The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-10
OF the Most Important Legislation Which
Has Come Before the United States
Senate in Years.
He is Practically the Leader of the Forces
That Are Contending For Effective
Rate Legislation.

There will bo no juggling to death
OF this railroad rate bill. There will
be no smuggling of things into 1t that
will render Il Ineffective. 1t will go
through the Senate and the republicans
will have to support 1t. Woe. woe to
them II they do not! Public opinion
in this country is more profoundly
stirred up over this whole question of
aggression by the railroads than I have
ever known 1t to be stirred. This is us
true of New England and of the West
as it is of my own State. know what
l am talking about from the number
OF letters receive making suggestions
and requests on this subject. They
are coming in from every section and
in great numbers. and all indicate a
feeling that tremendous injustice is be-
ing done and that the rights OF the
public are being trampled on"
So spoke Senator Benjamin r. Till
man. Of South Carolina. to Il corre-
spondent of the New York Herald, who
sought his views with reference to the
great sensation of the times, the
championing Of the measure Of n re-
publican President by IL conspicuous
member of the opposite party, who
does not even 80 to the White House
| and perhaps would not shake hands
with the President il he met him.
1t was the real Tillman who was
talking-Tillman the truculcnt, Tillman
the terrible. and yet withal Tillman the
tactful and Tillman the tactical: tact
full and tactical because Of the re-
sponsibilitics Of Republican leadership"
resting upon his shoulders. He sat in
the room OF the Committee of the Five
Civilized Tribes of Indians Of which,
perhaps appropriately enough. he is
chairman. The chairman of that COM
mittcc Is civilized now. Tho room is
just off the Senate Library and just
beyond the Senate document room. He
sat at desk filled with public papers.
nll arranged neatly and in order. He
terruptcd.
A striking figure was Senator Till
man as he sat ut his desk, his elbow
resting on n pile Of open law books
and his clear cut face silhouetted
against the window pane. His profile
was rs sharply defined as cameo.
The loss Of his left eye has disngured
that side of his otherwise strong face.
Crisp black hair surmounts q head that
is almost flat on top. but has a rear
ward development indicating good
stock Of brain matter. The lips. which
are rather thin, have n tendency to
snarl when the speaker is wrought up
in the passion OF debate. 1t is the snarl
of the trained fighter. not of the wild
beast. Those who have seen that snarl
on Senator Tillman's lips during some
of the most dramatic and passionate
episodes of his career say that it con-
veys more of contempt ana defiance
than they have ever seen depicted on
another human face.
But on the occasion described +,
seemed almost that new Tillman
was talking. He was quiet. argu-
mentative. emphatic and at the same
time considerate of the opinions OF
others. Stiil, on important points he
was dogmatic.
i How is the rate controversy going
to terminate in the Senate?" he was
asked.
I'm my. opinion there is only one way
In which it can terminate" was Senator
Tillman's reply. 1T will terminate
successfully for those who are seeking
to curb the railroads. I have beer
placed in charge Of this bill and it 1,
going to have the support of demo.
cratic votes. think 1t is going t.
have democratic support more solidl,
than any Of us here in the senat.
would have believed possible q few
weeks ago. OF course. nobody Is bound
slavishly to follow the terminology o.
this Hepburn bill. There are thing,