News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-05-12

Sduh 10 an uulALeIllSlDle HumDIe, 10
every senator present he well knew
was aware that the amendment nance
Altacoola as the naval base site.
Senator Langdon rose in his seat.
'8Ir. President" he called.
'Chair recognizes the gentleman
from Mississippi" said the presiding
officer as he leaned back to speak tC
Senator Winans of Kansas, who had
approached to the side of the rostrum
The Langdon speech on "The New
South and the South of the Future
proved more than a document suited
only to a reverent burial in the Con-
gressiOnal Record. Although wearied
at the start owing to the exciting hap
penings of the day, the Mississippian's
enthusiasm for his cause gave him
strength and stimulation as he pro-
crossed His voice rose majestically
as he came to the particular points he
wished to accentuate, and even those
in the uppermost rows in the galleries
could hear his every word.
At the close of his formal speech he
began on his statement of the action
ing control of Altacoola land to foil
attempts to rob the government. AS
he had predicted, the senate did "sit
up" The senate did agree that new
kind of politics had arrived.
During this latter part of the speech
many curious gances were directed at
Peabody and Stevens. who sat in the
9 -, H., IN @ -,
chamber only an aisle separating
them. Through this choice of seats
they could confer without leaving their
places. Various senatorial associates
of these two men in other deals found
it difficult to believe their ears-but
was not old Langdon at this moment
narrating the amazing transaction on
the floor of the senate? Would the
statue on the pedestal step down?
Would the sphinx of the desert speak
the story of the lost centuries? Would
honor take the place Of expediency in
the affairs of state? What might not
happen, thought the senate machine,
now that Peabody and Stevens had
taken to their boSoms what they
termed the purple pup Of political
purity?
Neither did the full portent Of the
situation escape the attention of the
reporters gallery Dick Cullen OBJ
served to Hanse of the Record
"Virtue's getting so thick around
here it's menace to navigation"
BLOCKING the traffic. eh?" queried
Hansel, and both laughed
Hello! What's this?" exclaimed Cu
len a few minutes later Horton has
been recognized, when the program
was to adjourn when the naval base
bill was over with"
Langdon's speech had proved the hit
the sensation of the session After he
concluded amid resounding applause
in which senators joined, as well as
occupants Of the galleries, Senator
Horton Of Montana rose and caught
the presiding officers eye.
~ ask unanimous consent to offer
resolution"
Hearing no objection he continued In
manner that instantly attracted I'M
usual attention;
at is my unpleasant duty"-Peabody
and Stevens exchanged glances-"to
place matter before this body that to
me, as a member of this honorable
body, is not only distastefuI. but deep
ly to be regretted.
"There has arisen ground to suspect
a member of this body of having en-
deavored to make money at the gov
ernment's expense out of land which
he is alleged to have desired his own
committee to choose as the naval base.
81 therefore offer this resolution pro-
viding for the appointment of an in
vestigating committee to look into these
charges"
Langdon was intensely excited over
this new development. Some one
has learned something about Peabody
or Stevens" he muttered. He feared
that this new complication might in
some way affect the fate of the naval
base-that the south, and Mississippi, |
might lose it. He rose slowly in his
seat, while the senate hummed with
the murmur of suppressed voices.
81 ask for more definite informa-
Sion," he began when recognized and
after the president of the senate had
pounded with the gavel to restore
quiet $50 that this house can consider
this important matter more intelligent
iy"
Senator Horton rose. He said:
81 will take the liberty of adding
that the senator accused is none other
than the junior senator from Missis- !
sippi"
Langdon's eyes blazed. He strobe
swiftly into the aisle.
"Mr. President" he cried passion :
ately, 81 know this is not the time or
place for a discussion like this, but
ask that senatorial courtesy permit me
to ask"-then he concluded strongly
before be could be stopped-"what is
the evidence in support of this pre-
posterous charge"
''This is all out of order" said the
presiding officer after a pause, "but
tn view of the circumstances ] will
entertain a motion to suspend the
rules"