The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-14
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONGRESSMAN CULBERSON
known the Wise Man Congress- Regarded
Constitutional Lawyer-Hs First Essay and How He
to Write It-Joke Congressman staings.

human philosophy. and his teacher shook
him by the hand in ccngrstulation. and
said to him that he was fitted for the law
or for politics. and would make a success
at either or both.
The prophecy was mors than fulfilled.
That was the turning point Young Dave
Culberson was fred by ambition to do some
thing worthy OF his teachers commenda-
ton. From the foot of mis- class he went TO
the head and remained there during his
school life
From Georgia he removed to Alabama.
where he grew to manhood and married,
and his children were born there He then
moved to jefferson. Tex. which. In the
early days. was the most important trad
iIg point in the State. located. az 1t was at
the head of navigation on Red River. Here
he attained the full stature of giant law
yer. He became one Of the greatest Of Tex
ass criminal lawyers. In the language OF
Colonel "Bill'' sterett, "he has defended
and had acquitted more distinguished criru-
inals than any lawyer in Texas"
Colonel Culberson was rather taoiturn ard
sat much alone In deep thought. With his
friends, however, he would unbend. and
he was delightful companion He always,
IN talking to his friends would use the
old-fashioned, homily. Southern styls of
speech. ana a stranger would have believed
MIN to be an uneducated man and ona un-
used to talking. inasmnch az it seemed an
short. But to sac him In action, 70 to
speak, and thoroughly aroused, this
stranger would quickly change his mind.
He was capable OF the choicest English
and was powerful orator, possessing tie
most musical voice that ever tickled the
t. n panum OF a juror.
Colonel Culberson's keen sense Of the ludi-
crous and love Of fun led him to play
many Jokes on the young men In Congress.
but the most notable was the joke played
on the Honorable Jesse Stallings Of Ala
bama. When Stallings entered Congress.
Colonel CulDerson was q sort Of father Of
the Democratic side and the young men
eagerly sought his advice and counsel.
Stallings went to him for advice as to when
he should fire OF his maiden effort as an
orator on the floor Of the House. One day
the pension appropriation bill was under
discussion. and General Harry Bingham of
Pennsylvania was making an impassonsd
plea for the old soldier. Colonel Culberson
went over to Stallings and whispered to
him that now was his time. He told him
to go after Bingham red hot, that he had
never been in the army. but was keeping
a grocery store In Philadelphia during the
war.
Every man In Congress VINO was posted
knew General Bingham's war record, and
that it was a. brilliant as the sunlight
that flashed on his sword. Colonel Cuiber-
not knowing It, and he won. No sooner
had General Bingham taken hts seat than
Stallings, who had obtained time 10 speak.
arose and proceeded I'd lambast Bineham I'm
a way that was terrific and held the House
speeches. with establishment. He started
in by shaking his finger at General Bins-
ham. and saying: How dare the gentleman
from Pennsylvania defend the old soldier
or ask for assistance for him? What right.
has he to speak for the old aOldierf He
never smelled burnt powder in his life
Why, sir, in all those troublous DAYS OF
sixty-one. to sixty-ftve. this man WAS SELL
ing butter and hens eggy in . little corner.
grocery In Phtladelphia and playing hide
and seek with recruiting ofbcsFp and draft
ing serEeantA" He never got any further.
The House recovering from it, aseonish-
ment, looked ovss and saw Colonel Culber-
SON making for the cloakroom shalfne WITH,
laughter. They took In tho sdtuatton. Thew
knew IL was another '.vroue steeres ON hi,
80. 80 .S-ssS~ ~,.-SSss ". IL