The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-29


Two speeches by two Niissourians on
subjects % deep interest to the people or
Missouri came as a pleasant cordial to
the twentieth dinner Of the Knife and
Fork Club which was given at the Coates
Hotel last night. The speaker was Prof
John d. Lawson. Of the Law department
OF the Missouri State University, and
Walter Williams editor Of the Columbia
Herald" One hundred and thirty mem
bars Of the club enjoyed the dinner and
the speeches. Prof Lawson spoke on
"The Lynch Law and MI Williams told
Of tho Mon Who Have Made Missouri
Great
2roF Lawson spoke Of the lynch law
our national crime and explained
At il was a peculiarly American insti-
lion In the strict definition of the
I'm Carrie Nation was considered 10 be
vigorous example. The law he defined
10 be the taking of life. liberty, or prop
erty when the powers Of the courts are
stiII active and are Yet disregarded. In
speaking Of the Kansas joint smasher he
said:
This is the only time IN my memory
when a defence in law has been attempt
ed for the destruction of property While
she has been defended somewhat in the
newspapers, I am sure that any lawyer
Knows that she has no legal foot to stand
on Her escapades make good reading in
The newspapers and add to what DR.
Johnson called the gayety OF the reading
p;-s,lic-' -
.rh. greatest cause Of crime. he said
IS the lack Of speedy and certain punish
nent. Drunkenness. climatic conditions
and all the other causes given for crime
are not nearly so important as this There
Is too much time taken up IN the Legis-
Iatures making new crimes out Of the
mere offences against the personal tastes
of the legislators. Lawyers, he said were
in part responsible for the lack OF speedy
justice. and he declared that no man is
released from the obligations Of a good
citizen by being admitted to she bar. The
multiplication Of courts and the techni-
cality Of some Of them he said were
other drawbacks to speedy punishment
8r- Williams. who followed, began by
SOM pleasing chat concerning his relief
under his subject, from Speaking OF the
members Of the club Mr.. Williams per
E0uaiiJy and the interest IN what he said
held the diners entertained. His more
Important para graphs follow:
Some men are born Miss0urianS" be-
gan Mr. Williams. Others move TO this
State Yet others have AIissourians thrust
upon them. I address myself 70 all three
classes. the first two merged into the last
and wall speak q while OF Men Who Have
Made Missouri Great The Great Mis-
IN colossal egOtism called himself was
Thomas Hart Benton He was great in
body massive and muscular one day he
thraSned Andrew Jackson. the only man
who ever defeated in fair fight Old Eick-
0EE- And Benton left Tennessee in conse-
Guence- lie WAS great in mind cold prac-
neal ruthless Ills head was large and
biggest a. the base. No man in public
life was MS equal in physical strength
endurance, courage Twice each day a Ne
gro servant would rub him from head 10
foot with q brush ike CurrycOmb and
his skin became As tough as that Of 4
rEEDDccTSS or Kansas CITY politician.
1t was the way Of the great Romans he
said. and he was a Roman gladiator en-
bedded somehow in the nneshes Of the
nineteenth century. We have too MANY
Tamlets these days Too many men who
halt between two opinions. / know only
TWO men living who can compare in tow
eFine esousm 20 the stories told Of the
Great Missouriau. When he wrote his
famous work. Thirty Years r. the United
States Senate. which everyone praises
and no one reads, his publishers y. APP
lieJDu q Co. wrote 10 aim. asking how
large q first edition should be printed.
Ills reply was Sir. they can ascertain
from 1Eg last census how many persons
there are in the United States VINO can
read. sir And that was the only sug-
PeSlGE tuat he would ever CondeScend To
make Ia an autobi0gra phicaI sketch
which serves as an Introduction 70 this
Sam work ne says that his life was in
The public eye and the long list of It's
mlliaTlty OF a household word from the
cities on Inc seaDOard 10 the lonely cabins
BH tbe frontier and studied by the little
boys WHO feel honorable ambition begin
ming 70 stir within their bUsOms. The
very thought Of the little boys studying