Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-16
HAVING FUN WITH JEFF DAVIS
Arkansas Senator Butt of Mr.. john
ston's Practical Joke

Arkansas Senator Butt of Mr.. john
ston's Practical Joke.
Jeff Davis. junior senator from Ar
kansas, says a Washington dispatch
to the New York Tribune, Is being
quietly but efrectually hazed by his
colleagues, and, being utterly devoid
of humor, has not yet realized the
fact. When the Arkansan returned
recently from his state he inquired Of
Senator Johnston of Alabama. the sta
tus of his measure providing for the
annihilation of trusts, combines. etc.
Dead. under Rule H." was Mr..
Johnston's laconic reply.
What Is Rule 17?" demanded Mr..
Davis.
"Oh, it's a rule the old senators
have adopted to keep us young fel-
lows from attaining any prominence
in the senate" replied Mr.. Johnston.
1T provides that whenever any meas
ure introduced by a senator who has
served less than one full term, shall
lie on the table, or in committee, for
thirty days without action thereon, it
shall thereby be regarded as dead
and may not be again considered at
that session."
why, that's a blank outrage" ex-
claimed Davis. II have been down in
Arkansas attending to political busi-
ness and the thirty days have expired.
Now, if don't get some action it will
go hard with me in my state"
You might apply to Clark chair
man of judiciary said Mr.. Johnston.
HE might get unanimous consent to
waive the rule. That's what they do
for their favorites."
I'm afraid l have no chance. I've
scored 'em, so 1 don't believe I'm a
favorite," replied the distressed Ar
kansan, "but I'll try"
Mr. Johnston, who Is a statesman
of serious countenance and grave de-
meanor, hastened to Senator Clark,
chairman of judiciary, and posted
him as to the purport Of rule II. At
the next meeting Of the judiciary
committee, Mr.. Davis appeared and
inquired the fate of his bill.
Dead. under Rule H." replied Sen
ator Clark.
But l must get it up" excitedly
exclaimed the Arkansas wonder. 81
have just got to- get action on that
bill or they will never send me to the
senate again. Every Hill-billie has
set his heart on the passage of that
bill"
you might move to discharge the
committee and get the senate to take
it up" gravely suggested the chair
man Of judiciary.
But 1 don't want to make the
members of the committee mad and
get them all down on me-" replied
Davis.
Don't worry about that" said Mr..
Clark. mo member of the commit
tee will resent 1t If you first explain
the eXigencies of the situation and the
demands Of the -billies'"
For several days Davis was busy
explaining to the members Of the ju-
dietary committee the situation in Ar
kansas and the necessity for his mo-
ton to discharge them, which he ap-
peared to think would in some inscru-
table way affect the salaries of the
senators so discharged. Having made
his explanations and met with no op-
position Mr.. Davis made the proposed
motion and supported it with his re-
cent explosion in the senate. OF course
no vote was reached on the motion,
but Davis is devoutly thankful that
his measure has at least escaped the
clutches Of Rule II.
Only yesterday Davis approached
Senator Johnston.
Johnston" he said, "do you know
they don't print that damnable Rule
It? I have searched the senate rules
and can't find a trace Of it. In fact.
there are only sixteen rules printed in
the manual"
"Precisely precisely" replied. Mr..
purpose. It's a pernicious plan of
Aldrich's. They don't print Rule II
so as to catch us young fellows una
wares and they catch most Of us.'
"Well, it's outrageous" replied the
Arkansan, "but you may count on 1t
I will never be caught again. 1 shall
make a speech on every measure L
introduce at least once in thirty days
so they can't say there has been 30
action on my bills. Meantime, I want
you to write down that rule for me so
can learn it by heart. If 1 don't
know all it's provisions l may get
caught by it, anyway"
If Mr.. Davis carries out his purpose
and speaks on every measure he has
introduced, at least once in thirty |
days the fate of the Alabama joker It
the hands of the "elder statesmen"
will be altogether too horrible for 9TH
er than Davis himself to describe. |
Meanwhile he is still hunting for Rule
II.