Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-21
Some United States Senators
Who Are Good Story T el1ers
BY ANGUS M'sWEEN.
In Philadelphia North American.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. March 11.-Not
for long time had a speech in the
senate been listened to with such close
attention as was accorded that of Senator
Vest upon the ship subsidy bill Monday.
Among members of the senate there was
a general feeling that in all probability
1t was the last effort the grim old war
rier from Missouri would make, and, in
addition, 1t was the breaking Of a long
silence which I'll health and the growing
infrmities Of age had threatened to make
perpetual.
For two hours Senator Vest held the
floor, and for two hours members listened
reverentially. and contrasted his utter
ances with those of the Vest of five years
ago, then the best equipped debater on the
Democratic side. and one of the best in
the senate.
There were times today when the old
mans oratory was as brilliant as ever.
Words came to him with all the ease of
former days, and his mind showed as clear
as when he challenged all Corners in de-
bate and begged for mercy from none.
But the fire of the senator's earlier days
was lacking, and his physical weakness,
his hoarse and feeble voice, made his ef-
fort seem a Renaissance.
Vest is not the oldest man in the SEN
ate, but he Is near 1t. He was born in
1880. and has been in public life ever since
the opening of the civil war. There have
been few greater orators in the senate
than he. and none who was a greater
master of invective.
Vest was at his best during Cleveland's
second administration, and when the night
between the president and the senate over
the tariff schedule arose Vest criticised
the former in a manner that gladdened
the dropping Republican heart.
For four years Vests health has been
declining. 1t is told about the senate how
once he felt so certain he was going to
die that he assured all ms callers of this
| conviction.
at don't believe" he said-then his old
sense of humor breaking forth. despite
his physical weakness-"I don't believe
I'll live until Morgan finishes his speech
on the Nicaragua canal"
| This prediction may be fulfilled, for Nor
CAMS speech on the Nicaragua canal is a
continuing effort, and may be resumed at
any time.
Vest has been one of the best story
tellers the senate has ever known, and
hundreds of capital stories that have APP
peared in print originated with him.
The senator was a member of the Con-
( federate States congress, and. finding SEN
| timent in Missouri was being aroused
II
/ ferred the life of a legislator to that of a
soldier. he calmly shouldered a musket
and went to war. During the first battle
/ in which he was engaged the Confede-
rates lost, and Vest was retiring from the
field, when he met soldier from his
own district.
Jim" he said. you see what I am do.
ing?'
yes" said the other.
Now, JIM" said Vest, IT want you tc
go back to Missouri and tell them there
| that you saw me fighting for my country
/ Tell them. Jim, that you saw me in 8
battle yourself"
Jim said he would do as he was bid. and
/ started on his way.
"Oh, JIM Vest called after him, as q
new thought flashed into his mind, 'wher
/ you tell them you saw me in battle yoJ
/ can add. If you want 10. that If keep my
health and have an ordinary run of luck
no living man will ever see me in anoth'
err
! Vest made good this declaration, for his
| career as a warrior ceased right there
and his career as a legislator was re-
/ sumed
Like all the older members of the senate
Vest has regarded any effort to take his
seat away from him as a personal injury
I While he was sick he was informed thai
| Ex-Governor Stone was regarded as a can
didate to succeed him.
| There is a bird in Missouri" said Vest
(which sits I'm a tree on the river banl
and waits for dead fish to come to the
surface There are a lot of folk in Mis-
/ souri, like this bird, and some of them are
waiting for this fish to de. They'll have
I to wait" he added with fierceness, unit
| he is good and dead before any of then
| can get him."
Admirers of Vest-ahd there are many
| say the period of waiting is about over
for even II he retains the measure oil
/ health left him, he is too advanced in age
to think of another term in the senate.
Vest and Morgan and Daniel are tho
! only ones remaining in the senate to rep
resent old-fashioned, impassioned South
! ern oratory. Morgan talks so readily and
| SO easily that an admiring constituent
once declared he could do so without
! thinking, a conclusion that has been
forced upon many other persons. He was
once asked how long he could talk in this
| senate.
IF I were all prepared for my speech
| had plenty Of books of reference and q