Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01


WILLIAM PIERCE FRYE of Lewiston,
w Maine, stands foremost among his
colleagues of the Senate as a parliamentarian.
He served President pro tenn pore of the
Senate for many years prior to the election of
Fairbanks to the vice-presidency. Senator
Frye is a Yankee, which means a great deal.
He is clear-headed, quick-witted, energetic,
and tireless. Sometimes his natural prompt
ness is accelerated by flash of temper, but
his sense of hunor IS acute, and it saves him
from soreness when he is ruffled.
While Senator Frye was in the chair there
a constant undercurrent of wit, comment,
and quick despatch from him to his assistants,
unheard by the Senate or the galleries. Usu-
ally at the beginning of days session he was
exceedingly crisp of temper, and he attacked
the disagreeable morning business" with
almost savage Vi gor. Huge piles of petitions,
memorials, reports, bills, resolutions,
ference reports, and other business melted
quickly before him. Senators were forced to
closing morning business He recognized all
alike, usually with lightning quickneSs naming
the State from which the Senator hailed.
Once, however, he was puzzled. An obscure
Senator in the rear was awaiting recognition.
What State is that fellow from?' growled
Frye in an undertone to his invaluable sec
rotary. He's always slow"
The assistant instantly furnished the in
formation, the Senator was recognized, and
his business despatched without any per-
ceptible halt.
Among those who were almost invariably
late in presenting their morning business was
the present Vice-President. AT the last
moment he usually worked his way to his seat,
his hands full of papers, and courteously ad-
dressed the chair
"Oh, there comes Fairbanks after we're all
through" was Senator Frye's testy private
comment. Why can't he get here earlier?
He's always late. The Senator from indiana"
Another Senator who wore upon Fryes'
patience was Burton of Kansas who achieved
fame, or had it thrust upon him, as elo-
cutionist He was another late conner, and
when he rose after all other business had been
disposed OF and said, in rotund, Evolutionary
tone Mr.. President" it was all Mr. Frye
could do to hold his tongue. He often NUT
tered: There's that COMPOUNDED elocutionist
again, always late" But all that the Senate
heard was, in icy clearness: The Senator
from Kansas"
Senator Alice of Delaware, like Zaccheus of
old, is no giant in stature. In order to offset
this handicap, he obtained front seat early in
his term. His down-sitting and his uprising
were so alike as to make no perceptible differ
ence in his attitude. On more than one occa-
sion, when Frye's eagle glance swept the
chamber, he saw Senator Alice with ex-
pectant look on his face and papers in his hand.
Then Frye would knit his brow and whisper
to his faithful secretary: That little man
from Delaware; is he standing or sitting?"
He is standing up Mr.. President, was the
reply;
The Senator from Delaware calmly re-
marked Frye.
The Senate to an outsider is a slow-going
body. But in fact it is busy place, and the
amount of business transacted in brief period
is sometimes astonishing Much of this ex-
petition was due to Senator Frye's personal
energy and alertness. He was never able of
course, to terminate debate; but there were
many corners that could be cut in other bust
ness, and he usually cut them For instance,
in the reading of a bill it was his custom to
remark soto Uoce to the reading clerk: Skip
through it n Skim itl' and a ffty-page bill
would be out of the way in two minutes.