Evening journal., 1910-05-13

own.
There was no keener lover OF humor
in the Senate Of the United States in all
the twenty-three years in which the late
George @. Vest served as a member Of
that body than that brilliant, but physical
ly dminutive toga wearer from Missouri.
He was especially fond of having fun with
some Of the grave and dignihed senators.
but there was never any Intentional malice
in his jests. for his heart was always
kindly.
with the stately and dignhod senator
from Delaware the late Thomas t. Bay
ard. Senator Vest was constantly dis
posed to have sly fun The latter was al
ways unconventional. and he especially
dotested sham dignity. Senator Bayard
was never known to do anything except
in the conventional or traditional way,
and no was keen suclSler for the pre-
negatives and the traditions and the cour-
tesies established by custom which char
acterized the dignihod senators.
Senator Vest was a consistent revenue
reformer. lie believed that IL there was
to he tariff for revenue It should not
contain a single schedule which made
exception to that principle. Likewise, Sem
ator Bayard was an earnest believer in
the principle expressed by the words, "the
tariff for revenue only" with possibly,
incidental protection.
When the tarif bill prepared by the
tariff commission created by act of Con
eross in 1852 was under discussion i'll
the Senate. Senator Vest was constantly
l
spicuous at. all times when Senator Bay
ard had the noor Then he listened intent
! ly, all the while tearing up parer and
throwing the pieces upon the noor-a
habit that he had when he was deeply in
terested IN the Senate urocedeings
This attitude OF Vest towards the Della
warean kept up until ;he bill had been
acted upon by the Senate. Then, one day,
Mr.. Vest chanced to meet his friend, Sen
ator Warner Miller. OF New York.
Miller" chuckled Vest, 'I have had
great fun teasing Bayard lately.
"You noticed. perhaps that while he
spoke for a tarim for revenue only on
most articles. he was bitterly opposed to
the proposed reduction of the tariff or
certain kinds of paper. That puzzled me
for long while, but at last l found out
what I thought might possibly be the rea-
son and decided 1 would have a little fun
with Bayard. l waited until he had made
speech opposing afresh the paper re-
ductions then 1 hunted him up
" 'Bayard. / asked, why are you 50
strongly opposed to a reduction of the
tariff on paper?
"He turned his serene and solemn eyes
on me. Senator Vest, he said. paper
manufacture is really an infant industry
lin this country. II IS ono of tho few man.
ufactures that ought to be encouraged.
Why. Bayard, you ought 10 study
history replied. We were making paper
in this country when we were colonies
Don't you remember the stamp act? DOM
you know there is a paper mill now run
ming at Norwich, Conn, which was in
operation at the time Of the French ant
Indian warp
"Then I walked away. but was back a
him again in a day or two.
'Bayard, I said, looking as solemn az
an owl. I wonder IL the fact that mem
Der Of your family is a paper manufac
turer in New England has anything TO d'
with your belief that there shouldn't b.
a reduction in the tariff on paper?"
"IIe turned upon me in his solemn, dig
nihed way.
Senator Vest he replied, you don
suppose that my profound conviction
could be Influenced by personal ccnsidera
tions OF the unworthy kind you suggest
on no. not with YOU, ! said grave
ly, But I have sometimes thought tina
in these tariff matters good many O
us are anxious to have the tariff reduce
on everything except our own productions
And / am wondering whether. in m
speech, I shall find it worth while TO rC
fer to the fact that member of you
family is a manufacturer Of paper in Ne
England
"I am sure that tho position Bayar
took I'm the debate he believed to be pei
fectly honest" chuelSled Mr. Vest But
couldn't resist the temptation TO hay
some fun with him. and I don't think /
has yet forgiven me for that last thrust.
In fact. it was not untn after Mr. Bayar
had become Secretary OF state under c
veland that the relations between him an
tho little man from Missouri ceased TO Z
somewhat strained.
Copyright, 1910, by f. J. Edwards.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell Z"
Story Of the First American Women /