The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-16
Many HIVE THIN
NlcknameS Among Congress-
men Are Numerous.
FAMOUS MEN IN THE PAST
Who Bore Short Descriptive
Designations and the
Origin of Them.
FAMOUS MEN IN THE PAST

Origin of Them.
Washington, Feb. 15-With broad wings
and strong legs the Black Eagle Of the
Pined Woods enters the house Of repre-
sentatives. He moves deliberately and
pays close attention to its proceedings.
Never does he fatter or drop a feather
Whether In committee, in the cloakroom.
or on the floor. he always knows what is
going on. With hair as straight and black
as that Of an Indian. he is as swarthy
rs the late John A Logan. In physique
ne IS the strongest man on the floor. His
eyes are black and piercing, and his mus
cIes Ike iron. He had q grip Of steel
anu the industry and persistence Of the
spider made famous by Robert Bruce.
This eagle comes from Texas. and ranges
between the headwaters Of Trinity river
and Cypress creek.
he is Reese c. De Grafenreid. the sue
cessor OF the renowned Bulk Kilgore He
represents the ten counties just east Of
Dallas. As rule, he is quiet and undem-
onstrative, and spends much Of his time
IN picking TIE feathers. But when grave
public questions arise he spreads his
wings ana scars into the armament He
first attracted attention by a speech on
the Dingley bill. It was a signal lgbt
or sea of dreaIy discussion. Three years
ago he stirred the house to unusual en-
shUsiasln. II was when the bin placing
So0oV9o00 in the hands of the president to
prepare the country for war with Suain
was before congress. Up to thaa- lime
De Graffcnreid had been comparatlvelv
unknown. It was the first speech from
the South that breathed the true shirt Of
devotion to the Stars and Stripes. While
not 50 sublime as the address of Robert
. Cousins on tho destruction CT the
Maine. it was fervid with eIoquence and
repete in patriotism. Unlike the remarks
Of Robert OF Iowa, the words Of Reese.
Ct Texas, were delivered on the spuc Of
the moment and without preparation. /
There are other eagles in the Texan del /
cation, hut none who can spread its pin |
sons more gracefully Of fold them more
'mpres sively
Occasionally statesmen are rech7istened /
after entering congress. A few bring their (
2soudonyms with them and some leave
them at home. Daniel ebster was known /
rs Black Dan in Massachusetts and the
mountains Of New Hampshire, but no
one ever dreamed Of applying that term
TO him in the United States Senate. The
same may be said OF John A Logan.
dis friends, neighbors and schoolmates
knew him as Black Jack; his comrades
~ the ermy changed it to Fighting John.
ny; bat in the Senate he was always
known as Senator Logan, of Illinois. Sam
uel S. Cox, however, was termed sunset
Cox the world over. He won the sobri.
1uiet while a newspaper editor in Column
bus, Ohio, and it stuck to him through
NE Visitors to the capitol invariably
ask the guides to point out Cox. Indeed.
many Of thcm believed that Sunset was
ms patronymic, and addressed him thus
by letter In the ffty-fourth congress,
Joseph il. Walker was known as the ,
Gray Eagle Of the Quinsigamond His
personal appearance and combative dis
position justified the appellation. Never J
did he use his beak and claws to more
advantage than when Bourke Cochran ,
attacked him on the floor of the house. ( {
Il was during the discussion on tho VIII {
son bin in the Fifty-third congress. The
schedule on manufactured goods was be-
ng considered, . subject with which ]
Walker was entirely familiar, as he had ]
been = manufacturer. The Gray Eagle
ore great strips Of flesh out of the New 7
York statesman and sprinkled the walls ,
With his blood. 1t was the most diveIting S
md enjoyable scene that occurred In that I
memorable debate. j
The eagle is fsvorite bird In political i
The Bald Eagle OF West y
hester was for years a prominent figure Il
n New York politics and the Red Eagle
Z Alabama is not unknown to fame. n
me of the most striking nicknames. how :
Yer. was that given to Dan voorhees,.
)ns full significance of the term Tail r
ycamore OF the Wabash" could never he 81
ppreciated until you saw voorhees, on a
he stump. with a magnificent presence O
nd voice as clear as the notes of
rUmnet, he awOke all human emotions g
q the Senate chamber he was an impos- a
II presence CLAD in a blue clawhammor. "a
18th bright brass buttons. he would have n
cen perfect type of the days Of NJ eb-
ter Clay Of Calhoun VOORHEES, was Ger
linly the last of the old-time American
-atesTnen- A few years before his death
G was invited 10 a breakfast in tho out
1irts Of Washington. The host was an =
Icer of the army. Many of the guests :
ere also military gentlemen. The break =
ist was a triumph in culinary art. Tie :.
'uat0r was in excellent health. and wine =,
owed in abundance, and the tongue Eept =,
zee with the flow Il was evident thau :.
,mebody had an AK to grind and was =
obing for Il grindstone. Dignifei. Yet y
.aial the senator denied himself none Of -,
Dc Injuries Of the table. and enjoyed the -
.casion 10 the utmost AT high noon he -
snted 81 fragrant cigar- Drawing his -,
atch from MS pocket, he expressed sur ~,
Use at She lateEcss OF the hour. He said i,
an Pc must return 70 the capitol as he >.
ID an important committee meeting 70
tend. A carriage was called au3 the -
fcers accompanied him across the lawn. b.
u were aslow with good cheer. \ fresh y,
oduate from West Point. who saw -.
oorhees for the first tine and who was ~
LED with rlauGlin JOY ana admiration ~
.1 insisted upon shaking hands after the 81
cialaiau was seated in the carriage ~
'clator. he niccupped. I'm doliShted e7
make soar acquaintance. Youc'e one 81
our kind 10 wonder they can you r.,
e Great SacRalrore OF the Kyoash. -,
1orhees usei 10 ter .his story himself -
th great relish. -,