The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-01-31
STONE REPLIES TO TILLMAN
~ Co. -
Senator's ibis Mere Pleasant
-sr>aS
ries and Did sNot Offend
Regrets .sTiIIman is ! to
49,
Retire as a HumoriSt

Washington, Jan. - Senator
Stone made his bow to the public as
humorist. The Missouri senator
had been exploited as minstrel in
the burnt cork effort OF Senator Till.
man Monday and he sought to make
good the promise In his behalf offer.
ed by the senator from South Caro-.
lima.
Through most OF the alleged fun
perpetrated by Tillman, Senator
Stone sat with his right hand cover
ing his face. Those in the galleries
supposed that he was embarrassed
at the personal references to himself.
But the senior senator from Mis-
souri,, In the executive session, dis
claimed any resentment at the sena-
tor from South Carolina Tor repro.
ducing William II. Phelps immortal
lines about "hiding the shells" or
the New York Suns equally familiar
Gum Shoe Bill"
The Mi .snuri senator began with
protest against cutting all the
Senate humOr out oi TN cpugres.
sional record. lie admitted that he
was as sensitive "a most men, but
nothing Senator Tillman had said
offended him.
"Wishout assuming to pass on the
merits of the senator's composition
or the timeliness OF his utterance,"
said Senator Stone. 81 regard what
he said as an effort at iacetiousness
and good-natured humor was not
offended, because | was sure that no
Offense was intended. | venture to
say that, except for the gravity with
which the Senate treated the incl
dent, no Importance would have
been attached to the deliverance.
The solemnity OF the Senate's action
gave to a trivial circumstance its
only dignity. could not have con-
graduated the senator for making
such speech In this presence, but
having made 1t, regret that it has
been eliminated from the record
and say this despite the opinions
to the contrary OF our older states
men whose judgement on senatorial
proprieties,L L regard as Ia duty
bound with delerence.
There is an old saying that:
"a little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the wisest men,"
II am not sure that | have the
quotation exactly right, but 1t Is
near enough right to answer. OF
course the properties OF debate
should be observed and the business
Of the Senate orderly conducted, but
I should hate to see the congression-
al record converted into sponderous
tome OF platitudes without q sparkle
of fun or fash OF humor to relieve
its dull monotony. II ever It Is to be
read by anybody except some pa
tient digger after serious data, there
must be something in It to tempt
the lips into smiling or the heart In.
to quicker beating.
"Although the first effort Of the
senator from South Carolina to be
humorous was not sshining success
Icannot but hope that he will aban
don bis announced resolution never
to try It again. The first effort
created such q stir In the Senate and
in the world that there is no telling
what he might accomplish with "a
tient practice and a little soitenine
OF bis tone. No one can measure tb'
possibilities Of the senator In thil
direction. II be adheres to his reso
luton to quit, who can tell what {
light the senator from Tennessee
(Mr. Csrmsck) and the Senate snui
fed out-a light, 1t may be, tina
would have warmed the world Int