The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-15
ORATORS OF THE HOUSE.
THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BE-
TWEEN.

Flow of Real 0ratory Does Not
Occur Often-when 1t Does Every
body Pays Attention and the Ora
tor Is Heartily COngratulated-An
Account of a Great Tariff Debate.
Some of the Men who Have Made
Regulations as Debators on Tariff
subJects-SOme Surprises in store
for the New House of Representa-
tives-The Humorfsts Who Please
EverybOdy-other Matters of Gen.
eraI Interest.
Copyright, 1901, by Amos J. Cummings.
Washington, Dec. 14.-There are,
have been, and ever will be orators in
the House Of Representatives; but
there are far more takers. The former
are old mine diamonds, and the latter
base limitations. The unconscious ora
tor, like crown jewel, is exceedingly
rare, but the unconscious talker is as
common as a rhinestone. Visitors fire.
quent the galleries for weeks without
listening to a flow Of real oratory. 1t
is never on tap. 1t wells to the sur
face when least expected, enforces at
tention under the most adverse cir
cumstances, and eventually thrills all
hearts. 1t excites admiration, magne-
tizes the sympathies and quickens all
the emotions. Frequently it leaves its
hearers dazed and insensible to all
surroundings. A true orator thorough
ly dominates the House. At the first
ripple Of eloquence members close their
desks and cease writing and reading
newspapers. A subtle essence seems to
penetrate the Hobbies and cloak rooms.
1t is quickly recognized Loungers
leave their easy chairs and softly steal
TO their seats on the floor. The CALLER
les aI7} as dumb as oce&a depths. Pages
and messengers huddle near the Speak
er's desk and are petrifed with aston
ishment. Every metaphor is electric;
every apothegm startling. Each smile
enthralls the senses; each aphorism en-
frances the intellect. A glowing appre-
citation stimulates the imagination of
the orator until it becomes iridescent.
The final peroration fills the chamber,
charming all ears, and he resumes his
seat amid waves Of genuine applause,
while squads Of delighted colleagues
ME up the aisles and heartily congrat-
Ilate him.
spontaneous outburst Of oratory. II is
appreciated all the more because it is
spontaneous. The displays, however,
are not always unheralded. At times
they have stage setting, and the po-
litical world is agog with anticipation.
These displays invariably attend clos
ing discussions on measures attracting
universal attention. The debate on the
Mills Dill was perhaps an exception. 1t
was like Chinese play. It held the
boards for months, and much of the
interest was lost when the curtain was
rung down. Everybody knew that il
would be buried in the Senate, and that
there was no probability of any final
action. But none who saw and heard
them can ever forget the stirring hours
preceding the final vote on the McKin-
ley bill and the eloquent appeals that
marked the birth of the Wilson bill.
They drew an audience from the ex-
tremities Of the Union. 1t was a tour
nament of intellectuality-a pitched
battle between statesmen whose names
were borne on the breath of every wind.
The discussion on the Mckinley bill
was limited and the measure passed
by the House under the whip and spur
afforded by the Reed rules. It was
driven through with so much speed
that ii went to the Senate misshapen,
and with over 200 of the committee
unconsidered. The orator.
zeal display occurred when the confer
ence report came before the House.
Maj. Mckinley himself opened and
closed the discussion. He was an ora
tor par excellence. Never did he ac-
quit himself with more force. His voice
was as clear as a bell, and every syl-
liable was distinctly enunciated. In
driving home his arguments he held
his head high in air. and stood upon
the tips of his toes. His antagonists
were Henry G. Turner of Georgia and
Benton Mcmillan Of Tennessee. They
had fought him in the Ways and
Means, and were the ones to end the
fight on the floor. Neither had signed
the report. Turner was calm and I'M
and made a powerful ar
gument. He was as chaste and classic
in rhetoric as Edward Everett, and
when opportunity served as sarcastic
as Thomas p. Reed. Mcmillan used the