The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-15

CldAELgeQ Inc u the gu
preme Court. He denied the jurisdic-
ton Of the House until Roberts was
sworn in. Roberts himself summed
up mis- case. Its pathetic eloquence
was extremely touching. but the effect
was buried under ebuilitions OF con-
tempt and defiance. The vote was
taken, and he stood not upon the order
Of his going. but went at once.
significant comment on Littlefeld's ar
gunlent as to Jurisdiction is the fact
that the House refused to pay mileage
and expenses to Roberts on the ground
that he had never been sworn in as
a member. And yet from the 4th of
March up to the day Congress was
organized the Z sergeant-at-arm had
sent him his salary the same as that
Of other members.
Fascinating at all times are the
quaint orators of the House. They en-
nven discussion and relieve the dull
monotony of the regular proceedings.
There are at least four of these unique
statesmen In this Congress. Missouri
presents a noteworthy example of this
style OF oratory in the person of Champ
Clark. He may we'll be termed the Lo-
renzo Dow of the Democracy in the
House. The motor of his elocution is
impulsiveness. Felicity CLEANS in his
eye as he weaves into the wool of his
argument fanciful phrases and fantas-
TIC suggestions. There is an earnestness
about him that adds zest to his rhet-
oric. and gestures that would paralyze
a psychologist. AS he PAGES up and
down a side aisle, scattering his whim-
steal thoughts right and left, he seems
10 be trying to secure a cinch on the
hearts Of his hearers. His intellectual
decoctions, however, contain more gall
and NORWOOD than honey. The gall
Ieries go into ecstasies over his
speeches. 1t is tribute to his genius,
Tor he certainly never plays to them
New Hampshire may boast of a
statesman fully the equal of Champ in
abnormal eloquence. He is Cyrus A.
Subway, the tallest man on the floor
Il ne stood as erect as the Missourian
ne would be seven feet high. The spirit
moves him less freely, and therefore
ne is not so much in evidence. Once
aroused, ne showers the House with
quaint sayings and rare eccentricities.
With his rhetorical setting they spar
Kie ike drops of dew. He stores his sar-
casm in cisterns, with covers always
open. Woe to the congressional wight
who stumbles into one of them. A con-
met between Cyrus and Champ would
throw every debating society between
the ST. Crotx and the Rio Grande into
commotion. 1t would be fortunate
accident that would bring on such an
encounter, for their roads always seem
10 lie In an opposite direction.
The state of Washington vaunts its
quaint oratorical talent in Francis w.
Cushman Of Tacoma. He has several
times Ventured into the everglades of
discussion, and HAS always returned
with somebody's scalp. Cushman is
redundant with quaintness. 1t is of
the true Western type, graphic and
pungent. Possibly he may run into
Champ Clark ahead of Sulloway. Such
an event might we'll become nemora-
bic. President Roosevelt and cabinet
would not be out of place in the execu-
i've gallery. for no game of football
between Annapolis and West Point
could be half as attractive.
The fourth representative of anomal-f
Gus oratory halls from Lynchburg, Va.
He is Maj. Peter j. Otey, late of the
Confederate army. His services in the
House are as picturesque as was his
career in the valley of the Shenan-
doah. His remarks are more humorous
than satirical. They are illustrated
with droll stories. pithy and to the
point. He appeared at Tammany Hall
when 1t last celebrated Independence
Day and easily bore off the honors.
AA0AA rams WIN applause lUe
opening sentence to the final peroration.
AS stump speaker he is said to be
unrivaled. His face is an index 10
his humor and his power of imitation
simply indescribable.
Quaint oratory, however, is not con-
fined to the House of Representatives
Thre are two rare birds in the Sem
ate. One is the renowned William e.
Mason of Chicago and the other the
venerable Edmund w. Pettus. Mason
is a graduate of the House and Pet
tus a true representative of THE.
Flush Times of Alabama" He never
ran for any political Office before he
was elected to the Senate. In the twi-
light of a long and useful life, he
won national fame by an incisive ex-
coriation of the junior Senator from
Indiana. Amos Cummings.
Copyright 1901, by Amos Cummings.)
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