Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-10

throughout the south. When called upor
to support the sound money campaign OF
Josiah Patterson for Congress he resigned
his editorial position and became candi
date for the House.
He was elected after one of the most
stirring campaigns witnessed in Tonnes
see in many years. Patterson contested
the seat and brought his case to Wash
ingtOn.
At that time the House was republican.
Josiah Patterson was the leader of the
sound money movement in Tennessee
Every one thought Carmack would lose
the contest. The committee on elections
decided against him.
When the case came up for discussion
and vote in the House Carmack took the
floor. BY his eloquence and wit he won
enough republicans to his side to over
turn the report of the committee on elec-
tons. He was seated.
Two Sessions in House.
Carmack served in the House through
the Fifty-fifth and was reelected to the
Fifty-sixth Congress. At that time his
wonderful power of debate was recog-
nized.
He was dreadful adversary. His style
was cutting, sarcastic and brilliant. Al
the same time he was a master of pathos
and could entwine the oratorical big
stick with embellishments of fancy.
Carmack succeeded Thomas b. Turley
in the United States Senate and took his
seat March 4, 1901. 1t was then that he
came into his own. In the Senate he found
reader play for his gift of debate and
argument.
He was a loyal democrat always. and
took issue with the administra ton on
every point. Carmack was never sus-
ceptible to the charge of being White
House democrat" the term applied to
some of his colleagues who were accused
of listening to the voice Of reason" when
it emanated from the Executive Mansion.
He became in time a personal foe of Pres
ident Roosevelt, and hurled many biting
and sarcastic phrase at him from his place
iE the Senate.
tarmack first attracted attention in the
Senate by his bitter opposition TO the ad-
ministrations Philippine policy. He was
a minority member of the committee on
the Philippines, and never lost an Oppor-
tunity to arraign the government policy.
Indeed. he went further than many OF his
Cwn democratic colleagues would follow.
Carmack loved a contest. 1t was as the
breath Of his nostrils to get into a hot de-
bate on the floor. If it came to PERSONAL
ties, so much the better; he could give as
good as received.
Tall, spare, with a shock of red hair.
he made a picturesque figure in action.
He possessed a resonant voice that car
ried far and was flexible to portray the
mingled emotions upon winch ne would
play in his utterances.
Brush With Tillman.
He had many personal brushes in the
Senate, as would be expected. One Of the
most spectacular was with Senator Till
man. who had referred disparagingly to
the Tennesseean in his celebrated round
up castigation of a group of senator's.
Carmack came back at him in character
istic style and the tilt caused a breach be-
tween the two which was long healing.
Carmacks senatorial usefulness was
that of an iconoclast and critic, not the
constructive statesman. OF course, his
position in the minority in a measure die
tated his course and limited his ability to
propose effective measures.
Carmack defended Secretary Taft In the
Brownsville affair. In the course of his
remarks he paid the Secretary high per-
sonal compliment The result was warm
friendship between them and a partial
reconciliation with President Roosevelt
At Carmack's request the President APP
pointed his friend, Col Newman of Ten
nessee, a member Of the board Of visitors
to West Point.
He was succeeded in the Senate by Mr.
Taylor in 1907. He was in the fight for