlow, and turn
ing his face TO the wall went to sleep
Harris had carried the sum on his per-
son for a long Tina and tho, hoI ,n,.o..
it with him TO the City of Mexico. Not
n cent was missing. More than once he
had lacked food, but the states funds
were sacred.
Joe Shelby OF Missouri came TO
Washington in 1898 to press his claims
10 the United States marshalshp of
the western district of his state. The
two men had not met since 1866, when
they were members of the "Cariotta"
colony near the City of Mexico. Shelby
ran across Harris in the marble room"
OF the capitol and spoke To him effus-
lively. oh you. sub, | didn't know
you" growled Harris. Why, I'm
Shelby-Joe Shelby" 'Ah. how do.
Shelby" he responded without en-
husiasm. They talked awhile OF old
times and the Missourian went away.
Dbl that Shelby" OLA Harris said.
the tall form of the soldier disap-
cared through the door. Il don't see
where he got the impudence to speak
20 me AT all. Me an Pap Price an
Governor Allen OF Louisiana were
down at Carlotta when that rebel
chicken stealer came along. We had
iXed up a little distillery an | had
made TO bottles of the finest liquor.
sub. you evan tasted. This Shelby
drank one bottle OF it the fust dly.
Next mornin' we had to ride ovah the
plantations. We lef' him at the house
an he drank two mo- bottles OF it.
sub"
What became of the other bottle.
Senator" asked a listener
I'VE aged IL an drunk IL, sub"
"How long did YOU keep Il, SENATOR"
"Fo' days, sub