The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-12-09
CARMACk'S DEATH
SHOCKS NATION
The News Of His Tragic Ending
Caused Much Sorrow in
Washington.
WAS POPULAR IN CONGRESS
He Did Not Fear to Cross Swords
with the Best Debaters in
The House OF
Senate.
Special Correspondence

where outside of his own state of
Tennessee, did the recent tragic
death Of former Senator .Carmack
cause a shock so profound or regret
ESQ Keen and sincere. as here at the
national capital. During the ten
years of his congressional life, four
|of which were spent In the house
and six in the senate, the Washing
ton public came to know him well,
and no man was more popular in
congressional circles. The public did
|nct quite understand the cause of
his defeat .re-election, and it was
confidently expected that Tennessee
would send him back hero, at no
distant day, to resume the place in
the senate which he both honored
and adorned.
Senator Bacon of Georgia spoke
the universal judgment, recently,
when he said that Carmack was the
most brilliant man who had entered
the senate during his term of SER
vice there, covering more than twelve
year He did not fear at any time to
cross swords with the best debaters
I of that body, and as the congress
sional forces reassemble for the
oCSSlOu, Ills AduC 10 OtSCh ECCdlCu,
with expressions OF deep sorrow on
account of his untimely death and
frequent references are made to in
lcidents in which he. figured most at
tractiyely in the senate or house.
Senator Carmack once described
Roosevelt, when he had sent char
| acteristic message to congress, in
these words: THE president bears
lstriking resemblance, in his habit OF
speech, to my friends. Joe Ballan-
fant's horse, of which remarkable
ianimal 1t was said that running away
was it's most natural gait The Tenn
esseean found frequent ocassion td
idiffer from the president. and with
such effect that 1t had been asserted
the president contributed in some
degree to his defeat for reelection.
! Carmack once began reply to
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts with
the following bit of sarcasm: 1T is
a blessed thing, Mr.. President, when
the senator from Massachusetts, de-
tscends to earth with revelation
! for mankind"
He had the usual hot temper of
the red-haired man, which sometimes
blazed out in debate, but Senator
Carmack gave abundant evidence
from day to day. that he did not bear
malice. Dolliver,, OF Iowa. himself an
orator OF rare quality, once inter-
rupted Carmack in the midst of a
vigorous speech. and there was an
/ exchange of compliments between
them that made the senate and gal
leries sit up and take notice. Both
senators lost their temper, and hot
| words flew back and forth across
| the chamber for several minutes.
Dolliver said his say and sat down.
Carmack finished his speech, and
subsiding into his chair, sat for a
short time, absorbed in thought. Sud-
denly he rose, passed round the last
row of desks on the republican side
| of the chamber, approached Dolli-
yer, and proffered his hand. The
Iowan, taken by surprise, rose, took
the outstretched hand and the two
sat down and adjusted whatever per
sopal feeling had entered into the
debate.
| Carmack and Tillman became in
volved. most unexpectedly, in just
such controversy on another oc-
casion, and what followed be-
tween them was little too sharp
for enjoyment Carmack struck his
speech on that occasion from tae
Record and would not allow 1t to ap-
pear in print.
Carmack's entrance into congress
sional life was under unusual but
very favorable circumstances. He had
! beaten Josiah Patterson from the
Memphis district, as the regular NOM
inee of his party in 1896, Patterson.
who was the father of the present
governor of Tennessee and had repre-
sented the district for six years In
congress, opposed Carmack as gold
democrat, with republican support.
Being defeated, he contested Car
| mack's election, and the republicans
having the house, the public believed
he would surely be seated. Carmack
shared the same belief, but not In
the least cast down, he made one OF
the gamest fights ever seen in the
house. He closed the debate In his
own behalf with beautiful and bril-
liant speech. Notice he tone of his
Ibeginning:
"Mr. Speaker. 1t Is only matter
OF justice to my constituents. and
against my own inclination that
|