The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-05
HOT TIMES ON THE HILL
Figures of Some Noted Fire
brands in Congress.
PICTURESQUE CHARACTERS
Champ Clark, the Missouri Cyclone, Is Terror
When He Turns Loose-0ther Noted
Figures of the House,
Special to The Age-Hea,alI.

Special to The Age-HeRall.
Washington Dec. 4.-Picturssque fig
ures in the house of representatives make
s. the house itself picturesque and aibtrac-
tive. And there will b. plenty of pictur-
esque figures on exhibition during the
present session. They give Ffe and fer
vor to dreary discussion, and relieve the
monotony of legislation A lively tilt
in debate is as refreshing as a RAJ nstorm
in summer. when the soil is parched and
crops are languishing. Confirmed let
fer-wufters in the house cease work,
throw themselves back in their chairs
stretch their legs under their desks, and
extract the utmost enjoyment from the
display. There is a rush from the cloak
rooms. and the hobbies are deserted. A
tide of mer1iment sets in, and laughter
noIlows 1t like surf on the beach. The
speaker h.ms If is frequently entranced
and is even a participant in the amuse-
ment, while apparently endeavoring to
control 1t. Pages. messengers boot
blacks, and BARRIERS throng the doorways,
and Iths galleries are flied with eager
listeners. If, however Irritation is tinged
WILL dIlBtI, unG NdluhAllS WileCh VI liz
gavel is heard Should the tumult in
crease, and The situation become more
threatening, the sergeant -at-arnns lifts
the great silver mace from it's malachite
pedestal, and carries it among the conn
batants No one disputes Its authority
Each member resumes his seat, and order
and sobriety reign anew
THE MISSOURI CYCLONE.
Probably the most picturesque figure
in the house is Champ Clark, of M IS
souri,. Clsan-faced, blue-eyed, and nat
ty n appearance, he is as quaint In deliv-
cry as are his uttsrances. He has
clear, ringing Voice that gathers in
strength as he drives home the logic OF
each sentence. He begins each para
graph wsll back in a side aisle, and,
burning with enthusiasm walks down
the aisle toward the speakers desk,
clinchfng his propos. tion twenty feet
away from it. Every eye is upon him.
Rarely does any one interrupt him. 1t
would b. dangerous for Champ Is as apt
at repartee aus the speaker himself, and
twice as blunt. His tropes, metaphors,
and SMILES are sparkling and quantity
original. AT times they arouse unconr
trollable merrimsnt, but the residuum
develops Thought if not conviction.
Champ Clark has hoed his own way in
life. and has finally won national fame.
Although only forty-seven years old he
has been a farmer, a clerk 1 a country
store, an editor of country n: wsra.per, a
country lawyer, a college president,
prosecuting attorney preslden .ial cleo
tor, member of THE Missouri legislature,
IL -t1-a ror a r
prise on Tammany hall four years ago
at Fourth of July celebration. Joseph
C. Hendrix had woven anti-silver senti-
ments into his tapestry of patriotism
and Champ puzzled Inc braves by deity
drawing them out and subs it'itlng senti-
ments that foreshadowed the Chicago
platform of 1896. From that day to the
present he has BEEN an ardent advocate
of free silver and devoted follower of
Richard p. Bland.
In the present house, however, he will
probably talSs an active part N debate
on matters involving Cuba and Hawaii,
as he is a member of the committees on
foreign affairs. HIS speeches are appar-
emily unstudied. and spring directly from
the heart. Impulsive, sympathetic, mag
netic and absolutely fearless. he Is a
figure not only picturesque, but enc that
may command the attention of the ma
tion as completely as he has command d
that of the house.
A MOUNTAIN THUNDER STORM.
A figure equally as picturesque On The
republican side of the chamber is tina t
of Romulus z. Linney. of North Carolina.
He Us an old-time country lawyer fresh
from the mountains, and he Carries the
breezes Of the mountains with him. He
looks like a Virginian of the time of Pat
rick Henry. With Roman features rudy
faca, and long, curling iron gray locks,
he personifies intellectual ability ana
physical vigor. Aroused in debate, he
reminds you of Judge Baldwin's deiinea-
tions of old -fash .oned lawyers in the
Flush times of Alabama" Quaint,
incisivs, discursive, apt, antique, unique,
and persistently original, he tears the
house up by the roots whenever he ad-
dresses it. 1T resembles a circus in
town off the railroad.
Warming with his argum MT the noun
taineer congressman is bathed in perspi-
ration. His shirt collar willis, and his
wrist bands melt. In his gesticulations
ne swabs his face with his pocket hand
kerchef, adding emphasis to his argu-
ment by the very swabbing. His words
well to his lips seemingly unbdden. and
are uttered with rapidity and precision.
There are thunderstorms and vivid fash
es Of lightning in his speeches, but soft
trop,cal skies and golden sunsets follow
Them Anon tn atmosphere is iridsscent
with sarcasm He throws pictures upon
the clouds-pictures that recall The pencil
of Hogarth. Finally, he winds up wi IN
a terse and ma 5terly summing up, top
ping Ut off with a quotation from either
Shakespeare or th+ Hible, gathers up his