The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-02
Very Few Senators Listen to the Arkansas Member During
 His Speech
DAVIS PAYS RESPECTS
 .TO NEWSPAPER MEN
Trusts Are Denounced Roughly and Senator Declares That Rockefeller and Morgan Should Be In-
 dicted For Treason.

Washington, May Especial )--Almost the entire Senate filed out of the chamber today when Senator Jeff Davis of Arkan- sas began his speech on the Octopus" At no time during it's delivery were there more than a half a dozen senators pres ent, and Senator Clarke of Arkansas was the only member to sit through the exhi- btion. He Is Senator Davis colleague and felt compelled to do so. Senator Davis inaugurated precedent by distrib- uting copies of his speech on the desks of senators in order that they might be able to keep up with his brand of oratory
 Senator Davis moved to discharge the committee on the judiciary from the fur ther consideration of his bill for 'the sup pression of trusts, pools and combina- tions in trade.' He spoke for about two hours, reading most of the time from d typewriter statement. which he had pre- pared in advance, that no incorporate language might escape his lips on this oc- eason,' thing which he said he had never done before.
 Reading his speech, he roughly de- nounced the trusts, commended the Presi- dents recent message outlining measures for relief, spoke of the removal of the motto "In God We Trust for the coins, and declared that John D. Rockefeller, the Standard oil company and J. Pierpont Morgan should be indicted for treason. He also paid his respects to the press, his remarks in that connection being as fol- lows
 Let the scavengers of plutoeraey howl. Truth, Gods living truth, where are its defenders? Miserable travesties upon noble manhood, post-graduates in all arts of islander or defamation, I challenge the subdzed press. The people know your designs and spurn your pretense, whether under show of argument or more servient hypocrisies. Go, damnable imps of pelf and greed, I defy your taunts. Tear to fragments my political career if it eomport with your execrable will. Stifle and dis tort my every utterance Not satisfied. if such be your brutal frenzy, lash my poor form into nsensibility.
 Then if it be your further pleasure, gnaw from my stiffening bones every vestige of quivering flesh. Howl in wretched bestiality through my own in- nocent blood as 1t drops from your fienG- ish visages Drag then, if you want, what remains Into the filth and the vermin of your foul dens and burn it on the altar of Baal or scatter it before the friendly winds of heaven to your betters-the car rion crows of the field. All that they may do, all and more, if there yet be open further depth of infamy to the pol luted besotted press.
 These ready servants of greed, what have they not done or attempted to fasten still more securely an autocracy upon us? It seems to be their special function not simply to pervert truth, but to threaten and terrorize public men. Dare a sen- ator align himself with the people? What? Yes, men, illustrious servants of the people, have lifted honest voices here and elsewhere against the march of plu- tocracy, to fall ambushed, politically as- sassinated and by whom? By the trusts wearing masks. Ah sir, newspaper masks But Mir. President. insignificant as am I, if my political career be marked, let them sharpen their blades for l will be here at the appointed hour and while here only God can stay my voice in behalf of organized united labor and the yeo- marry of America"