The Washington times., 1908-11-10
WAS LIVENED
WHEN CARMACK TALKED
Dead Man Was Well Liked the Despite His Tongue
Given Scratching Imectve-Many Not
Used o Being Moved by PRAISED lin.

No man who has come 10 Congress In
recent yearF, in a comparatively brief
career in that body, has so filled the
public eye and attracted such notice
/ from his colleagues as Edward Ward
Carmack OF Tennessee. who has just
been stricken down by an assassin's but
let on the streets of Nashville.
Few men have served in either house
Of Congress wao could handle them
selves in debate more readily or more
forcefully than Carnack. He was stm
young man. in The very prime OF mis-
powers.
He was born in Sumner county, Tenn,
HIty years ago. In fact, he celebrated
his hfueth birthday only last week. He
was not co!lege-bred man. He received
an academic education and then studied
law and began practicing at Columbia,
IN MS home State. He practiced for
out a short time, when he entered news
paper work. and it was at the bar and
in the editorial room that he acquired
that v.triolic facility IN the use of Eng
ilsh that made him a marked man In
Congress, almost from the moment he
set his fcoC inside the House door.
Could Talk as Well.
NJ. Carmack had the rare facuIty Of
being able % use his tongue as huently
as ne could use his pen. He was a
genius IN word painting, and his oppo-
nents found his gift Of witherinq sar-
caSm ana rIdiCUle something TO be
iooHed Tor on the slightest provocatfon
and something 10 be dreaded. Tbara
we're no duh moments about the Senate
Wiiea CasmacA spoke. II notice had
been given in advance that he wouId
speak, the galleries were sure TO he
crowded, and none vent away disan-
pointed.
MI CarmscE began his service in
congress % member OF the Fifty
nttL House He was editor OF the
memphis Commercial when he was
e!ected TO the House from .he Memphis
district. IN 1886 He had previously been
delegate 10 the Democratic national
convention and in the 1895 CamDaign he
supported with strong editorials the
cause or Bryan and free silver. He
round his election contested bv JOsia h
PATTERSON, father Of the present gov
efnor OF Tennessee. Patterson had rrD
az soid Democrat, and maintained he
was elected The House Committed on
Elections reported i'm favor of seating
Patterson, and IL was In connection
with this report that the young lawyer
editor took the lower branch of Con-
CarmaCk Takes Floor.
When the report was presented. Car
mack took the floor in his own behalf
and delivered himself OF a speech that
was filled with eloquence. ridicule. and
sarcasm. His jibes at his opponent,
Patterson, were fatal. They made the
House double up with laughter. and
when the time came for a vote. though
the Republicans on the committee had
oeen responsible for the report IN favor
or Patterson. many Republicans voted
on the Carmack side and the decision
or the Elections Committee was re-
Nersed. His feuOw-Democrat were as
founded at the outcome. They had sup
posed that CaTmaCk had not the ghost
of a chance of being seated. as Repub-
llcan SympdthieS were naturally with |
the Gold Democrats. This was In 1897
and from that time on, for the next ten |
years the daShng, eloquent Tennes-
sean commanded notice among his col /
leagues.
After four years service IN the House
Mr. CdrmaCk was elected to the Senate /
Tor the term beginning March (, 1901 To 4
the deep regret OF most Of his fellow /
Senator's. he served but one term in the 1
upper house
Liked in Senate.
Despite his sharp tongue. that often I
was given over to the keenest and most (
scathing inyective, he had a capacity !
for good-feuowship that made him one /
Of the best-hked men in the Senate |
His rooms were always a center Of at /
traction for number of his associates |
IN Congress, who enjoyed gathering
about him and listening 10 him exeTCis- |
ing his rare powers Of conversation aad J
scintilIating talents for Entertainment
Tie venerable Senator Morgan of Ala
Dama. who was not often carried away
by sentiment, had this 10 say of Senator
CarnaCk:
In my long service in the Senate, I /
have met many brilliant men. For
years I held that Daniel W. Voorhees,,
IF Indiana, was the most scinUllating
II them all. Then CarmacE came He
S the most brilliant man I have ever
net"
Carmsck's tongue ard pen alike were
Ipped with gan. Few men could stand
he attacks of either with eQuanimity. |
Hated Cordially.
It may we'll be imagined that his
endency to employ all the weapons Of
satire and irony at the expense Of an
antagonist made his enemies in Ten