Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-24
SENATOR WHO WORKS
Unoratorioal Mr.. Crane of Mas
sachusetts Does Things.
CHECKMATING HIS COLLEAGUE
Activity" as Applied to Messrs. Piatt
and Dcpew--Neither Takes Any Part
In Leg islative Work-Mr. MeEnsry
Misses His Ear Trumpet.
BY CHARLES w. ARTHUR.

Miesos His Ear Trumpet.
BY CHARLES w. ARTHUR.
Washington, Jan. %. - tSpecial] -
Senator Crane Of Massachusetts, prob
ably has forged to the front more rap
idly than any new Republican senator
in recent years. The Democrats had
an Illustration of the same sort Of
progress in the case Of Senator Bailey
Of Texas, whose constitutional speech
on the plan TO expel Senators Tillman
and McLaurin Of South Carolina be-
cause of their personal encounter on
the floor made him a prominent figure
before he had been in the upper house
more than q few weeks. The analogy
between the Texan and the Massa-
chusettsan ends there, however. Mr..
Bailey Is admitted to be one of the
nblest orators In the senate, while Mr..
Crane has never made a speech. Mr..
Bailey is big and striking in appear
ance, while Mr.. Crane ls small Of stat
ure and not particularly prepossessing.
Talked Of az Leader.
But the ability Of the junior sena
TOR from Massachusetts to cline up"
the senate has brought him such re-
nown that he Is already talked Of as
the leader Of the majority in the upper
house In the place of Senator Aldrich
Of Rhode Island. On many occasions
during the rate bill fight last session
he brought into play his remarkable
talent for reconciling differences and
bringing people together. He knew
practically every member of both
more than few weeks, and he won
many friends by always remembering
names and faces.
How Crane Bested Lodge.
Mr.. Cranes most recent performance
in the way Of ascertaining sentiment
In the senate was in connection with
the move for an investigation Of the
Brownsville incident by the committee
on military affairs. Mr.. Lodge, Mr..
Cranes colleague. had offered sub
stitute resolution the effect Of which, II
adopted, would have been to put the
senate on record as declaring that the
president acted within his legal and
constitutional rights in discharging The
negro troops and thus removing that
point, concerning which there has been
so much controversy. from the field Of
discussion. Mr.. Lodge. who. as every
body knows. is the presidents spokes-
man in the senate. was certain that O
majority would support his substitute
and that 1t would be adopted. Mr.
Crane went to him and told him he
was wrong. Mr.. Lodge was incredu
lous, but when he Investigated he
found that Mr.. Crane had lined up
the senate very quietly and knew ex
actly what he was talking about. Lat
err Mr.. Crane was largely instrumental
In getting the Republicans together or
another substitute.
Activity Of Plat and Depew.
Correspondents Of New York news
papers are inclined to poke fun at the
two senators from that state. Neither
Mr.. Plat nor MIR. Depew has been In
his seat more than n few days this
I session. They have taken little or nc
part in the legislative work. A day or
two ago one correspondent sent his
paper a dispatch commenting on the
marked activity of the two Some
little space was devoted to general re
marks relating to the hard labors OF
| the senator's. but in the last line o,
two II was shown that Mr.. Platt had
asked to have the report Of n certain
meeting printed and that Mr. Depew
had offered an unimportant resolution
That was all. Mr.. Depew appears tc
be in much better health than he was
| last spring Mr.. Plat Is quite feeble
He totters rather than walks, and he
never attempts to move about without
the assistance Of one Of his attendants
Senator MeEnery's Cigar.
Another senator who IL not as active
physically as he might be and who
labors under the additional disadvan
tage of deafness 10 Mr.. MeEnery OF
Louisiana. The newfangled electrical
ear trumpet, which, locked in Senator
pettus' desk 4 few days ago, caused
50 much excitsnsn because Of III,
buxzing sound II produced. was Mr.
McEnery's originally. but Mr., Pettu
seemed to like II so we'll after trying I
thar the Louisianian told him to keel
it. Recently the correspondent Of New
Orleans newspaper sent his card In t.
Senator McEnery and the senato'
went out in the lobby to see him,
Have you any news, senatorr ask
cd the correspondent.
Whats that" said the senator, put
ting his hand to his car.
II say, have you any news?" shoute,
the newspaper man.
With n look that spoke volumes tn
senator reached into his pocket, pro
duced a cigar, showed 1t at the puz
Fled correspondent turned and Wen
back into the chamber.
"What do you think Of the nerve o
that fellow Blank he said to his col
league, Senator Foster. HE called m
clear out there into the lobby to asl
inc for clgar!''
Lover Of Bobby eurns.
Superintendent william r. Smith o
the national botanic gardens, whicl
ore located directly to the west of tn
capitol grounds, IL Scotchman and al
intense admirer of Robert Burns II