New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-12
LED THEM AWAY
Noe Many Numbers Of the House
Ire Wondering Why They Did It.


Washington. April 11.-After recovering from
the intoxtcation OF Saturday afternoon and see
ing Representative Cockran's speech in the cold
type OF the morning after" numerous Repu5-
lean members Of the House to-day suffering
from sore heads. according 70 p, prominent mem
Der OF the lower chamber. Carried away by the
magnetism and eloqueGce Of the Democratic
orator. Republicans. well as Democrats. ap-
plauded every period. and many Of the former
abandoned party allegiance and actually voted
for the nischlevous resolution in support OF
which Nh. Cochran spoke last Saturday.
Now many members are wondering why they
lid it, Time has brought them to a fun realIza-
ton OF the fact that Bourke Cochran. after an
absence from the House Of nine years. had the
tenerity to take the floor and tell his colIea CUES
how sadly they had deteriorated IN his absence.
while they. easily spelbound as a rural audi
ence. applauded his vehement declarations Of the
decadence Of the body Of which they were meIn-
bers.
Artfully availing himself OF the petty Jealousy
which portion ot the House eptertains for the
Senate. Cochran played on the feelings OF his
colleagues and led them on 10 a state OF self
a0neEstion which every one OF them. not exclud-
ing some Democrats. sincerely If not vehemently
repUdiates to-day. Iii. Cochran told the House
that from most potent factor in the American
political system II had refrigerated into a body
VA KS IMAM secondary Importance ana LbS
House applauded. He told the House that il
had ''pusiIaninloUsly failed 10 do Its duty" and
the House cheered- And to-day the House is
HE'D with aIcaEernent at its own gUUgsGIty and
ashamed AZ its own sUpineuess.
Nor does the most careful scrutiny OF Mr.
Cockran's printed words afford any excuse for
the enthusiasm with which his speech was re-
ceived- No arguments were advanced, no logic
was pressed into servics. Only q confederation
OF unsupported assertions did the House listen
10, and then blndIy swallowed them and almost
appealed FOR more. Throughout Mr., CocIzran's
able effort he never did his colleagues the
honor OF appealing e their reason but rather
played on their passions
Catering 10 its one really pusillani--ous ZEAL
cusy. Air. Cochran carried the House OF its feet
AID nearly led the majority into q Reputation
or Its own policy and party, and the House
never knew Il until the morning after. But the
leaders express themselves as somewhat re-
Heved that the crisis has PASSED. for they be-
Eeye that the majority. at least VII look askance
al any proposition put forth by Sir. Cochran
hereafter, and they admit that the spectacle OF
Saturday had TO come They believe that by
eZerting his power OF elCquenCe 10 the extent
and IN the direction he did. Mr. Cochran has
put the rank and file Of the majority on Its
guard. that his honeyed words and bursts OF
orator VII hereafter fall ears already at
tuned 10 them and which VII hereafter look be-
low the surface for his motive, always fearing
they again are being made the playthlng Of the
eloquent Democrat In q word the leaders re-
gard Saturdays episode Is a crisis passed and
not likely 10 be repeated. The rank and file
IN the now famous words Of one Of It's former
members. Is still wondering where Il IS at"