The Seattle Republican., 1909-03-05
IN THE TENTH LEGISLATURE.

To listen to a running debate in the house of repre-
sentatves such the local option issue has repeatedly
brought out in the present session
Speech Making in is surprised to discover that
in the House. not single in the house on
either side of the question has the
ability to make genuine speech that is such one as
rings with eoquence, oratory and logic Dr. W. nj.
Beech of Mason county the local option bill was the
minority leader-tha leader of the wets and after
listening to him make effort at speech making you
ask yourself the question: Who what gave the man
the remotest idea that he could make himself understood
at even country cock-fght, much
Beach Always less in the legislature in oratorica
Beats Himself contest He however, is full Of fight
and is not afraid to stand before
the crowd and make his rambling remarks, which gives
him less pretige as house leader
Even worse than Dr. Beach is Frank jackson of King
county, who has handled the antsaloon leagues cause
on the floor of the house. The Speaker" gave him
limited opportunities on the floor, but
Frank Jackson he was always devoid Of facts and
False Alarm. left the impression his hearers
that if ''I'' not in the legislat
ure the state Of Washington would go the dmnaton
bow vows Jackson without voice. articulation or logic
and is about as much fitted to be legislative leader is
whispering spirit In debate he loses his temper and
ndulges in personalities rather than facts and therefore
has no influence on the floor of the house Of represen
aives except among those who think only the local
option issues as he does.
If there be single man the floor of the house Of
representatives that comes within mile of making a
speech it is T. j. Bell of Tacoma He
Bell Only has the voice and likewise smattering
a Chmer of eoquence, but his logic is far fetched
and when he has finished his speech
making stunt you wonder what that rather pleasing
Mr. Re11 is
willing but he is likewise loud taker which OF course
makes him quite popular with the gallery guards.
IF Billie Bishop of Jefferson did get excited, and
if not excited enthused those things he rises to
speak for or against, he would be a
Billie Bishop clever debater but with all his faults
Bos Over he has Beach and Jackson both skinned
by ten to one shot. He sees point
and loses no time in making it, and being something OF
paramentarian in running debate it takes clever
opponent to hold him down This his third session IN
the house and he is well up the rules which great
help to him in the debates.
Representative Edge of Spokane who has MADE hln-
self believe that he leader the floor OF the house
has some of the qualities of pubic
Edoa is a. speaker He can stick to his text, which
q Nonotoner is more than the ordinary wouldbe
floor leader can do. While he is more or
less logical his talk his delivery is IN an undertone ana
after he has speaking for minute 1t becomes con-
tinuous monotone and reminds you OF rumbllng run
ming train each minute getting further and further from
Won until the sound dies in the distance Mr. Edge IS
lacking in posveness he will advocate thing IN the
forenoon and will reverse himself in the afternoon He,
however is Democrat and that may account Tor MS
legislative eccentricities
Todd the youngest member of the house, who nails
fon, Tincoln county would have hundred times more
influence with the members If he were
Thinks He's not so thoroughly convinced that, ne
. s+o+asman is real statesman. We are Of the opn-
ion that he will improve with exper-
;nce but he is budding young Democrat and the odds
are greatly against his ever seeing tne leglSao