The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-29
LEGISLATURE
 HONORS PETTUS Is Formally Elected to Succeed
 Himself GALLERIES WERE CROWDED 
The "crand Old Man" Amid Thur derous Applause Appears and Ad- dresses the Peoples Represen-
 tatives. Speech in Full.

 the friends of the grand old man." who had gathered to see their representatives carry out their wishes. Prominent men came from all sections of the state, and especially from Senator Pettus' home town, Selma. More than half of the gall lery was occupied by fair women, who were just as eager to applaud the old veteran as were the men present.
 The joint caucus assembled at 12 o'clock, and after comparison of the two journals, the presiding officer of the senate, Lieutenant-Governor Cunning ham, formally declared elected as United States senator.
 Notified of Election.
 Senator Goldsby, of Mobile, who is a close kinsman of General Pettus, moved committee of three to notify him of his election and invite him to address the legislature. Senator Goldsby Represent ative Walker of Madison, and Represent ative Starr of Dallas, were named on this committee, and they soon appeared with Senator Pettus. As the party entered the chamber, the entire building was made to ring. the applause that was so heartily given by every person.
 Senator Pettus was presented by the president without words of eulogy. There was again applause, and when 1t sub- sided, the Senator in a moderate voice began to express his thanks for the honor He spoke with much deliberation and his auditors had not the slightest trouble in catching his every utterance
 At the conclucion of the speech the joint session took In informal recess for fifteen minutes to permit the members to greet the senator. He went to his home in Selma tonight
 Senator Pettus' Speech. Senator Pettus spoke as follows:
 I know that, in addition to the good will of the people of Alabama generally, I have had most efficient assistance.
 My comrades in the civil war, whose courage and endurance made my name to be mentioned as a soldier, and l am bound together by a mutual devotion.
 And my friends of other years, com ing with me from former generations, are here to encourage and assist.
 But the friendship of the strong young men of this day many of them are now in sight, came to me by Inheritance from my dead son.
 And, gentlemen of the house of represen- tatives I read with gratified tears what you said concerning your late speaker.
 You, the chosen representatives of the people of a great state, have conferred on me an honor of which even your best citizen could not fail to be proud. And you have imposed a great trust, to fully discharge the duties of which no man. however large his self-esteem. could have perfect confidence in his ability. But when such an honor and such trust are given by the people to a plain old man of blunt speech, he can only bow his head in profound gratitude and say: T will try and discharge the duties imposed"
 It may be that the old Grecian maxim, know thyself," was never intended to mean that you should tell all you know on that most favored subject but, under the present circumstances, I may be par doned for saying a few words concern ing my personal experiences as one of the. representatives of the state of Ala bama in the United States senate.
 Relates Experience.
 Six years ago when the legislature, ig- noring my failings and magnifying my services and my virtues, elected me to the high office, I had never served in any legislative body; was simply a law yer For nearly fifty years I had held no office whatever.
 But when I went into the senate good fortune still befriended me. I was nut Aon the Judiciary committee, where my fifty years of work at the bar was really useful, and on other important commit tees.
 And from the beginning of my work In the senate have had the considerate goou VIII or the senators generally; but to the senior senator from Alabama [ particularly desire to acknowledge my many obligations. He no doubt by fav- orable statements as to my experience and working capacity as a lawyer, seci,r. | ed for me good positions on the commft- tees, and during all of our joint Iabors I have had his earnest assistance and ad- vice, which, with his great ability, expe- l rience and unceasing labor. made of great benefit to me. He assisted, but he never undertook to direct. We have sometimes separated on questions of policy, but such differences created no discord A man of strong will himself. he respected the opin- ions of his colleague.
 Friendly Feeling Toward South. In past years, and even at the time entered the senate, some senators had habit of making injurious reflections on particular subsequently, on the states in our part of the union. But am glad to inform you that there has been de cided change In that regard. Such refec- tions are now generally considered to be Tn very bad taste And during last ses- sion, at the instance of MT. Hoar. the great senior senator from Massachusetts the senate amended its rufes py adding thereto the following, that
 NO senator in debate shall refer off, fensively to any state of the union."
 This wise rule, represent ting the opinion or the senators generally. has had a ben encfal effect, and has been generally obeyed. though not by all
 You can readily understand that a senator. slow to anger at anything mere iy personal might be made to boil with angry indignation by an assault upon ths people of his state
 So the senate has greatly improved in manner and orderly debate. But the evil of rude speech is not entirely sup pressed.
 Personally. by a diligent respect for the Tights of others, secured the good will of the senators generally and their pa- tient consideration of whatever I might propose (unless party question was in- volved).
 And have observed another important change There Is a growing disposition to allow the states to govern their local