The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-11-11
Carmack Warned.

MINUS VI DunCdn u. cooper was 'hV
cause Of the assassination. After
the appearance of the editorial,
Across the Muddy Chasm." in Sun
days Tennessean. word came to Sem
ator Carmack that IL he used Coop
er's name again in his paper Cooper
would shoot him on sight
Senator Carmack refused to be
dictated to. declaring he would not
show "the white feather" and an
editorial. "The Diplomat of the
zweibund." followed Monday morn
ing. Neither editorial was vicious.
nor did either reflect upon Coopers
honor. But both were models of
Senator Carmack's brightest efforts.
scintillating with wit, sarcasm and
ridicule. .nu.i
Immediately after the papeFo was
on the streets many WARNINGS cam,
to Senator Carmack that Cooper in
tended to XIII him on sight. Senator
Carmack replied to all that he had
done or said nothing which would
justify the taking of human life.
laps G. McCord, Jr.. city editor
OF the Tennessean. Is quoted as say
ing that several friends of the sen
ator had advised him to be careful
To all these admonitions the senator
replied that he did not intend to
show the white feather" Mr.. Nc
Cord said also that in replying t.
these admonltions Mr.. Carmack had
remarked that he did not think Col.
Cooper intended to harm him.
Friends. however. insisted that he
arm himself, and finally prevailed
upon him TO carry a revolver.
Carmack's Brilliancy.
IL was when Carmack was editor
OF the Memphis Commercial that the
Farmers Alliance took whirl in
politics and seriously threatened the
Democracy OF the Democratic party
|; looked as though the Ocala mani
festo was to become the platform OF
/ the Tennessee Democracy That did
not suit Carmack, and he threw
down the gauntlet. He wrote exact
y ike he spoke. Eyerybody who
had heari him I'm the senate recog-
nized his editorials against the
agrarian movement.
Described the Riotous Scenes.
He admitted that It had an honor
able origin. for Its first meeting was
presided over by King David In the
Cave OF Adullum. He described the
riotous scenes which attended the
birth of the Populist party. and said
they had started to build Babel
Tower to the political heaven. and
we're smitten with confusion OF
tongues. that their convention was
composed OF numerous cranks. each
with his separate plan OF salvation
which they all threw into a common
pot and stirred together. There
had never been such a stew since
Macbeth's witches dance their in
formal can-caR on the basted heath
and then he described the Popuhst
dance about the boiling cildrons.
with Mrs Lease in the part OF He
cate. and quoted the well-known
lines OF Shakespeare;
Round about the caldron go;
In the poison'd entrars throw. etc.
Hal there been Carmack In
every state the Democracy might
not have quaffed that witches. b,onh
at Chicago IN 1896.
A National Figure.
II was not unit, the second session
OF the FifN-hfth congress was some
months Old that Carmack became q
national figure. He had a seat in
that congress. and Il was contested
by JOSIAH Patterson. The house was
Overwhelmingly Republican. and the
committee had reported against Car
mack. II was apparently a hopeless
case. Patterson was a sound money
man. and had served several terms
in the house. He was a man OF
ability and not at all ashamed OF the
fact. On the contrary, he was proud
OF 1t, and boosted OF II. The chiv-
airy and gratitude OF the Republican
party were enlisted in his behalf
Carmack's case was managed with
consummate skill. The drollery OF
John Allen was brought TO bear 10
laugh old Josiah out of court. and
the case for his side was closed bs
Carmaol0 himself IN a speech OF
great e,oquence and power Ridi-
cue and invective bristled In SIS
every paragraph. Il was one of the
very few speeches 10 which Thomas
p. Reed listened with delight Pat
terson's strongest partisans were
nov dlled with rage and now con-
vulsed with laughter. The opening
sentences serve as examples OF Car
mack's captivating literary style:
Whatever may be the action OF
this house II will be but trlhing in
cident IN the oountry's history. anu
of no transceDdeut importance even
in my own. Whle the world stanis
every day viii have its morrow. and
am not yet so Old that need grew
for the event of one little hour. II
this term in congress represented 10
me. as possibly 1t does to another.
the last floating fragment Of a ship
wrecked ambition. | might clutch at
1t with desperate eagerness aud con
70. .