The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-12

Pen Pictures of Congressman Payne and
CLARK.

Clark.
Washington, April s.-There are tive
leading performers in the drama, o.
farce-take your ehoiee--ef revising Che
tariff, which is now holding the boards
in the House Of Representatives.
OF course, Serene Elisha Payne, Of
New York. author Of the bill and Re-
publican floor leader, gets most Of the
spot light. But just the same, Champ
Clark, Of Bowling Green, Missouri, this
minosfty leader, breaks into the piece al
frequent intervals and speaks bis part
with gusto.
Serene Elisha is large, rotund par
ty. He probably hefts the scale at 27s
pounds. A plentiful share Of white hair
clings TO his massive head, and a white
moustache just matches his white eye
brows on a quizzieal, kindly face.
1t is a study to watch Payns's face
while he is speaking. His eyes twinkle
and shine, and funny little wrinkles play
about his mouth when he takes sarcas-
tic shot at the minority side--which
is often. He has a profound knowledge
OF the tariff, talks intelligontly about
It's technicalities, its ramincations and
its application; knows finance and gov.
ernmental administration from A 10 z,
and, what Is more, can tell what he
knows in a clear, concise, to-the.point
manner.
Nothing really ever distwbs Payne.
or confuses him. He tries to make be-.
ieve that rapid-fre questioning upsets
him, but ii never really dees. When he
made his famous two-day speech in the
House at the opening Of the special SEES
sion, explaining the tariff bin, be had
eight solid hours Of nearly continuous
griiling at the hands OF the whole House
IAN almost steady stream OF questions
from members, ranging from queries as
to what ad valorem meant, to how
many pounds OF tea are used each year
in the United States, in Germany, in
England, and elsewhere. And not a sin
gle question went unanswered II he
eYaided enc, il was done 50 skilfully
that the questioner seemed satisfied.
Paynes has served on the ways and
means committee DUST 20 years. He has
been member OF Congress for % years,
and has seen Che framing and passage
OF two previous tariff measures. He is
the trusted lieutenant Of the speaker,
and most vigorous and consistent al
way-on-the-j job supporter OF the House
He never walks-he sidles
along with a sort Of waddie. He Is big
enough around the middle to wear
President Taft's trousers, but would be
clean lost in his coat.
Champ Clark's principal Characteristic
"a his voice. When properly harfassed
and working perfectly. Champ has
foghorn beat 70 a fragile" He is fond
Of honely phrases; like Unele' Joe Can
non, he often refers to the Bible for an
illustrative incident, or 4 precept, and
has a goodly fund Of aneedote. There
& Just faint suggestion Of the South
IN his speech.
"Misher Speeeeeee--r,7 says Clark, as
he rises majestically, removes his spec
lacles slowly, swings them around care
sssly in one hand, and sticks the other |
n one Of those cid style horizontal /
trousers pockets that be affects When
he gets Ahet up properly, Champ dis
'ards the spectacles. and cnts little cir /
lies IN the atmosphere with the free 4
land; polinrs ii On the desk, or else /
.ucks II away in the other eapaoious I
rocket. Sometimes he leans forward I
md sticks his head cut pugnaciousiy. I
ie has one peculiar mannerism. When I
10 stops 20 collect his thoughts, he pur-
es up his mouth. and then. suddenly I
'putfs" vehementiy When he IS real I
xeited the puff sounds like locomo-
i've exhaust lie is tall and weil.fed in
He always wears one Of
he old-style "open-front" collars, and /
las a penchant for red neekties He Is
with gray hair pretty /
hickly scattered over his head except /
y one spot where the pink Of his scalp
hows.
Champ moves slowly with dignity as
'efts all big things re has a curious
title way Of polSinr his shoulders and
cad forward as he takes each step, and
ways begins his speeches negligentiy--
ausses his opening words up 80 that
ardly anyone knows what be Ii saying.
LAYING thus sliured over Mr.. Speaker
nd his opening phrases, however, there
! no one IN the chamber that can pos
IDLY plead inability to hear. He has a
ionstrous rasping voice that penetrates.
Clark, too, like Payne, has been in
Congress- a long time. His service be-
an in 1896 and he has been returning
very two years regularly.