Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-20
Aumurans Department.
Congressional Stories.


Senator Frazier of Tennessee tells
his stories in the committee rooms and
cloak rooms while his colleague, "Fid-
ding Bob" Taylor saves his for the
stump. AS a result the formers eff
forts have been dwarfed by the greater
circulation given to Taylor's narratives.
In the senate committee on military
affairs. however, Senator Frazier is
rated as one of the best story tellers
in congress.
The other day a group Of senators
were discussing the laws of various
states relating to pardons. Senator
Overman remarked that in many states
pardon restores the convict to full cit
izenship.
THAT is true in Tennessee" said
Senator Frazier. Il remember that /
had it called to my attention in a pc
culiar way. Just before l was elected
to the governorship for the second time
I received a letter from young Irish
man who was serving a ten-year SEN
tence in the penitentiary on charge
of manslaughter. He said he had six
months yet to serve, but that if he
were pardoned before that time he
would not lose his vote. He closed his
letter by saying: I am a Republican,
but IL am pardoned before the COM
ing election 1 will take great pleasure
in voting for YOU
AS the Tennessee senator showed no
indication of continuing, Senator
Lodge called attention to the fact that
It had not been made clear whether the
young man received his pardon. When
the laughter which greeted this per-
tinent inquiry had subsided, Senator
Frazier said:
well, I will answer that by telling
you q story on Old BIZ Cullum. an
uncle Of Senator Cullum Of Illinois, and
a great friend Of Henry Clay. 1 got
this from w. B. Burnett Of Knoxville,
formerly assistant general counsel OF
the Southern railway. Burnett says
that old Bill used to visit the courts,
before the days of railroads in the
mountains Of Tennessee on horseback,
and his immense saddlebags attracted
a great deal of attention. Cullum
guarded these bags pretty closely and
took them into the court room with
him. AS he rode away one day his
fellow lawyers showed curiosity as to
what the bags contained and did not
hesitate to ask.
"'Old Bill looked at his questioners
a moment and then said: IF you must
know, why I carry two volumes on
criminal law on this side indicating
the left bag and on the right side 1t
is nobody's d-n business what 1 car
ry.'"
It is needless to say that Senator
Frazier's colleagues caught his point.
Another story told by Senator Fra
zier was Of the only attempt ever made
to bribe him since he has been in pub
lie life While he was governor an old
negro nanny besought him to par
don her son who was serving short
term in the penitentiary. Finally she
asked If there was anything she could
do to get him to grant the pardon. The
governor promised to look into the
case.
During the conversation the negress
fumbled in an old stocking which evil
IDENTIFY contained money. She turned 1t
upside down on the governors desk
and out rolled lot of small change,
and she asked If that would be any in
ducement, remarking at the same time
that there was almost 81 there.
well, do you know" said Senator
Frazier, in telling the story, Il was so
dumbfounded l hardly knew what to
say. Finally said: Nanny, you
ought not to offer me that money,
whereupon she enclaimed: My Gawd,
Governor it's all Use got New York
Times.