Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-01-23
SENS. SMITH
AND RAYNER
Make Addresses On The Life
And Character OF The Late
Senator WhYe.

Senators John Walter Smith anC
Isidor Rayner paid an eloquent tribute
to the memory Of the late Senator VIM.
Pinkney Whyte in the United States
Senate last Saturday afternoon. /,
was the time set apart by the Senate
for the special purpose of paying honor
to the memory of the Grand Old Man
of Maryland. l." A blizzard was raging
outside the Capitol but the galleries
were fairly well filled with friends and
relatives of the dead senator. BY mu-
tual agreement Senator Smith opened
the exercises, followed by Senators Ray
ner. of Maryland, Teller, of Colorado,
and Senator Capp.
Senator John Walter Smith gave a
most interesting sketch of the life and
public career of Senator Whyte and
paid a glowing tribute to the noted
Marylander.
mo other Marylander, he said,
lever lived life so filled to the brim
with public honors as was his, or per-
haps gained higher place in the esteem
of his feh6@-citizens.
"His eloquence, his energy. his per-
sonal magnetism and transparent hon
esty carried him far toward leadership
on this floor" said Mr.. Smith. Ellis
knowledge of the country's needs, his
broad. dispassionate view of public
questions, his wise conservatism and
his rare legal attainments did much for
the nation, and established his claim to
rank among the great men of our time. "
Speaking of Governor Whyte's per-
sonality. Mr.. Smith said
ut was impossible for anyone to re-
sist the charm of his old-fashioned man.
ners, recognizing in their exquisite taste
and beaming kindness no distinction of
social caste or age. Caring little for
money himself. he loved no man the
less who was without it. Even his
quaint law offices on the first floor of a
very old brick house, once the home of
the late Chief Justice fancy, and which
he had occupied continuously for over
half century, seemed to link him to u
fast disappearing type of the pictur-
esque past. There. with fine scorn for
modern Office furniture and convent
ences. he laboriously wrote his letters,
prepared his legal papers and his many
public speeches with his own pen.
''Work had no terror for him, and at
the time of his death he had many cases
pending, and even on the day of his
death he did not rest. but inquired for
his mail and for news from the Senate.
so that it may be said that he literally
almost died at his work.
Like all strong men, he made some
bitter enemies, and like all men. who
are neither more or less than human.
he cherished few implacable antagon-
isms.
"Those who have seen something of
the malicious and loose statements made
in the heat of political campaigns can
well appreciate the force of the testi-
monial to his lofty character and almost
perfect domestic life inadvertently fur
nished by one of his most bitter and in
genious political enemies, one who
boosted consummate skill in the use of
invective.
This gentlemen was urged by his
associates to make public attack on
Senator Whyte, and he in desperation
of success said Attack him What
can ! say about him? He is a model
citizen, model father, a model son and
a model husband. and he hasn't bad
habit in the world.
This was Senator Smiths maiden adj
dress in the Senate. He spoke in good
voice and was heard with close attention
by his colleagues who were present.
Senator Rayner, who followed Sem
ator Smith, spoke with his usual yigor
and eloquence.