Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-25

never appra4eN A-oAc tAo kIouu
dame
The debate Of bl0nday between
Senators Tiilma1 ant Beverage wao
one Of the mOst interesting ana excit-
ing OF the session aad the galleries.
we're packed, IN iuuiIg every avail
able foot of standing loom. Tiliman
made a claracteIistically fierce on
slaugbt on tie President, but left
himself wide open Ia several places
and although Beveridge had not been
announced tn follow or reply. he could
not resist the opportunity Tiilman
had Presented, with such III audience,
too ana 81 lie went after the fiery
South Carolinian hot blocks Tillman
easily got the worst of it His armor
was puLctured full of holes anu ne
was lame in defense, in fact Bever-
idge hit him where he had no defense
Beverage made a fine speech and
valiantiy defended the President vet
he got few 'hands" at the con- lusion
of his remarks This was not because
the republican senators did not en-
dorse his speech or recognize its
merit. but simply because Senator
Beveridge is not popular among sena-
tors on either side lie is a brilliant
speaker but he has traits that are not
admired and is given the marble hand
at every turn
1t is not often that Tillman has to
sit and have his wounds torn open
and salt rubbed in repeatedly but this
is what he did Monday. During Till
mans speech Beveridge took notes
from time to time and he rung all the
changes ON the man of pitchfork fame
Tillman sat showed down in his seat
and looked mighty cross and uncom-
Portable. He made several bad breaks
in his speech and Beveridge used
them to the limit 1t was tue worst
day ever saw Tillman have. Incl
dentally Beveridge probably got an
invitation from the President to come
and see him.
1t is very rare occurrence for the
President to attend q dinner except
one given by member of his official
family. cut q few days ago he was
present, with Mrs. Roosevelt at a
function given by the French Ambas-
sador. There is no law regarding the
social conduct of the President toward
the members of the diplomatic corps.
but there is traditions very silly
tradition-that since the embassies
and legations are regarded as foreign
territory, the President should not
frequent them. This tradition has
been regarded by many Presidents.
disregarded by as many more. Neither
Mr.. Mckinley nor Mr.. Cleveland
dined at an embassy or legation
while they were in the White House
Mr.. Arthur. on the contrary, went
where he listed, and was q constant
visitor of the foreigners whom he
liked. Both Baron Won Eisendecker
and his successor. Baron Won AlveL-
sleben, were great favorites with Mr..
Arthur. and he used frequently to
walk from the White House to the
German Legation. which was then on
Fifteenth street, on site now occu-
pied by business houses, and cali up
on its occupants, and he was often in
vited and accepted Invitations to
other Legations.
The, iron constitution of the Presi-
dent is a matter of common remark.
He seems to work at high pressure all
the time and yet gets fat on it and
seems to banker after more work.
However. he don't work all the time.
He has his recreation and at such
times he forgets affairs of state and
the opportunities of Office seekers, en-
tirely. The love of the President for
horseback riding is well known; how
ever, he is as devoted to walking as to
riding, and sprints across country in
all weathers with the vigor and en-
thusiasm OF college athlete. The
story is told that n distinguished
traveller from France, who visited
town recently, was asked by the
President to accompany him on one
of his pedestrian excursions. The in
vitation was eagerly accepted, and a
day and hour named for the outing.
When the time appointed arrived the
Frenchman promptly put in an APP
pearance, exquisitely dressed. as
though for an afternoon tea, in frock
coat and light trousers. with silk
hat, gray gloves boutonniere. and
handsome walking stick. He was
presently joined by the President, in
the garb familiar to all those who
have met him swinging along the
country roads. which consists Of
leggings, hob-naii
boots, sweater. and q SLOUGH hat. It
must be confessed that the Chief Exc
cutive might pose for desperate in
this costume. and the Frenchman had
never seen such figure outside of q
Buffalo Bill show, but IL he felt any
surprise he did not manifest it, while
the President was visibly astonished
at the elegant attire of his companion,
and could not refrain from asking him
what he thought they were going to
do. On being assured that his guest
fully understood that he had been in
vited for walking expedition, he
made no further comment. The visit
ing foreigner soon found out. how
ever. that treading the boulevards of
Paris and following the President
across country in the suburbs of WASH
ington were distinct and different.
He returned to his hotel after couple
of hours sprinting, weary in spirit
and aching in body, with a much
rubbed and scratched silk hat, a dusty
coat, gloves wet with perspiration. a
sadder and wiser man, but with
material for a story that will amuse
the dinner tables on his return to
Paris.
Senator Depew is having bad ses-
sion Of IL and evidently is not banny