The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-06-19

the ear. He began. "rhe gentlemen
who have preceded me, like myself,
terminate their political careers March
1. nex,." This brought general laugh
from the crowded galleries, and he
continued. unlike myself, however.
they are now haunting the White House
crooking the pregnant hinges of the
knee. that thrift iray follow fawning."
He then proceeded to literally take the
hides off Messrs. Bragg. Warner and
Vleie, to the great delight OF the friends
OF the dependent pension bill.
His seat was filled by a Democrat in
the next three Congresses. but by 1898
his District had come to its senses
again ard Pete Hepburn was reelected,
and he has been coming ever since. He
has now nearly 10 years to his credit
in the National Halls of legislation, and
unless he is Oslerized out OF office, will
pr ooanly stay there till death wants
a shining mark, and where will il find
a brighter?
Col. Hepburn is known as the hard
est hitter in the house-with words,
you know. Really, it might not be
good thing to run up against his fist,
any more than it was his saber in the
long age, but he is not a man of
buster He just rams facts down your
throat till you are choked or cry
enough" The way he slings the solid
words in the English language is ter
ror to the demagogue. There Is no en-
broidery; you never see frill on any
OF his speeche es-but, nod, that is
scarcely true, Tor no man can better
make mental pictures than he-pictures
rich in pathos, with a word imagery
that is exquisitely fine even to the
slightest detail; but it is not often that
he is so moved to talk When some
members of Congress talk you know
you are going to get whipped syllabub
and cream, angel food, and "jell." But
when Pete Hepburn talks You know
you are going to get rich, juicy old
roast beef with trimmings all done to a
delicious brown, and something that
you can feed your soul on, as well as
your mentality He has voice that
is a joy to hear. 1t reaches to every
part of the big House, and his enuncia-
ton is perfect. He never clips word,
nor a syllable. His English Is choice,
and he displays a wide grasp Of all
subjects, while his field of literature
has evidently been planted with the
classics.
When he talks the House listens. He
hates hypocrisy and sham; he despises
make-shifts and by-ways in legislation
For Civil Service as it is administered
he has the profoundest contempt, and
his one stock speech is always made
against Civil Service.
Just now Col. Hepburn stands pre-
emiaent in the eyes of the people be-
cause of the great Railroad Rate bill
which in every detail as presented by
him pleased President Roosevelt.
Like most of his kind, Col. Hepburn
is gregarious. He loves the company
Of whule-souled man; he tells rarely
good story in dry way, but there Is
twinkle i'm his hazel eyes which shows
that he appreciates humor. He is moi
a society man. While he wears even
ing clothes as though to the manner
born, he does not like them. He was
ed-headed once, and freckled away
back there when he was drawing III:
inspiration for the coming years, wad
ing barefoot in the damp lush buftal'
grass on the prairies, but his hair II
almost white now and thinning JUS
a little where he is going barefoot oi
the top of his head. "Old Pete Hep
burn is 73 years young, not old, ant
Iowa will hunt a long time to find hi
equal when he goes hence. To th'
veterans he has always been towe
of strength. He has believed in TN
widest latitude for pensions; his ever!
energy has been bent in that direction