Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-16

have the program OF the majority in Con-
gress satisfactory to the minority. When
all party differences disappeared aud Con-
gress acted as If inspired by a single pur-
pose. 1t showed how patriotism can over
ride. every party consideration at critical
moments The majority at that time had
as much confidence In the patriotic pur-
poses and ability OF Cockrell. the former
confederate general. as It had in any other
man. Cockrell wrote down on a slip of
paper the army organization, and the es-
sentiaI features Of the nilitary necessities
of the nation as he saw them.
II will agree to that's he remarked
quietly
The other senator's Looked it over. It
was acceptable to all of them. They knew
when Cockrell said 1t was satisfactory to
him 1t would be satisfactorily to every menu
Der Of the minority. Mo- democrat would
offer objection to a military program at
such time when 1t was championed by
Cockrell.
The st. Louis Exposition Loan.
This is but one evidence of the great
confidence that was constantly being i'm
posed In Senator Cockrell. When the
proposition came up to lend $500, 900 to
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition 1t was
not favorably received. 1t was bordering
on legislation that tended to establish
troublesome precedents. But when it was
known that Cockre1f was "sot on t." OPP
position faded away.
THE old man wants 1t" many of them
said. That was enough. On the other
hand, CockreH was insistent that every
possible precaution be taken IN order to
guarantee the return of the loan. All the
receipts were pledged for it's return and
the government was made the preferred
creditor, go that no loss could occur.
Vest championed it in a passionate speech
in the Senate. Cockrell said nothing. but
his silence was quite as eHectlve as words
The defeat of COckrell is regarded as a
misfortune by republicans OF the Senate, as
it is by the democrats. He belonged to the
opposition, to the minority, but he never
descended to cavil in exercising his right
in the Senate. AS a rule, when he had an
objection it was recognized on both sides
Of the chamber as well founded. He never
delivered long speeches Whatever he had
to say was embodied in few words. His
chief work was done in committees and in
conferences, so that by the time the meas
he was interested in came into the
Senate it was necessary for him only to nod
his head and allow it to be known to his
colleagues how he stood.
Cockrell has never been lingo. He could
never be accused of being demogogue.
He never acts from party necessities In
dealing with any national question. These
essential elements of his character consti-
tute his great influence.
Defeat Wholly Unexpected.
have been defeat ted for reelection in Mis-
souri, if the Issues had been drawn squarely
on him. His popularity in that state is I'M
bounded. 1t was at it's height at the time
of his misfortune of early manhood. He
was a practicing attorney after the war
was over. He had been through the war
with credit. Entering into the practice of
law. he later became a silent partner in a
banking enterprise. He was worth $50, 900
or 100000, which was a very comfortable
fortune for that time. One day it turned
out that his partner had gone wrong and
depositors ciamored at the doors of the
bank for their money, which was not there
CockrelPs connection with the bank did not
make him legally responsible for it's debts
or deposits but unhesitatingly he came for
ward and declared thats everything he had
in the world was available, to settle up the
affairs of the bank Not a dollar was lost
by a single creditor or depostor
This failure attracted widespread atten-
ton at the time. CockreIPs readiness In
coming forward then was but an indica ton
of his high honor. A short time after that
he was nominated for Congress. and in 1875
he entered the United States Senate. His
position in the esteem of the people of Mis-
souri, has never since waned