The Washington times., 1909-06-15
Capital Tales


how she term originated.
A friend of the fiery statesman from
the Palmetto State told about il the
other day.
It appears that Mr.. Tillman first re-
ferred to the pitchfork when he was
running for the Senate the first time.
On the stump, he promised that Il elect
ed he would run his pitchfork, hgura-
lively speaking. OF course, through
Grover Cleveland. Shortly after ne got
into the Senate, he made a speech in
which he described the various uses TO
which the farmer put the pitchfork, and
IN this made hostile reference to Cleve-
land and other leaders. The cartOOnists
seized on this, and one cartoon came
out showing Cleveland. Carlisle. and
John Sherman impaled on the tines of
a pitchfOrk in the hands Of Tillmen.
This served to fasten the term Pitch
fork" on Tillman, and it was stiI more
thoroughly fastened to MN Dy the Bit
ter nature of his thrusts at his antago-
nists on the Senate floor and elsewhere.
He went to the Chicago convention of
the Democratic party, in 1895. and his
admirers got up a Presidential boom
for him.
They showed their enthusiasm by
presenting him with a silver pitchfork.
Ever since the appelIation has chung
TO him, and it will cling as long as TIL
man lives. 1t has long since ceased to
be the term of reproach which his
enemies intended IL TO be when they first
applied it derisively, and despite his
bitter tongue in debate. Tillman has
come to be one Of the best-lIked men
in the entire Senate among his col
leagues.
The Senate doesn't look natural with
cut Senator Hale. He has been absent
from the chamber for about a week
owing to illness. and everybody has
missed him. Even his lectures to
obstreperous Senators are missed.
Senator Hale has had a hard siege of
work this spring, owing TO his duties
on the Finance Committee. He has had
little to say on the floor, but he has
been an attentive listener TO most of
the debate. It has been noticeable
throi sh the special session that Sena-
TO administer repFoofs TO colleagues
His present indisposition has been due
10 an attack of tonsilitis, and his
friends say It is not serious.
Uncle jim" Wilson. Secretary of
Agriculture, has more demands on him
for speeches than any other member
OF the Cabinet. He is literally over
whelmed with invitations. Farmers all
the way from North Dakota to Texas
want him to address them. II is i'm
possible for Secretary Wilson to ac-
cept most Of these invitations. but the
number Of them is an Indication of his
widespread popularity
=
c ENAToR DoLLIvER has won rec
ognition, by his remarkable series
of tariff speeches this session. as
the humorist of the Senate. Nobody
admires the brilliant Iowan more than
the veteran Depew, for many years the
humorist of public life in this country,
Depew takes frank and generous salts
faction in seeing that the mantle he
has so long worn is not to become moth
eaten for want Of a wearer- He sees
Il descending on the broad shoulders
of Deliver, and he is pleased.
Depew, in a speech following Dolii-
ver's first set tariff discussion, adverted
TO the DolIiver effort as one Of the most
brilliant that had ever been uttered in
the chamber. He declared it his de-
liberate judgment that it was greater
than the stilted. studied. solemn efforts
Of the old masters Of the middle age
OF American craftsmanship.
The Senator from Iowa" he said
even dared 70 call humor to his aid
a thing few men would dare attempt
and fewer could accomplish. I con-
graduate him on both the daring and
the success; for 1 have always main
tairled that humor IS the very essence of
sta nanship.'
Depew and DoIliver viii be seen sit
ting, together great deal in the cham
Der The older man is wont to walk
around to the seat of the younger. and
they will sit together, manifestly enjoy
ing the visit. for long periods Depew is
a great philosopher and student; and so
is Deliver Both are STEPPED in the
best that diligent and appreciative
reading OF English literature can bring
to a man; and both have the good for
tune Of splendid memories and the un-
failing faculty for seeing the humor Of
things. A collection OF the bon mOt3
which Senator Deliver has contributed
TO the tariff debate would make a neat
little volume, and there wouldn't be a
dry line In il. Here is one he handed
out the. other day:
The IOwan was standing in the cor
ridor back of the Senate chamber, talk
ing to a friend. The door to the cham
Der was open, and the voices of the
orators drifted family out; Suddenly
Deliver, who had been talking about
some of the iniGuities OF the tariff bill /
stopped, inclined his head, put his hand
TO his ear, and said:
That's Lodge talking. You'll have
TO excuse me. They're getting things
framed up to put another mortgage on
the farm"
Responsibility.
Uncle Ike" Stephenson is going !
around these days nearly bent double |
with the weight of responsibility.
Ii is up TO him TO decide s,hat he is /
going 70 do about the income tax In !
fact. when the vote comes next Friday. /
ne NAV possibly have the decision of the /
fate of the income tax amendment go |
close is the situation. This would be, /
under any circumstances, a hard posi- /
ton to put = multi-millionaire In, but 1t /
Is made harder from the fact Uncle /
Ike" Is being pulIe5 and hauled both
ways.
All through the special session, Sena-
tor Aldrich has been able to control the
Wisconsin Senator, who has persistently
supported the Finance Committee in
whatever it wanted, and has not stood
for downward revision. He has prom
sed the income tax supporters his vote,
and now is under sharp fire 70 compel /
him to withdraw that promise. Bets
are even as to what will happen.
"Who are all these people?" asked a
visitor at the Capitol OF grizzied old
Capitol guide.
Mostly brides and grooms," said the