The Washington herald., 1908-03-09

"a soon after he left the
~ University OF Virginia.
06mwMam He IL b, began a1,,, the s oongig study
OF private reading at home. and was
licensed to practice in 1863.
He devoted himself, closely 10 the prac-
tice of his profession, and, with the ex-
ception of a few appointive Offices, had
never been a candidate for any political
Office. State or national. until elected TO
the United States Senate. Senator Mar
tins first election was in 1888 and the
six years following March 1. 1855. when
be took his seat, were devoted TO his
State and constituents.
Before the expiration OF his first term
a number OF candidates sprang up 10
succeed him. prominently among them
Gov. Montague. The contest before
the people was full OF excitement. and
the various opposing candidates were loud
in their claims of victory.
Senator Martin did not say much. but
while the others were shouting he was
getting votes with the result that when
II was all over and the smoke had cleared
away he had won In a walk. There is
less printed about Senator Martin than
about almost any other public man. but
ne doesn't care. he goes along in the
same old way. His important commit
tees are Commerce. District OF Colum-
bla, Claims, and Naval Affairs
Representative Bourke Cochran. Of New
York, is one OF the orators Of the House.
Almost every one In any way connected
with that splendid institution upon the
hill knows that Mr.. Cochran is one Of the
great speakers who are now playing poll
ties through the Congressional Record
Being an orator himself. Mr. Cochran
likes to hear the rhetoric OF Others.
whether they be Democrats or Repub-
licans, When he is interested in a sub
ject under discussion. Nr Cochran leans
forward attentively in his seat. turns
toward the speaker, and becomes alb
sorbed IN listening.
At times. however. the :umultuOus
House foFgets the courtesy due 20 speak
ers and resolves itself into a committee
OF the whole House for the making Of
noise. Then Mr.. Cockrans otherwise ur-
bane countenaEce gathers upon IL a frown
or vast proportions he taps the air
nervously with his eyeglasses for per-
haps a minute OF two. thinking no doubt
what rank lack Of propriety is being dis
played all about him. Finally he loses
all patience, turns toward the chairman
and. in his best English accent, he says,
incisIveIy:
"Cawn't we have order. Mr. Chair
man2''
There is large painting OF the battle
Of Gettysburg adorning the bare walls OF
a former committee room in the House
terrace which attracts quite a bit OF at
tention from visitors 70 the Capitol.
Among several recent admirers OF the
painting. which depicts the climax OF the
greatest battle OF one Of the grtatest
wars OF history. were several Indians.
The braves looked upon the painting.
where meH in blue and men in gray are
fighting about scores OF cannon
At last Indian stoicism gave way 10
the emotions called I'D by the carnage
there depicted, and one of them began 10
talk volubly-for an Indian-in words
which were not quite understandable 70
the white men present
After the gutturals and gesticulations
had been occupying the visible Indian
scenery for several minutes, curiosity
seized upon the whites, and one OF them
asked an interpreter VINO was present
what was being said
They say" said he, heap too much
night there
Ever since Senator Hale. Of Maine. con
Quoted the questioning Of Admiral Wash
ington Lee Capps, chief Of the Bureau of
Construction. about the building OF Amert-
can battleships, there has been much ad-
miration for the latter as an officer who is
"on the Job" There have been more
or less ribald remarks on the side about
several other navy witnesses. but none
about Admiral Capps.
Men say the admiral has a mind that
works as regularly and as strongly as
the travelling beam Of a steam engine
His mien is stern. and people who call TO
see him are likely 10 feel that the at
mosphere is frigid- This is explained by
the fact that when the admiral is work
ing he viii not allow his mind 10 be
diverted from the proposition in hand
~~N+iAiH t%**NN tANNkNf II - NNiGkNNf tU Will
not laugh at a joke or listen to a jeu
d esprit After AS0 p m. however. or
before 8 a. m, he is more attentive
10 the iovial trivialities OF human kind
and on occasions has been known 10
laugh as though his sides would split
Senator Bryan. Of Florida. is still con-
fined to a hospital The youngest Senator
has had rather a gloomy experience since
he was appointed TO the United States
Senate to MI the unexpired term OF the
late Senator Mallory.
Soon after coming to Washington he
suffered an attack Of malaria. and he
had hardly recovered. when he was suick-
en- with typhoid fever. II has taken
mild form, but mas kept him away from
the Senate for several weeks.
Up TO the time he was obliged 10 lake
to bed Senator Bryan was constant IN bis
attendance at the Capitol he has not
made a set speech, but on several oc-
casions has entered into the debates, and
each time gave evidence of his ability as
debater and of the fact 1hat he is
well informed on questions Of importance.
He is a fine example of the yoU2ger
class OF statesmen who have recently
sprung into the limelight, ever ready for
the fray, but always full Of Difference for
the older and wiser heads.