New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
JOHN ". GAINES IN ACTION,

There is only one John Wesley Gaines. First
in war first IN peace and first in the notebooks
of the House reporters This is an age of pub
licity. Sweet are the uses not of adversely, but
of advertising has become the motto of states
men, educators and even phlanthropists. But
of all practitioners of the gentle art of pro-
motion and exploitation the Hon. John Wesley
Gaines stands ever first and foremost In his
own picturesque language, he has the Hon. John
B. Moran and our Attorney General Mr..
Jackson worn 10 n fraZZle.' He is the Ella
RawlS Reader of national politics. the per-
suasive and compelling genius on whose nod
fame waits and whose supereminence is recog-
niZcd on five continents.
Truly sang the poet laureate of the House of
Representatives (Mr. Mann, we believe, or was
ii Mr.. Boutelle?),
John Wesley Gaines. John Wesley Gaines,
Thou monumental mass of brains.
But that was years ago before the full scope of
the Tennesseean's genius had been uncovered.
Mr. Gaines had then disclosed himself merely
man of thought not as man of action.
He was the student, the investigator, the
searcher after knowledge There he sat always
audience fit. though few-and digested and
analyzed the intellectual output Of his fellows.
What chairman of committee, struggling to
explain a bill, has not been fustered by that
clear gaze and confounded by that flow of com
ment and Interrogation? The confuter of halt
ing logic the demosher of faulty premises, 1t
had been Mr. GaineS'S triumphant function to
illuminate the speeches of practically all his
colleagues with helpful inteTjectiOns of pure
reason. There were envious detractors who said
that the Tennessee statesman had merely taken
an oath that no copy of The Congressional
Record" should ever appear which did not bear
witness to his industry and culture. But this
slander was refuted and the Tennesseean's
vyho rat fri when
recently introduced a bill intended to compel
each member Of the House. on penalty of for
feiting Sl3 40 day, to give similar evidence OF
critical activity to his admring constituents.
In the field of peaceful scholarship the Ten
nessee statesman's reputation has long been eS-
tablished. But, TO reverse the poets aphorism,
war hath her victories no less renowned than
peace. and 9Ir. Gaines evidently cnviouS OF
the double laurel. His encounter with Mr..
Mahon on Thursday stamps him a warrior
| about formidable with a good right arm rs
with an Interrogation point. We tremble To
think OF the tragic fate from which the offend
ing Mahon was spared when five of the acknowl-
edged physical giants Of the House succeeded in
interruptng the rush of its acknowledged intel
lectual giant toward his intended victim. But
the Pennsylvania Congressman still lives, and.
what IS better has lived long enough to cX-
change afrectionate embraces with the states
man whose sensiblities he had outraged. Wrath
has given way TO brotherhood and peace broods
again over the south wing Of the Capitol.
We admire Mr.. Gaines unqualifedy when
bellicose as when pacific lie is 50 intensely
modern. For him the Pickwicliian feud and the
bloodess duello. They are just rs effective for
advertising purposes and much less hazardous
and less wearing the brain tissue. Times
change and the order dispaces the old
Consider what might have happened in the be-
nj doYS q SpctiOnaliSm If Northern Con-
gressman had impugned the veracity of fiery
Southron Allah be praised there are other
methods now Of squaring such little differences
of opinion than assaulting colleague with
loaded cane or haIing him ont at dawn to the
Bladensburg duelling ground.