Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-25
Senators Foraker and Mason
Made Capital Speeches.
Rhetoric, Sound Logic and Wit.
Mason a "Hair Trigger Chap
Retorl 10 Senator Eikins-Ihe Newspaper
Reports IRON Cuba.

DClllgcTcncy VI Cubb ESerIliipS focHotoA
Foraker of Ohio achieved tho greatest
success Before Mr. Foraker came to the
senate he had the reputation OF be-
ing an cxcitablc man. Every one knew he
was eloquent, but his fame was that of q
fire alarm" of u man who depended
largely upon rhetoric and noise for his i'm
pressiveness. How unjust this was to the
junior senator from Ohio his first set
speech In the senate amply demonstrated
He made an address which for solid argu-
mcnt. learning, research and effectiveness
had not been cqualed throughout the de-
bate Mr.. Foraker apparently was not I'M
mindful of the gossip that had placed him
in the fire alarm category, and he evidently
set out to show how much good stuff thore
was in him. He succeeded most admi
rably 1t is now said on all sides that the
former governor of Ohio has taken high
place in tho senate; that he has at one leap
become % member of the little cotcrio of 10
or 12 senators who are the real leaders of
that body. This is quick work, yand the
eloquent senator from Ohio may congratu
late himself upon his success.
Rc "Rolled" In.
Senator Mason Of Illinois made one OF
the most sensational speeches of the Gu
ban debate. Mr. Mason Is a man of re-
mar kable appearance. He is short and
fat and almost as big one way as he Is the
other He has smiling face, a swnrthy
countenance, and big, bass voice which
rolls through the senate chamber whenever
he lets it 60 Speaking of rolling reminds
me that one of Mr.. Mason's fellow sen
ators tells me they never ask Mason in the
cloakr0oms, where the grave and reverend
senators dearly love their jokes, how he
came to the capitol or where ho has been.
They invariably speak of him as trolling"
up to the White House or as trolling"
across the floor.
When the jolly and rotund senator from
Chicago made his speech on Cuba, 1t was
with the determination to shake things up.
He loves to be iconoclastic He has a
prejudice against traditions and such old,
cobwebby things as the courtesy of the
senate. International law he called "an
ancient barnacle," and the senate itself he
spoke of as body in which the minority
always ruled. Mr.. Mason is really a very
eloquent public speaker. but he loves to
close his most eloquent passages with what
the literary men would call bathos. Fol
instance, he shouted at the top of his voice
that the Republican, party had placed q
Cuban pledge in its national platform.
This was very Impressive, but queer turn
was given to the thread of his discourse
when he paused, looked Mark Hanna, who
sat near by, straight in the face, and said:
.'That was when we were looking for
votes.'
A little later Mr.. Mason most eloquently
pledged himself to support the platform of
the Republican party concerning Cuba,
and did it with much impressiveness, but
could not resist the temptation to indulge
in one Of his little quips at the finish, like
the cracker on whip. II will stand by
the PLATFORM he shouted, "as long as
am on the pay roll" OF course the senate
had good laugh at this confession.
Needed No Coaching.
There was one feature of Mr.. Mason's
speech which escaped the observation OF
most of tho spectators. 1t was his coach
Perhaps it is not generally known that
senatorial specchmallers have their coaches
But they do. New senators who are anx.
ious to make record On the occasion OF
their debut get some oblging fellow sena.
tor to sit near them and prompt them, to
| make suggestions to them soto voce, to
| help keep their papers in order and occa
| sionally to remind them ''where they are
att in case they become fustered. Mr..
| Mason Rad such a ccach and a very good
| one he proved to be. 1t was Senator Chan
dler, the wasp from New Hampshire.
"Take it easy, Billy" whispered Chan
dler when Mr.. Mason became too much ex-
cited and was trying to lift the rafters off
the senate chamber with his voice. You
are doing splendidly, old man, but don I
speak quito so loud. Now you are all
right. Don't be in hurry Take it easy.
That's right" This was the way in which
! Mr.. Chandler coached his man through q
hours of stirring debate. The coach was
expected to help out when it came to in.
terruptions by other senators and to sug.
| gest repartee in case the actor appeared to
need help. "But, bless your soul,' said
Mr.. Chandler afterward, BILLY was SO
quick 1 couldn't get a word in edgewise
when they were interrupting him. He is
a hair trigger chap, and no mistake"
Newspaper Reports.
During the senate debate there was a
great deal to say about the newspaper re-
ports from Cuba. Senators, as a rule, do
not appear to put much confidence In
newspaper reports. In this case, however,
the fact remains that the reports of oui
consular officers in Cuba have confirmed
everything that the newspaper men wrote,
and disclosed much more There is
altogether too much Of this business OF
liscrediting newspapers, and / am sorry
TO say that some newspapers are en-.
gagged in befouling their own nests,
My observation Is that newspaper men
almost invariably do their best to gel
at the facts. They prefer the truth
to any exaggerations. Errors creep in, Of
course, but there is little excuse for this
wholesale and carping denunciation Of
newspaper statements as false and mis-
leading.
4 One senator was neatly caught in his
carping against the newspaper fraternity.
1--WE do not know anything about this
war in Cuba" declared Senator Elkins
nothing save what the newspapers have
told us. Can we predicate official action
on newspaper reports? Now we know tina,
there is war between Turkey ant
. Greece
How do you know it?'' asked Senator
: Foraker as quick as q flash. The posel
, raised great laugh ut Mr. Elkins' ex