The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-31
Hi TALKED OF PUERTO RICO
SEEMED TO HE UNCONSCIOUS OF
THE CAUSE OF THE HILARITY
HE PROVOKED
QUOTED FROM SCRIPTURES
Related the Narrative of Moses and
Aaron, and DweIt Upon the
License Due the Aver
age Orator.

WASHINGTON, March so-Merriment
swept away the traditional dignity Of the
senate today. Staid sticklers for sena-
torial decorum literally held their sides
and shouted with laughter while the
crowded galleries Joined in the laughing
tumult, which not the faintest effort was
made to restrain
Mr., Pettus (Ala.) the oldest member
of the body in years of age, and only a
Few months short of four score years, de-
liVered the funniest speech heard In the
senate chamber in many years. 1t
sparkled with wit and bubbled over with
humor. It's sarcasm was keen, but not
bitter, and even those who were the vic
tins of it could not but enjoy its perfect
good humor and join in the fun Through
out 1t all Mr.. Pettus was as solemn as If
he were delivering a funeral grafton. Not
smile softened the deep lines of his
strong and rugged countenance, and, as
he stopped occasionally to mop the per-
spiration from his face and head, with a
big silk bandana, he glanced about the
senate as if in surprise at the laughter of
his colleagues. Indeed, he apoEogized once
for the lightness of the vein in which he
was addressing the senate on so import
ant question as the Puerto Rican bill.
Mr.. Proctor (Rep., VT had delivered
a forceful argument in support of free
trade with the island OF Puerto Rico His
speech was listened to attentively by
senators on both sides of the chamber,
and at its conclusion, he was congratu-
lated, even by some senators who did
not agree with him.
He was followed by Mr.. Pettus, who
devoted the first part of his remarks TO
the constitutional phases of the subject
Then, quite unexpectedly, came the fun
as he sharpened his wit at the expense
of Mr.. Gallinger IN. H) and Mr.. Bev-
srldge Qnd).
1t was gen. said a senator, COM
menting upon Mr.. Pettus' speech, "and
will long stand as one of the best ex-
amples of senatorial fun-making."
Senator Depew IN. " was the first to
congratulate Mr.. Pettus, and the New
Workers. hearty handclasp was followed
by such an ovation as a man seldom re-
ceives in the senate.
Former Senator Pugh, Mr.. Pettus' i'm
mediate predecessor from Alabama, was
cne OF those who particularly enioyed
the speech. During the entire session
Mr., Pettus received the congratulations
OF his colleagues.
FIRST MR.. GALLINGER.
MI Pettus first took Mr.. Gallineer to
task.
was very much entertained by the
senator from New Hampshire on yester-
day. he said. He informed us that he
was not a lawyer and he proved it to us,
not only by asserting it, but by his ar
gument. Lawyers know that when Won
a n 81
must take all he says on a subject; that
II VIII not do to take a sentence here and
another there, but that is exactly what
the senator did in quoting Justice Brad
ley in the Mormon church case"
lie then went on to relate an anecdote
illustrative Of his point, in which a
preacher of the old time-when the sena
tor was boy-had figured in Alabama
The minister" he said, was as learned
IN the Bible as my friend from New
hampshire IS in the law. Oaughter)
He said: Brethren, my text TODAY will
be the following: Seven Sons Did MIL
cah Bear Unto Enon." Now I expect
brethren, the preacher went on, if Won
would look at the commentaries Won
would find various meanings to this text.
put taxing common sense view Of it
VIII say this; l expect that Enon was
sick, and the doctor told his seven sons
great strong fellows, that it was abso-
IuteIy necessary that he should have milk
Tor MS nutriment; and, thereupon. the
seven sons went out to look UP the cows
The COWS had not come up the night be-
1ore ana so the sons could not find them:
but they came across a bear and thew
milked her and carried the milk to Enon:
and so, brethren, 1t is written: Seven
sons did milk bear unto Enon.
Ihat preacher concluded Mr.. Pettus
amid an outburst of hearty lauchte err
had as accurate conception of the Sc, ip-
lures as some of our senators have of the
laws Of the land
WONDERFUL ORATORY.
Mr.. Pettus then turned his attention
to the speech OF Senator Beveridge. and
said;
I'VE had a wonderful defamation ves-
terday from our great orator-wonderful
1t was marvellous in all its parts 1t
was so marvellous that I dare say that
such thing has never been heard in the
senate. When you get a genuine orator
he is absolutely absolved from all rules
OF logic or common sense. daughter
When 1t Is necessary in the fervor Of or
atorical fiOurishes to prove any pronosi
don' true or false, rules of common sense
and the decent observance of what Il duo.
to others must not stand in the wav Of
maintaining my reputation as an orator
1t will not do. If 1t is necessary I musr
break down the ideas of an observance
OF what the senator from Vermont has
characterized as the best policy; IF q
is necessary I must draw on my imagin-
alton for facts and on my memory for
flights of fancy as Ovid BoIus did When
an orator speaks he has a right in the
fervor Of his Oratory, here in tie Unite1
States senate, in reference to the Repub-
icaEs and Democrats and Populists, and
any other men VINO may choose to take
seats here, to speak of them as enemies to
the government The government in his
mind, is: Me and my wife, my son John
and his wife. us four and no more.
tLaughter)
Mr.. President. 1 was amazed at that
speech. / tell you the senior or junior
senator from Iowa, I do not know which
and the senior or Junior senator from
Maine, do not know which, will have TO
take some action In reference to that or
atory. There is no doubt about 1t in the
world Oaughter.) There Will have to
be some caucus on the matter. laugh
teri l tell you, Mr.. President, these four
wise men from Maine and Iowa could mol