The sun., 1910-02-25
GEN. GORDON SAYS. GOOD-BY
rICIU RESCUE TALEDICTORY OF
4 TWO MONTHS SENATOR.
Rules Broken to Applaud When He Says
tie Wants 70 See MnSOn aRd RIxOns
line wiped Out and "Our Country"
written Over Ii--IS, e. Even Hsyi.urn.

Nrttlcn ONer HI" es tNen HeyDurn.
WAsHINGToN. Feb, 2i.-Gea James
Gordon. the venerable Senator from
Mississippi. arose from his seat in the
senate this afternoon and delivered fare
we'll address It was hardly an address,
,houeh II was more like a heart to heart
talk at a small town gathering or prayer
meeting For more than half an hour the
eyed Mississippian held the attention Of
he senate. which seemed at FIRST to be
tesitating between surprise at the char
acter of the speech and admiration OF the
tenator's unalloyed frankness
Finally. however, the simplicity and
loneliness Of the speech caught the
dignifed members. and they applauded.
rot once but twice. This violation OF the
rules OF the Senate brought no rebuke
IRON the presiding officer. Old timers in
Washington say it is the first time they
lave known the Senate TO indulge itself
IN thi, way in many years
Love one another was the sentiment
that Gen Gordon chose to leave with the
Senate after his two brief months OF
service He included within the scope Of
is text John d. Rockefeller. whom he
Itied because Of the suffering that money
had brought upon him, and also Senator
Hepburn OF Idaho. who recently protested
IN the floor OF the Senate against the
Ioaning Of Government tents to COnfed-
crate veterans and against the erection
cf statue OF Gen. Robert L. Lee in
statuary Hall.
The retiring Mississippi Senator had
kind word for almost everybody who
had come in for criticism during his term
Of service in Washington. and the whole
was interspersed with delightful anec-
dotes OF his own personal ex per ences
and aspirations
When Senator Gordon began the speech
there was only a sprinkling OF Senators
IN the chamber IL wasn't long. how
ever before the news OF the speech reached
the corridors and the committee rooms.
md il needed only the first round of ap-
plause 10 bring nearly every Senator who
was in the building TO his seat.
Senator Root sat only few seats away
from the Mississippian and he. together
With Senator Lodge. Senator Hale. SEN
Rtor Cullom and few others on whom
the dignity Of the Senate rests heavily.
aid little attention TO the speaker at
fret. Some Of them were studying law
'ooks. but finally they joined with the
CtheEs in paying tribute to Gen. Gordon,
Even Senator Hepburn. who looked
displeased when the Mississippian began
70. talk on Confederate affairs. joined in
che line that shook the Senator's hand
when he was through.
Senator Depew at the conclusion OF
Gen. Gordon's speech arose and said
that il was the most unique speech ever
delivered in the Senate and expressed
The regret OF the Senate at parting with
the General mo matter who his sue
lessor may be- said Senator Depew.
he can't be Cen. Gordon
Senator Gordon told in the begin
ming how he came 20 be United States
Senator. He started out to go to the
eenate when he was Ave years old.
u will tell you a story" said he. You
may tell your children, and you cid
fellows can tell your grandchildren
The Senator went on to say that when
he was little chap his mother gave him
a little pasteboard map. II had squares
With plumbers on it and a picture OF the
Capitol at the top. The numbers repre-
sented all the passions that had escaped
from Pandora's box. all the temptations
that would befall q youth who is growing
up. There was also little totem with
numbers on it that he used to spin.
IT you spun IT," said he, land II landed
on one OF the bad places in the square
that is. one Of the bad passions-you had
TO go back. but IL you escaped the bad
places you went on up TO the great Capitol
IT the United States at the top and would
lie in the United States Senate
Il saw big fellow standing up there
lponting at the presiding officers chairl
and ! wanted to know OF ma IL would
get there. She told me that II I would
lead clean life and form no bad habits
would be sure to get there She never
told a story in her life and knew it was
true. God helping me. I got there yester-
Gay. In all my life. Senators. that thing
has stuck to me. and every time I wanted
10 do wrong saw one of those passions
N that board. ! have never made this
Tubic until now thought this was the
paoe to do 1t.
Il am a peculiar sort OF genius, not
much Of genius either the Senator
went on, but have got a thimbleful
~ common sense Tor use occasionally
and want to use IL now to the best ad-
vantage. have had a varied life. /
vas born a multimillionaire. very un-
happily too, for never saw one OF them
that was, happy yet. and I never was
happy myself until got rid OF my mill
IONS The largest portion OF them went 70
feed the large number OF slaves that
| unfortunately inherited, and the rest
| F-tG Ia
and got rid OF the encumbrance Laugh
teri
Il have been listening to speeches heye
very carefully. and the more l heard of
the speeches the sorrier felt for the
millionaires Thank God I am not one
any more. heard the Senator from
Arkansas lJeff Davisl the other day make
aspeech in which he abused Rockefeller =
HAra Sanalnr DarnaNH 2ana Tor Raila,r