The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-03-24
TIBBS WAS ELECTED.
THE FLIGHT OF oRAToRY THAT WON
HIM A PAGESHIP.

Jimmie Was Not Bashful. and Hts
Early Call on senate E1dridEe
Gave That Gentleman an Inspira-
ton In Words TA,At Carried the Day.
Below is printed the noted speech Of
Senator Eldridge Of Shelby in nominat-
ing Jimmie Tibbs, the Nashville news
boy, to be page of the senate. Senator
Eldridge had made the newsboy's cause
his own, though the little fellow came
to him unknown. with no stronger sup
plicancy than the boys frail yet ener-
getic appearance. Senator Eldridge had
notified the senate that the man who
voted against Tibbs voted against the
senator from Shelby. and the sweetness
Of revenge would come when the oppos-
ing voter wanted the senator's support
on a local bill. The speech was as fol-
. lows:
"Mr. Speaker. l nominate for page
Jim Tibbs Of Davidson county. There
can be NO ulteriay motive ascribed to
this nomination, no railroad passes, no
champagne suppers. no political pulls.
/ come from the muddy Mississippi
river and Mr.. Tibbs from the misty
mountain tops of middle Tennessee.
Mr.. Tibbs has seen ten summers, but
many. many winters have shed their
snow on his sunny head. His freckled,
anxious face is standing there gazing
at me now. He is looking up now, but
for nearly all his life he has looked down
as he has shined the big feet of small
men.
"Mr. Speaker. MI. Tibbs is not here
as a supplicant for pity or sympathy.
MI. Tibbs is a mar and the head of a
family. Mr.. Tibbs has met the dizzy.
sinsick world and won out. He has not
become as dizzy or as sick as you and I.
and. therefore. l will not refer to the
humble home of Mr.. Tibbs or the old
mother who, no doubt. is on her knees
praying to Almighty God for Mr.. Tibbs.
Twill not refer to the paralyzed brother
who, like myself. knows that MI. Tibbs
cannot fail. But somehow l feel cold
when | think of that snowstorm out
yonder and how it must rattle the cur
tainless windows Of Mr.. Tibbs' resi-
dence. And. Mr.. Speaker, l somehow
do wish hat the mother of Mr.. Tibbs
would kindly mention this great senate
in that prayer, for. if she did. 1 believe
it would suit it's constituents better, and
we would come nearer coming back next
time.
''Mr. Tibbs. like myself. has been
blown into this senate by the sublimity
Of luck. Destiny chooses her disciples
with unerring aim, and those who op-
pose Mr.. Tibbs are fighting God. l will
tell you why l think this. l am stop
ping at the Tulane hotel. by the faith
Of the host thereof. My wife and baby
are with me there. Yesterday morning
l had been up very early discussing the
question of a new constitution for my
self and my state,
SAT 6 in the morning Sarah was soft
ly humming to the teething baby. rock
ing him back to rest, to sleep and to
forgetfulness. which is the only rest.
The old refrain rose and fell as the nod
ding of a flower:
"Jesus can make a dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are.
While on his breast I lean my head
And softly breathe my life out there.
KNOCK! knockl Come in. I angrily
said, expecting a bellboy.
"Mr. Tibbs appeared. He came to
the bed and said Senator. I am named
Tibbs, and want to be page Of the SEN
ate. l want you to make the rest of
them vote for me, please sir.
"'Mr. Tibbs. I replied. does it not
occur to you that you are crowding me
somewhat? Don't you think for the
kind of a day and the time of day that
vo11r visit Sc not thu r,,o-,ou kl:~. S' ..I
"'Well. it is good daylight, he said.
and | have been up some time.
"'Yes, sir. all men should be ready
for business by this time. was my re-
joinder, but why do you come to me
and how did you find met
"'I saw you in the Climax saloon
yesterday, and Mr.. Maddin. the bar
keeper. said you were a senator. came
the unhesitating answer.
II quickly glanced at my wife, the
rocking had stopped. and the baby.
complaint and was sitting up. looking
like a jack rabbit in a bed Of lilies. all
eyes and ears.
81 said, Mr.. Tibbs. l must ask you
to excuse me-. I will call on you later.
eyes, sir, I will see you. he replied.
and went away.
"Sarah turned her head and said.
will, I am for Tibbs.
"Mr. Speaker, I arose and raised the
curtain of the window. The east seemed
fecked with a swarm of golden bees:
the sun. that had been away. was
knocking at the front door of this plan
ct. Sir, who can tell of the systems and
cycles he had smiled upon. Of his un-
speakable glory and sublimity3 The
light of this sun will fade by and by.
At one time it was born. at one time it
must surely die, but, sir, the fire I had
seen in the ayes Of Jimmie Tibbs will
not die. It is older than the sun. It has