The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-14

Beme Of Tom Reeds Witty Sayings.
His First Meeting With 1ourke
misunderstanding a New Suit Of
Ciothes-senator Pettus and Repre-.
sentative Grow-Dr. MarshaIl's Ra-
zor--A colored Mans Opinion Of
Zoe Blackburn.
copyright, 1901. BY Champ Clark
I really do not know whether all the
stories told OF Hon. Thomas Bracket
Reed are true or not OF whether he
ever uttered one-half the bright and
biting mots attributed to him. 1t is
said that after Abraham Lincoln's
fame as 4 story teller was established
ne was made to father a great many
anecdotes of which he never heard. 1t
may be the same way with the ex-
speaker. One thing 1 do know, how
ever-whenever q coterie Of congress
men or other habitues of the capitol
get to telling stories II generally hap
pens that one or more of Mr.. Reeds
sayings are quoted.
Reed and Bourke Cochran.
Judge Dorsey ". Shackleford, "Sll-
yer Dick" BANDS successor, says:
'When Bourke Cochran nrst came to
eonxress, he had never been introduced
to Mr.. Reed, but when he first met the
sesar' the Tammany orator held out his
hand and said cheerfully:
allow are you, TomT whereupon
Mr.. Reed, with great affability and
whitening sarcasm, replied:
"'Why all this formality, Mr.. Cock
rant Why not call me Tommy"
The fact remains, however, that, no
matter how the acquaintance between
those two illustrious men began, they
became not only friends, but chums.
Reeds New Clothes.
Judge Shackleford proceeded: zone
morning Mr.. Reed came to the capitol
rugged up In a fine suit OF new clothes
and q flaming necktie, SO red that it
made ones eyes blink to look upon It.
The elevator conductor with whom Mr.
Reed assembled to the house floor, motto
ing the speakers new clothes and de-
string to be pleasant, said:
THAT is a very handsome new suit
you have on, Mr.. Speaker
"'Ya-asv dfawled the man from
Maine" 4 bought It for your special
delectation. 1 am glad you like it,"
Two Grand Old Men.
The senate numbers among its mem
bership q remarkable old man, General
Edmund Winston Pettus Of Alabama;
the house another. Hon. Galusha A.
Grow, congressman at large from
Pennsylvania. congratulate myself
that l am ON a friendly footing with
both these venerable statesmen. July
9 General Pettus will be 80. Hs began
his senatorial and congressional career
at the age Of 76. Aug. 81 Mr.. Grow
will be IS. He was FIRST elected to
congress In 1904 half century ago
and was then the youngest man in the
house. He served IL years and was
speaker in 1852. He remained out OF
congress 80 years, coming back at a
special election in 1894. he is now the
oldest man in the house. Parenthetical
ty 1t may be Of interest to state that
the late Judge William s. Holman OF
indiana, the farfamed watchdog OF
the treasury, served longer than any
other man has ever served in the
house. He died with harness on in the
thirty-nrst year Of service. but not con
Hnuous service. He was nominated
Tor congress 20 times. Had he beer
elected every time he was nominated
and had he lived his last term out, hi
would have been q congressman two
score years. But. owing TO the vicissi
fudes of Indiana politics, the Judge
Jailed to be elected four times between
bis FIRST and last nominations.
During the frst IL years OF his serv
Ice In the house Mr.. Grow represented
the famous Wilmot district. He nov
represents the whole state of Pennsyl
Kania. and In 1895 received the larges
majority ever given for congressional
candidate.
once heard him make q declara
lion on the floor of the house the Iik,
OF which could never have been utter
ed truthfully by any other man tina
ever lived, and the chances are a mil
Hon to one that no man will ever b
able to duplicate II.
he takes great pride in the title O
"Father OF the Homestead Law" o.
One occasion he made a speech favor
ing the free homes bill. When he con
Siuded. Delegate Flynn OF Oklahom
asked unanimous consent that MI
Grow be permitted to print as q SUP
plement to the speech he had just de
uvered one that he made In congress
In 1852 in favor OF the original home
stead bill. The request was receive
with great applause and the imam
NOUS consent cheerfully given. Thi
seemed to touch Mr.. Crows heart an
with great feeling he said:
81 thank the house. I made tn
speech referred to 48 years ago. I wa
the youngest man in the house theI
am in years the Oldest member nov
indorse now what I said then.
don't think that ! can improve tbs
speech"
A hush fell upon the house. Men
bers seemed to feel that they weI
Listening TO n generation almost CON