The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-11
BEVERIDGE INTHE SENATE
HOW THE SENATOR IMPRESSED Ex-
PERIENCED CORRESPONDENTS.
All Agree that He Achieved n Great
Success-Newspaper Expressions
Concerning His Speech.


when he makes his formal debut in Con-
gress. A few are sometimes partisanly
unjust because they obey the dictates Of
sensational employers, but the great mass.
when untrammeled by instructions from
their home offices, usually tell the truth.
Before Mr.. Beveridge delivered his great
speech in the Senate on Tuesday few cor
respondents were inclined to ridicule him,
principally on the ground of egotism. They
did not know the man; probably never
heard him speak. They mistook' a manner
ism, due largely. to Jealous earnestness, for
fault hard to condone even in the case
of men whose fame has been heralded
broadcast for years. After the speech,
which was a revelation to the scoffers,
nearly every correspondent who had made
the charge of egotism gracefully acknowl-
edged his mistake and wrote laudatory re-
views of the senator's style and utter
ances.
Here are few extracts from Walter
Wellman's dispatch to the Chicago Times
Herald:
1T was as if the two centuries. two eras.
personifed in two senator's, had met and
crossed swords in forensic combat. The
new century, the new era of national life,
was represented by the young senator from
Indiana. Mr.. Beverage, while the departing
era, cliDglng fOndly to its traditions, was
the venerable Mr.. Hoar, of Massachu-
setts. But the young man, the new
idea, the broader national life, won the
day. Progress prevailed over traditional
ism. Typical of what is going on in the
minds of the American people was the re-
suit in the Senate chamber this afternoon.
Both sides are heard all arguments are
weighed and considered, and the verdict
iG civ for neil, f0r \, fnr
throwing down the walls of prejudice and
going out to the sea to build, make and up
lift
He seizes the psychological moment in
the tide of our national affairs, and makes
himself famous at leap. 1t takes genius
to do this, and Albert Jeremiah Bever-
idge is genius. An egotist, phenomenal
egotist is he, man who in his private
ridicule. But he has had the wit
and foresight and courage to pre-
pare fer himself an opportunity, an
opportunity such as comes to few men,
and he showed to-day that he had the clo-
quence, the presence, the discretion. the
logical and convincing power, to sustain his
role and make the most of his opening. He
had to fall or stand to-day-fali as a pre-
SumptuOus, self-advertising upstart, or
stand as man of originality, Of intellec-
tual force, of ability to guide, instruct
and be one of the leaders Of his PEOPLE
In the epoch of new activity and construc-
stands. And hereafter his personal foible
will be scored not against him. He has the
license of genius. .
Not man or woman left the chamber
while he was speaking. 1t was interesting
to watch the faces of the veteran sena-
tors gathered about the newcomer, who
took his place in the very center of the
hall. At first sardonic, then interested,
soon amazed, finally fascinated they sat.
They forgot their usual luncheon hour.
They had no desire to converse or ex-
change comment. Not till the end came
did they stir, and then it was to applaud
and to press forward and congratulate the
hero of the hour, while the galleries
cynical members of the press as well as
more impreSSionable men and women of
the unprofessional people-continued vio-
lating the rules of the Senate with vigor-
Gus applause. 1t takes art, an art rising to
the level of genius, to do this. Beveridge
has this art. He is an orator, a natural
orator. IL he never does anything more
and perhaps he should not try for a long
time-his fame will live. He is one of those
men, few in our day, who cannot but be
eloquent. even though they try. 1t is a gift
of the gods.
This young man who has come out of
the West to teach. wisdom to the gray
heads in the Senate is conceited? Yes. He
is presumptuouS? Yes He rides down all
traditions in pressing himself to the front?
Yes But he can study, think, write, speak
and make the world hear him. More than
that, he can think the thoughts and speak
the words that belong to the century at
hand, voice the aspirations of a newer and
better era while others are dreaming of the
past, and that stamps his worth so secure
iy that no small mannerism or foible can
put 1t down."
The Chicago Tribune's correspondent
says: Although the speech of Senator
Beveridge had been prepared in advance
never once did he refer to his
manuscript, and, in fact, he did not have
a copy with him. He talked at rapid rate
a
word"
In the same line, W. E. Curtis says,
in the Chicago Record, Mr.. Beverage
has pleasant manner, graceful
delivery and a light, sweet-toned tenor
voice. He spoke for two hours with great
earnestness, and at times was impressive,
and 1t was marvellous exhibition of men,
DRY. His remarks, which would fill seven
or eight columns of an ordinary news
paper, were prepared with great care, and
proofs had been furnished in advance to
the press associations. Several people in
the reporters gallery had proofs before
them and followed him through his entire
Grafton, which was recited from memory
almost without the change of a single
word. Mr.. Conkling used to be able to do
such things, but nobody in the Senate since
his time has had the memory to retain so
long speech. Mr.. Beveridge did not even
have note to guide him, but each para
graph followed in its proper sequence"
The correspondent of the st Louis Globe
Democrat says: Senator Beveridge has
more than fulfilled expectations. His
speech on the Philippines marks one of
the most notable days of the Fifty-Sixth
Congress. In the two hours which he gave
himself, the Senator summed up the re-
suits of many weeks of careful observation
and earnest investigation among the is
lands and their inhabitants. AS a state
ment of conditions, this speech will be
more widely read than any single report
or interview or letter or speech on the
same subject. 1t is of that absorbing in
terest which will insure the completion of
the reading when once begun. This was
seen in the rapt attention with which all
within hearing followed the Senator TO
his closing sentence"
The Chicago Inter Oceans correspondent
says 'the speech made a distinct impress
sion on the Senate and the crowds that
filled the galleries" He continues: mo
new senator has in years received more
consideration than was given the Indianan.
For more than two hours he held the
closest attention of the senator's on both
sides of the chamber. After he had fin
ished members from both sides, and repre-
senting opposing views, made their way
to his desk to extend congratulations, while
the galleries applauded vigorously, in
spite of the presidents reminder that ap-
pause was not permitted in the Senate
chamber. Administration senator's were
surprised and gratified at the wide range
of the speech, covering as 1t did plain
reportorial work as interviewer among
the Filipinos, enthusiastic, patriotic, and
poetic pictures of the future of the Repub-
lie as world power, and grave and
learned discussion of the great constitu-
tional question involved.
The Cincinnati Enquirer correspondent
has this: From the opening he was mas
of with ira np IL v.1lro