The Bottineau courant., 1906-02-16

Hepburn Bill embodies substantially
the recommendation Of the President,
and if it is not materially changed
by the Senate the country will receive
what it has demanded with a vigor
and unanimity seldom equalled in
matters of legislation. Ono of the re-
markable features of the debate in the
House on the bill was the attitude Of
four capable, scrupulous and distin.
guished republican members, toward
it. Sib;ey of Pennsylvania. G1osvenor,
of Ohio, Mccall, of Massachusetts,.
and Litlefeld, of Maine, criticised
and deprecated the bill. The last
named has long been regarded as one
Of the most trenchent opponents of
trusts aud combinations, and one of
the ablest defenders of popular rights
His opposition to the Hepburn Bill
is for that reason puzzling and incom-
prehensible, until .one realizes the
the motives which prompts his action.
He regards differentials as essential to
the prosperity Of New England, and
owing to their having long since been
established he regards them as vested
rights. The raw material for New
England mills must have special
rates to enable to manufacturers to
conduct their enterprises in competi
tion with mills nearer the field of
raw material as profit. His argu
ment for this reason was sectional and
provincial, and lacked in the states
manlike breadth of scope and univer-
salty of application which usually
characterizes the utterances of this
clear minded and courageous statesman.
Gen. Grosvenor announced his inten
tion to vote for the bill, but took oc
casion to criticise it in some particu-
lars. Mccall and Sibley were actuated
in their antagonlsm to the bill by
motives similar or identical to those
which prompted the course pursued
by the gentleman from Maine. On
Wednesday arguments were presented
bv some of the most eminent orators
in the House. Burke Cochran, Will
liams and Hepburn in turn held the
undivided attention and interest of
the House. There was thus an op-
portunity to compare the oratorical
iabllity of these gentlemen to sdyan-
tage. Cochran spoke first, and his
speech, in common with his speeches
generally. was witty, animated and
distinguished by remarkable fa-
cile diction, and an unusual readi-
ness of command of language. His
grasp of fundamental principles. his
mastery of logical treatment and
sincerely of purpose suffer in COM
parison with his more superficial
qualities as a popular speaker. Will
liams is clear and incisive, forceable
and logical, and his speech and con-
duct bear evidence of intense sincerity.
Hepburn s principal trait is vigor and
courage. The supercial and ornate
accessories of the calm and secluded
writer of classical orations are not
for him. He is in the heat of con-
fict, and his weapon is the bludgeon
and the broadsword. He employs
sarcasm with considerable effect when
he deems that a desirable implement
of ottense or defense. He is unique
and individual; there probably has
never been another of his kind, and
when this sturdy cd fighter surrenders
up his bludgeon to St. Peter (he will
never cease fighting until them there
will probably be permanent vacancy
where he stands.
The Patterson incident related in
my last letter was but one Of the in
itial events of dramatic series of
happenings in the Senate which
reached their climax on Wednesday,
when Senator Patterson, taking um-
brage at the action OF the democratic
caucus proceedings discussed it's action
on the floor of the Senate to the edif-
cation and interest of an eager public
which thronged the galleries, and fel.
low senator's. The Colorado senator
denounced in scathing terms the at.
tempt to muzzle him and to rob him
of his independence of speech and ac.
tion, despite the exigencies of party
politics and the demands of discipline
within the party. While he is not
possessed Of great oratorical ability his
remarks were attentively listened to,
owing to the interest felt in the sub
iect. matter. Senator Bailey spoke
in defense of the democratic party
against its democratic detractor. Mr..
Bailey is one Of the most brilliant
mon in Congress, and his reply, which
consisted largely in eulogizing his
party, sustained his reputation as an
orator Of pecularily attractive qualities.
There was note Of pathos in his ap-
pearance, and he had for several days
prior thereto kept vigil at the bed
side Of his son. who had undelg gone
serious surgical operation, and the