The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-22


title reverted to Holman. The Indi-
anian left no legitimate successor. There
are several spurious claimants, but the
title is really extinct.
An Alternative cognomen in Con-
gressional life was the Red Rooster
of the Rockies" 1t was applied to the
renowned James B. Belford of Colora-
do. He spent ten years in the House
achieving reputation second to none.
In pluck and endurance he was equal
TO an Irish Red, and as tactician out
stripped the celebrated chaney-eyed
gamecocks of Southern Georgia. Bel
ford wears silver gaffs and flies high
when in main. He was succeeded by
George G. Symes, a rooster fully as red
and equally noisy. Both were true gall
linaceous birds, great scratchers and
great fighters. Belford was in Wash
ington early in the present session,
scratching around the White House. IL
is not yet known whether he unearth-
ed anything worth growing over.
The most esthetic of all congressional
fancies was THE Old Man Eloquent"
a term applied to John Quincy Adams.
After being President of the United
States he was elected to the House of
Representatives He died in harness
after a service of sixteen vars. 1t
will be fifty years next February since
he fell from his seat under an apoplec-
tic stroke. He died on the day fol-
lowing the anniversary of the birth of
George Washington. Not less appro
PIRATE was the name of 1.-THE Great
Commoner," conferred on Thaddeus
Stevens, who left the Green mountains
of Vermont to attain national fame as
the Representative of the strongest
Quaker district in Pennsylvania. Less
poetic, but not less significant was
the, designation of William D. Kelley
of Pennsylvania, as Pig Iron 1t
aided him in many an election, and
chung to him to the day of his death.
He was as proud of it as was Paul
Jones of the title of "Chevalier."
Hundreds of Smiths have appeared
on the rolls Of the House, but only one
carrying an alias. He came from Vir-
ginia and was always known as Extra
Billy" 1t was a title acquired long
before his appearance in Congress. For
years he was a mail contractor. Es-
tablishing a line of post coaches
through Virginia, the Carolinias, and
Georgia. he amassed q fortune. His
bills for carrying the mails were in
variably loaded with extra charges.
They attracted so much attention that
he was finally dubbed Extra Billy"
The term stuck to him during decade
of service in the House, where he was
a characteristic figure. An indefati-
gable worker, he was also an indefati-
gable talker. He is said to have once
held the attention of the House two
days. in >expatiating upon the merits OF
a measure in which the welfare of his
constituents was involved. Extra Billy
withdrew Irom the House at the be-
ginning of the war; and became a Con-
federate brigadier. His anthithes1s
was Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachu-
sets, known as THE Bobbin Boy of
Waltham." Henry Wilson, once vice
president of the United States, enters
the same category. He was recognized
throughout the Union as 1.-THE Natiek
Cobbler' Tom Corwin of Ohio, owed
much of his success in public life to
the name of 1.-The Wagon Boy of the
West" Another Congressional Curl
osity was that great representative OF
the Old Dominion, James w. Marshall,
yclept Cyclone jim" In Congress ne
was a balny as a summer breze, but
on the stump he is said to be a Whlrl-
wind. He probably did not remain in
the House long enough to strike his
gait. He is now a member OF the Nlr-
ginia constitutional convention. Last
summer he stumped the state for Mon
IdRuS, anu IdlSCu a OlOuNl VI NNSS "AASA
ever he appeared. At the end of a SIN
gle term he was succeeded by James
A. Walker a commander of the old
Stonewall brigade. Walker proved a
far more picturesque character, al
though he had no nickname.
AS enjoyable genius as ever entered
the House was Jerry Simpson, the
"Sockless Statesman of Medicine
Lodge" The title, however, was a mis-
homer. Jerry wore black silk stockings,
clock worked, and frequently appear
ed in knickerbockers. He had a tongue
like a dagger and the mind of clair
voyant. The leaders of both parties
were kept busy lodging his blows, and
he annoyed Speaker Reed worse than
a yellow Jacket Nothing escaped his
sarcastic comment, from Dingleys hat
to Reeds gavel Another rare specimen
of the rough and-ready statesman was
Francis B. Spinola, or "Old Spin" as
his colleagues called him. He once &C
cused the speaker of counting the Hes
slams in the painting of the surrender
of CORVALLIS to make up quorum.
Quaint appellatives occasionally CLINT
from L speech like sparks from a flint.
III the last session Senators Tillman
and Beveridge became involved In an
agricultural discussion. They were rap
idly approaching the quagmire OF per-
sonalities, when Senator Chandler OF
New Hampshire, somewhat plaintively
complained that they were overstep-
ping the bounds in not addressing the
chair.
LAS my distinguished friend has ad-
monshed me of the way 1 should go,
Tillman responded, II presume had
better let this Wasp from the Wabash
alone"
"In view of this courteous appella-
ton" quoth the Indianaian. II am very
glad to see that the sting had it's eff
feet
1.-THE trouble was" returned the
pitch-fork statesman, that the wasp
had no sting at all. He buzzed around
me like a blue bottle fly, and 1 had to
brush him Off"
Here he began to brush his ears. The
senators lost their dignity in laughter.
and from that day to the present Bev-
eridge has been known as THE Wasp
from the Wabash"
Some statesmen do not take kindly to
such improvised honors. Nothing in
censed Roscoe Conkling more than to
be called a Turkey Cock" This was
probably because the decoration had
been conferred on him by his great
rival. James G.. Blaine, in bitter dis
cussion in the House. 1t was an UNI
| fortunate characterization on the part
/ of the man from Maine. Conkling
! could not forget and would not forgive
4 4. T.. coof plaina the presidency in