The Washington times., 1906-09-09
The GEM


last session OF Congress
by Benjamin Ryan TIL
man, Joseph Weldon
Bailey. and John Sharp
Williams than by any three men In the
National Capital
All three are now engaged In the
early work Of the Congressional cam
paien and will probably be prominent
figures IN the news this fall
Williams IS by far the most Guilt
waited of the three men. and. cuTiously
enough, ne IS the only one OF them
without a nickname. We all know the
senior Senator from South Carolina as
ben" Tiuman. and the junior Senator
from Texas as Joe" Bailey but the
member from the Eighth Mississippi
district is John Sharp Williams and
nothing else under any circumstances.
This may only be because the Mis-
sissIppi mans name does not lend it.
self readily 20 the shortening process.
and nothing more; certainly the appli-
cation OF niclluames of the two Sena-
tors does not imply any lack Of respect
for their ability.
Tnlman is truly a rude man. as he
has phrased Il. but he is as able as he
Is rude. and. while there were many
not OF his political faith and some In
his own party some years ago who
called him "Ben" with something Of a
Eneer. the attitude toward him which
prompted that no longer exists lie
still brandIshes the pitchfork when be
feels like IL. bat for all that he is now
regarded with little less than affection
by many IN Washington who had little
use for him personally a few years
ago, and whom he still violently op-
poses politically
For Joe" Bailey. personally. no
matter how positively at odds any one
who knows him may be with his poll
ties. there is genuine respect Ja lle
part of everybody
There IS regret, however. that he has
no better command over his temper, a
regret which he shares with the rest
OF the world. as he has personally de
clarcd. II was his impetuous physical
attack upon Senator Beveridge that
made Bailey decline the formal minor
fly leadership In the Senate after he
fairly won II on the ground that he
wasn't ''amlable enough" and that
prevented him from being raised 10 the
place again after the death Of Senator
German OF Maryland last spring.
II Is only fair TO say that he was the
leader OF his party on the floor OF the
Senate virtually. II not in name, dur
ing all the last session.
You may have seen Tillman face 10
face or from the Senate gallery; nine
strangers IN ten at Washington ask
that he be pointed out to them as
soon as they get into the gallery But
II YOU haven't seen him here's a de-
scription;
He Is of middle height and rather
stout His features are rugged, deep
lined and harsh in outline He has
rather a hooked nose. a strong mouth
and a chin that suggest bulldog firm
ness, or is it obstinacy? Lowering
brows and the empty socket Of HIS left
eye add 20 an expression that is al
most sinister when his face Is in re
pose. He scowls habitually, at least
It SO seems. yet his smile is gentle
and sunny.
On the floor his gestures are un-
graceful and violent; his voice, de-
spite his Southern accent. is loud and
nasal He seems subject TO none of the
of a matter by the most direct route.
and I'm the words that first offer them
selves, In utter disregard for the con-
ventions or the sensibllities of others.
He wears slouch hat black and
broad-hrimmed, dented and pulled
down heavily shading his face.
THE REAL BEN TILLMAN.
Ihls Is the Ben" Tiuman whom the
punHc Knows Away from the Senate
ne Is different man. The same TIL
man VINO revels in a battle on the.
-oor' who rushes into debate with a
yell who delights in stirring the ami
mas up as he styles it. steals away
from the scene of strife 10 his small
committee room and dictates long let
ters TO the managers Of his farms. He
directs what helds are 10 he nut IN
cotton, what fields in corn. he gives
explicit instruction as 10 the GRATING
of the fruit trees (Jhe onlv lir5 ~
graft he stands for). the pruning OF
the vines. the care OF the hoez Pate
bills may langu!sh for the time. ,bs
Eations foreign policy-let the otto,
flows fight Il out, For the time beJ,s