The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-07-17
CHAMP CLARK STORIES
Gathered In and About the
Halls of Congress.

.+or CockreII's Long Service In
.,s senate-Anecdote OF His First
c.nnaion For Reelection 49, Secret
IS His Popularity Explained APP
niles as a Rejuvenator-Why an Old
rxconfederate Refused to interfere
IN Game of Fisticuffs.
downright, 1901, by Champ Clark
1bave often thought that If the skel-
atm photographers of the senator's,
.,nrospntatives and territorial delegates
-,rhlished in the Congressional Direct
NV could be filled up they would con-
stitute an argument in favor of the be-
no6cpnce of our institutions.
e.cret of Cockrel's Popularity.
General Francis Marion Cockrell Of
missouri Is now serving his twenty-sev-
orth wear in the senate. Thomas Hart
ppnton of Missouri was the<Slrst man
that ever served 30 consecutive years
IN the senate-five full terms, or, as he
was fond Of putting it in his pompous
NOV "six complete Roman lustrums."
No held the belt for longest continuous
service until it was wrested from him
nv Senator Justin S. Morrill, Of Yer
mont who died at the ripe age of SO
IN the middle OF his sixth consecutive
torn When Cockrell completes his
nresent term, he will be even with
Renton. and when he finishes his sixth
term he will bring the belt back to inn
perial Missouri. l say his sixth term,
for as he is only CT now and is several
degrees tougher than sole leather |
have no doubt that he will e'rvive to
serve a sixth, If not a severn, term.
Colonel Jim Edwards, once assistant
doorkeeper of the senate, who served
under Cockrell during the civil war,
used to give with great glee this ex-
PLANTATION of Cockrell's popularity:
when the time came for Cockrells
first reelection" quoth Colonel Jim,
"a coterle of politicians in st. Louis
wanted to elect Colonel Thomas Allen,
the multimillionaire owner of the Iron
Il Mountain railroad and withal very
able man, but they were using Colonel
James 0. Broadhead, late minister to
Switzerland, as the Ostensible candi-
date Colonel George W. Anderson,
congressman, was the bellwether Of
the anti-Cockrell movement.
Most members of the Legislature
in the eastern half of Missouri at that
time had to go through st. Louis to
reach Jefferson City, the state capital.
$50, during Christmas week, l staid
In ST. Louis, principally about the
Laclede hotel, which has been Demo
cratic headquarters from time
when memory runneth not to the con-
trary. | was there to listen to what
was said. The anti-Cockrellites were
busy interviewing and buttonholing
members of the legislature. | over
heard a conversation between Colonel
Anderson and an old farmer repre-
sentative from Pulaski county, which
gives the key to Cockrells continued
success.
Approaching the Pulaski farmer,
Colonel Anderson said, Whom will you
support for the United States SEN
ate?
Well replied the member, Il guess
will vote for Frank Cockrell.'
Why will you do that?' asked An
derSon. He can't make a speech. He
Is only a country lawyer. This is a
great state, sir, and we ought to send
10 the senate a lawyer of national re-
houn-a man fit to cope with such in
eLectual giants as Allen G. Thurman,
roscoe Conkling and George f. Ed
mundS.'
Na-al, colonel drawled the old
,afmer what you say may all be true,
out You can't beat Frank Cockrell. He
- lhe peoples man. Nobody, white or
oiaek' male or female, ever writes to
n'hl about anything whatever that he
uoeSnt answer the letter and attend
~ TIE business. Why, bless my soul.
t"o fellows in my county got up con-
uoFefsy about what time in the moon
was oeSt to wean mule colts. They
oO'n served under Frank Cockrell dur
lug lne war and agreed to leave it to
r ~ They wrote him about it to
washington, and. drag my buttons, in
tOou' a week they got a ten page let
W from Cockrell. not your typewriter
,sul' but a genuine letter, every word
'Uen by his own hand. in which he
syuSSed the subject of muleism in
WI mastery manner that you
o nOud have thought he had never done
oyllng in his life but handle mules,
tho u' Oy the jumping lingo. he decided
tL question in such way that both
D" Fellows were pleased. Colonel
Sduhead is no doubt a great man
bn hui fine lawyer but if he lives till
h. oeats Frank Cockrell for the senate
A.. VIII De a blamed sight Older than
nj nuselah. 1t can't be done, Colo
anderson. unless Franks writing
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= q a CrR~sp