The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03
DeScendS from Chair to Laud
Late Senator German.
T0WNE GRILLs "MUCKRAKERS"
Declares Their Function Not That of
Criticism-TaIbOtt Says Dead Lesis-
clare Congress Must Deal with
the transportation Problems.

his rOstrum of state yesterday afternoon
and moralized on men and reputation.
The occasion was a memorial service in
the House in honor Of former Senator
Arthur 2. German. and In paying tribute
TO Mr.. Germans worth Mr. Cannon took
occasion to say a good word also for the
living men who make the nations laws,
but whose services are not, apparently
appreciated by the country.
THE Master" observed Mr. Cannon,
said on one occasion, when one who
ought to have accompanied Him gave as
his excuse that his father was dead and
he must needs 80 and bury him. Let the
dead bury the dead And as the life of a
generation, on an average, is under forty
years, this rule must necessarily be OBJ
served. Otherwise. the world would be
one vast house Of mourning, and the race
would not make progress. And yet the
crossing over begets sorrow. mourning
and regret. and the practice grows Of
paying a tribute where it is deserved to
those who have crossed over.
I had many years OF service in. the
House corresponding 10 the service OF
Senator German I'm the Senate. / became
very Wen acquainted with him personal
". as well as in a legislative capacity. sly
serviqk upon the House Committee on APP
propriations and his service upon the
Senate Committee on Appropriations
brought me almost constantly in asso,ia-
ton with him.
Il could bear cheerful testimony, If 4
4
without my bearing such testimony. how
ever-that he brought TO his work in "a
remarkable degree sincerity of purpose
and a desire for service to the people Of
the United States in his legislative ca
paclty He not only brought great IN
Itelligence. great culture. great knowledge,
great integrity, but he also brought great
industry.
Creation of Public Sentiment,
Legislative duties IN both House and
Senate are somewhat varied. There IS
a sentiment throughout the country, 20 bee
/ conserved or created. and it is very I'm
portant, indeed, from the party stand
point and from the standpoint of the best
interests Of the republic that there should
be just ana correct sentiment, that IS
frequently nurtured. sometimes. I may
say. created. by the debates in the two
bodies, publicity being given by the press.
There the man who abOunds in Oratory,
with fitting words to clothe the ideas
that he may have, becomes valuable
But. after all with the newspapers
universal. I think the capacity to discuss
public questions. as compared with the ca
pacity to understand public business, and
without display or oratory, consider it,
where one is in condition to assist ma
terially in its transaction. perhaps. is a
more valuable factor than the other fac
tor or creating public sentiment ] do not
aim 70 minimize either Of these factors.
Senator German as a debater was strong
and forceful and clear, but in my judg-
ment, his ability, his tact, his industry.
and his knowledge in the conference room
touching daily transactions in legislation
were, 10 say the least, equal TO his ability
as q debater.
Sometimes it is fashionable in the
country, II We cannot think OF anything
else to say, 10 cartoon, or 20 put a
humorous little bit in the newspapers. If
they need a stickful. sometimes a fling
with or without malice as 1t may be. at
the Congress Of the United States We
are not all SoIOmons in either the House
or the Senate. nor are we all Websters,
nor are we all Germans
But, measuring my words after some
length Of service in the House of Repre-
sentatives. and in contact with the Sen
ate. I believe these two great bodies, in
their personnel, average the picked men
Q
time because most of the valuable service
that a Senator OF a Representative per
forms for the republic is a service of
which the world does not know.
Do Not Try to Understand.
Frequently. the average reader, being
interested in other matters touching the
acquiring Of his daily bread and perform
ing his duty as a private citizen, if he
reads about it at all, does not understand.
OF does not take the trouble to under
stand. It is not interesting. In other
words, as the common expression is, it
viii not read itself without effort. Meas
uring my words, in my Judgment, this
great son of Maryland who has crossed
over. in his splendid and magnificent serv-
ice in the Senate of the United States, is
entitled to more credit for the things that
never caught the public attention than
he IS for the magnificent service which
commanded the public attention and the
public approval.
II said a moment ago that the average
life of a generation is under forty years.
An old epitaph in Cheltenham church
yard puts into the mouth of an infant
who died at the age Of three weeks the
couplet:
II / am soon done for,
/ wonder what was begun for,
And it seems that ali of us at times feel
like asking that question. But We are so
situated that while we do stay such is
the necessity for effort that We may live
and be subsisted, and care for those Of
the household and those who are to fol-
low. and TO pay our debt to civilization
from the standpoint of nOtOriety and from
the standpoint of an honest desire to per
form our function and do our part we are
content TO do the best we can; and when
the end comes. in my judgment, that man
is q happy man who has been in public
life who can say, Well. it is now be-
hind me, but in my day. to the best Of