The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-03-07
Thrilling Climax to, Senator E. W. Car
maek'S Brilliant Ten-Year Con
reSSiOnal Record.
BY LOUIS BRowNLow.

Washington, D. O., March -Sena
tor Carmack closed his service in the
senate by killing the ipSubsidy bill
He delighted the senate by his brilliant
filibuster, and charmed even the ma
jority whose wishes he was thwarting.
Mr.. Carmaek began his service in
congress ten years ago, with brilliant
speech, which won him a sufficient
number of votes to hold his seat against
the late Josiah Peterson in the face Of
adverse committee report. He closes
his ten-year service today with the rep
utation of being the most brilliant man
in either house of congress. This opin'
ion is expressed by everybody, repub
lican and democrat alike, and there are
none who see him go but with regret.
Opponents of the Ship Subsidy meas
ure in the house and leaders of both
parties requested Mr. Carmack to take
up the fight in the senate and kill the
bill. Senator Oarmack has been con-
slant enemy of subsidy legislation, and
he accepted the commission. He did
the work. The opening portion of his
long speech yesterday kept the senate
and the galleries in roars of laughter.
Senator Gallinger, upon whom Mr..
Carmack made sarcastic attack, was
as red as a beet with laughter. Mr..
Spooner banged his desk, and in quiet
intervals stole over to Mr.. Carmack to
make suggestions. Secretary Taft sat
across the aisle from the first hour or
two, and held both his sides, The
vice president was laughing, too, and
made but feeble efforts to quiet the
galleries. Mr.. Carmack's was the only
face not wreathed in smiles, and he
was as solemn as an owl. His champi-
ship of Webster's dictionary as the
standard upon definition of words, and
his attack upon the Century dictionary
as a partisan republican organ may
have been prolix, but it was funny.
Always leave them laughing wher
you say goodby," is the advice Of 6
once popular song which Mr. CarmacA
took literally, There was no bitterness
nor acerbity, no harshness in hit
speech. 1t was all good-humored, ant
the only unpleasant feature of the day
the interruption by Senator Frye, O
Maine, was brought forth by Senator
Tillman, and not by anything which
the Tennessean had said
The esteem in which Mr.. Carmacl
is held even by those who are his polit
ical enemies is indicated by remarl
made yesterday by Senator Lodge, o
Massachusetts,, next friend to Mr.
Roosevelt. He said
"Carmack is the best equipped maj
for running debate in the senate. 1t
q pity we must lose him.
The admiration for him on the demo
cratic side is set forth in what Senate
John t. Morgan, the grand old man 0
Alabama, said:
II regard Carmack as the creates
democrat who has had seat in thi
body in my time, over quarter of
century. There was time when
regarded Dan Voorhees, as the mos
brilliant senator, but Carmack is hi
equal in every way, and his superior il
many"
On every hand one hears the wisI
expressed that Carmack may re
turn to the senate some time in the flu
ture. To this sentiment Senator Oar
mack says nothing. Whatever actor
he may take in the future, it is certain
that at this time he has no political am
bition, ard is not candidate for an,
Office.
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