The age-herald., 1900-04-09
A REPORTERS VIEWS
 OF SENATOR PETTUS
Washington Cor. Detroit Journal.

When you know nothing or a man Wlo has a seat in the United States senate it is always we'll to begin with the assumption that he has ability. This is always a safe suspicion. He may seem sleepy and lazy. Appearances may indicate that he is malS- ing an owlish bluff at wise statesmanshp. Or he may be one of the talkative fellows who spouts triyialities upon the slightest provocation. He may be one of those chaps who is rarely seen in the chamber. But of one thing you may feel assured-he is no ordinary man. Figuratively speak ing, he is one of million. No matter by what method he became member of the body he was a man of eminence in his state.
 Take the case of Pettus. He provokes the foregoing paragraph of fact and phil osophy. He is always in the senate cham Der In a front seat on the Democratic side he may be always seen, looking owl ishly solemn and chewing tobacco. After watching him for few years it is fair to take him as an old fogy. His witty speech of last Friday, when he toasted Beveridge and Gallinger came as an astonishing rev eation. The first portion of his remarks. although brief, were the strongest argu- S'A democratic side He said more things of consequence in a few paragraphs than the others have been able to say in pages. Then followed his exquisite characteriza- ton of the law knowledge of Gallinger and the sophomoric assumption of Beveridge. Afterwards a senator remarked to me that he had been in the senate for twelve years and this was the first time he had ever .,..1;a ,1al l,xro tor.
 There is not a man in the chamber who could have done this job so beautifully. That it was well done was attested by the way republicans and democrats rushed to him to offer congratulations. And then the writer, for one, began looking up the record of this charming old humorist. This confession of ignorance is made with becoming humility. It certainly is ridicu- lous that any one who claims even su- perficiail acquaintance with men of affairs should not know all about Edmund Win ston Pettus, born in Limestone county, Alabama, so years ago this coming July. He is a son of John and Alice Pettus and his mother was the daughter of Captain Anthony Winston of Virginia, revolu- tionary soldier.
 He was. admitted to the bar when 21 years of age, was at once selected solici- tor for the Seventh Judicial circuit, but stepped out of politics to become a soldier in the Mexican war. He served through as a lieutenant. After the war he rode on horseback to California and upon his return in 1858 was elected judge of the Seventh Judicial circuit. He served throughout the Confederate war going in as major and quitting a brigader-gen- eral of infantry. He has been a demo- crat ever since he became a voter. He has been to all democratic conventions ex- cept the first and last. He was elected to the United States senate in 1S96
 Asking an Alabama man something about Pettus he said:
 "He is the greatest lawyer in the state, one of the strongest men in his profession in the whole country and is an indepen- dent as hog on ice.''
 Without being superative, he is indeed great and wonderful man and just the sort who should have a seat in the United States senate.
 In a solemn and serious fashion he is great lover of a good joke. One day Sena- tor Spooner and Senator Burrows were having a warm colloquy. The senator from Wisconsin was very much excited and was racing up and down the aisle as if the building were on fire. In the midst of a flow of vehement sentences the junior senator from Alabama arose on the demo- cratic left. He asked if he could interrupt moment. The Wisconsin senator gave MT Pettus an impatient look as if to say What have you got to do with this?' but in words he did say:
 q am delighted to be interrupted by the senator from Alabama"
 q only asked permission for a moment of the senator's time to make a motion," said the senator from Alabama in very deliberate fashion.
 Certainly" said the senator with a cu- rious questioning look on his face. May l ask what is the nature of the motion the senator desires to make"
 T wanted to move to adjourn" said the solemn Pettus.
 It was too much for the senate. There was loud and prolonged laugh, in which Spooner joined after moment. It threw him off the track, and after a few minutes further talk he sat down. He went over to the Alabamian's seat and the two fin- ished their laugh together.
 It is in an executive session where Pettus shines. There, with freedom from public inspection, the senators throw aside much Of their usual reserve and dignity It is upon such occasions as these that Pettus tells his southern darky stories. They are said to be good and always enjoyed.
 APPLES AT THE PARIS FAIR