Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-03-22
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Close of the Senate's
Special Session.
Maine Man at the Head Of the
Washington Shriners.
senator Hale on Sea Voyage-Dcath
of Judge Cole.

Washington. D. c.. March 21.-
Ihere was Il marked contrast between
the close of the extra session of the
Senate last Saturday and the close Of
the regular session of Congress two
weeks previously. At the close of the
regular session of Congress great
crowds attended. The Capitol. large as
1t is, was virtually surrounded by an
enthusiastic throng from all parts of
the country, waiting to see the flags
pulled down from the roofs high over
head. The throb of drums, the echo
ing OF martial strains, and the profu-
sion of gaily cOlored uniforms consti-
tuted Il picture such as is possible in
Washington but once in every four
years and which is never possible in
amy other city of the country. With
in the Capitol the galleries and every
place that could hold a human being
WAS crow ded to the utmost.
All these evidences of popular inter-
est We're absent when Vice President
Fairbanks adjourned the Senate Sat-
urdaE last sine die. Few people had
any interest in what WAS tranSpirinG
ut the Capitol. The corridors were as
deserted as Pennsylvania avenue at
midnight. All the doors of the Senate
were closed. Two guards at the foot
of each of the broad marble staircases
prevented any stray tourist or other
person, except senator from ascend
ing. A handful of newspaper cOrre-
spOndents waited in the press gallery.
but they We're as unable to see what
might be happening within the cham
Der as any one walking around the
state Capitol at Augusta. Finally the
electric bells rang, indicating an ad-
Journment. Keepers flung the doors
open and those who cared to enter the
galis ries saw groups of senators COR
di;tliy saying gOOdby to each other in
the center aisle. There were warm
hdndshakeS and numerous words of
friends hip before the senators dis
perced to their homes. Many speeded
away from Washington by the earli-
est trains but others have remained.
for Senators, most of whom have
houses here. leave Washington more
leisurely than members.
senator Hale has departed. going
south. and Senator Frye has departed
going north. 1t will be some time be-
fore either of them is back in Maine.
Mr.. Frye will be in Lewiston by the
time the fishing lakes are well opened
and free from ice and when the trout
are biting. He will remain i'll New
York and adjacent cities for Il while.
Senator Hale likes to sail on the salt
water and went away from here antic-
ipatinS Il very pleasant voyage with
Secretary Morton and Speaker Cannon
on their trip aboard the good ship Dol
phin. to Guantanamo and adjacent
points. This is not the first time he
and Speaker Cannon have been fellow
passengers OH the Dolphin. while cruis-
ing in caribbean waters. They are
conGenial travellers.
The death of eX-Judgc c. c. Cole
here last week was lamented by II large
colony Of Maine people in Washington.
All in all Judge Cole was one of the
most attractive figures on the Supreme
bench of the District of Columbia for
many years. Born at Hiram. Me-. and
admitted to the practice of law at
Portland. after he bad graduated from
the Harvard Law School. he followed
the trail of numerous other young men
from Maine into the state of West Nir-
gnia. lie attained prominence there
before he came down to Washington.
here he, for Il time. held the deslr-
able position of United States District
attorney. President Harrison promot-
e1 him from that position to the Dis
trict of Columbia bench. Il life position.
1t then paid $1,000 year but since
has been increased to $4,000. But, sue
cessfuI rs he had been on the bench,
Judge Cole saw the more remunerative
o,nortunities in Washington for a Sue
ccssfuI attorney and accordingly he re-
signed some two or three years ago to
resume practice of law. He had earned
large fees since his retirement ana also
maintained his prestige as one of the
leading citizens OF washington. lie
was not an old man. comparatively
speaking, being 54 years OF age. At
one time he was Il student ut the Sem
mary ut kent's Hill.
Mr.. Carter b. Keene of Freedom,
Me. a former professor at kents Hill.
marched proudly up the avenue here
the other evening at the head of about
. ooo Sbrirers. of the local Almas Tenn
nIe of which lie is potentate. 1t was
the first PUBIC oe'" ''' "'i'oii WI
Keene has officiated ana he did himself
rroul. The Shriners paraded before
going to the Light Infantry Armory
where they had their Annual Good
Time" This was banquet at which
Potentate keene presided as toastmas-
for ue kent the orators well in hand.
introduced them with we'll phrased
,n.ao,,os that set the pace for their own
uttarances. and. withal, kept everybody
in the best of humor. Mr.. Keene is
very actiye worker in Masonic circles
ana is proving himself one Of the most
popular potentates Almas Temple ever
had. He vas elected about two months
ago after a very spirited fight in which
he completely overwhelmed an active
and aggressive opposltioh.
Names adopted citizen toi. NJ. NJ.
-, t,r,,srIv of Vermont and for
pa0o TxnAN