Evening journal., 1910-12-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
An UnrepOrted Incident Of
the Federal Senate
BY "BOIlsnd."

One OF the ablest Of the members Of
the United States Senate for ten OF
twelve years after the close OF the
Civil War was Garrett Davis, of Ken
! lucky. He was q man of strong origi-
naliiy He was u very learned aud a
profound lawyer but he was also
iraslble, althouhg when approached
IN the right way ne was one Of the
most kindly and cOnsiderate OF men.
Senator Davis never failed having
hearers, both upon the floor of the
Senate and in the galleries, when it
was announced that he was to speak.
sometimes there was suspicion that
some OF those who visited the Senate
chamber did so IN the expectation
that Mr.. Davis would yield to irrita-
ton and interject into his formal
speech some very peppery remarks.
1t was one of the Senator's pecu-
liarities that he never would speak
unless his surroundings were entirely
cOngenial. Sometime q misplaced chair
annoyed him Frequently he turned
and cast upon the lobby at the -ear
or the Senate fierce and angry glances,
so that be might thereby put an end
to conversation that was disturbing
him.
Senator Davis was announced 90
make an important speech at the ses-
sion Of Congress for the year 1872.
Among those who heard him at that
time was John W. Wilson. then clerk
OF the commerce committee Of .he
Senate OF which Roscoe Conkling was
the chai man. Mr. Wilson. as private
secretary Of Senator Conkling and
clerk OF the latter's committee met
with many very interesting and some
dramatic experiences. But the one
which he remembers. as wildly as any
relates to the speech in question by
Senator Davis.
i mad just taken my place in the
reporters gallery Of the Senate" said
Air. Wilson, ito which / had access.
When ! saw Ben Butler. then a mem
Der OF the House, enter the Senate
chamber. He looked around the body
with that peculiar twist of the head
so characteristic of him. and then,
with his queer little mincing step.
went TO the Democratic side, took n
seat directly behind Senator Davis.
and instantly became much inte .ested
IN Senator Davis's speech paying the
senator the courtesy of very close at
tcntion.
Suddenly, Senator Davis, who was
little man, turned around as though
TO address some OF the Senators in
the seats behind him, and discovered
Bent Butler sitting almost within
arms reach of him. Butler looked up
at the Senator. and there may have
been something in Buffers manner. or
possibly some recollection of Buffers
career in the Civil War, which brought
out al of the latent irritation that
was in Senator Davis. At any rate.
he clipped speaking and gla ed fierce
ly at poor Butler, who evidently did
not know why Davis had become thus
angry. I'm fact, it looked for a mo-
mcnt as though Davis, who had lost
control of himself almost completely.
was about to 80 TO Butler and at
tempt to eject him from that seat.
~"lnstautly the tension in the Senate
was intense. Still, Butler did not
realize that he was the cause of the
trouble; but he returned the fierce
glance of Ga 'rett Davis, as though
saying: IT you can look ugly. SO
can !.
"Just as Senator Davis seemed abou,
to advance upon Butler. one of the
Senators upon the Republican side,
Henry Wilson, Of Massachusetts, step
ped hastily to Butler and whispered
to him. Then holding Butler gently
By the sleeve Of his coat, Mr.. Wilson
drew him from the Democratic seat
and escorted him to the Republican
side of the chamber As Butle- was
crossing the center aisle he turned
and looked at Davis, who was almost
beside himself with anger. When
Butler was seated in the chair Of one
of the Republican senator's. he calmly
turned around a-d looked again at
Senator Davis.
Davis was completely mastered BY
his irritation. Still glaring at Zen
Butler he abruptly terminated his
speech and took his seat. Nor did he
seem TO be himself again until Butler
had retired from the Senate chamber.
Tho incident was not Fcported at
the time, since / was the only person
i'm the correspondents gallery. And
after it was all over I remember hear
ing q senator say that would have
been sensational and humiliating."
Copyright 1910. by +. J. Edwards.
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell of
president Cleyeland's Opinion Of