Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-05-10
SPEECH IS UNIQUE.
Senator Gordon Makes Striking
Address on Leaving Senate.
Talks Of War Record and Pleads for
Erasure Of Mason and Dixon
Line-TelIs Of Pity for
Millionaires.

Washington. attained his
lifetime ambition, seat in the United
States senate. Senator James Gordon
of Mississippi the other day badc fare
well to his fellow-senators in an ad-
dress that held them spellbound for
20 minutes.
So deeply touched were many sena-
tors that they violated one of the most
strict of senate rules, and applauded
the aged veteran from Mississippi.
After a scant two-months' service
time enough. however, to win the
hearts of every one in the capitol
Senator Gordon gives place to LIE Roy
Percy, the choice of the Mississippi
legislature to fill the unexpired term
of the late Arson ]. McLaurin.
Senator Gordon chose as his text,
Love One Another" which he called
the Eleventh Commandment.
His quaint phrases, his homely SIM
plicity and his wise sayings. amusing
though he was at times, especially
when he read two of his own "pomes"
earned the sympathy of every person
who heard him. When he had con-
cluded. Senator Depew of New York,
briefly expressing the regret of the
senate at his departure, described the
address as "the most remarkable ever
heard in the senate" and said it would
60 down in history as such.
For dramatic interest, the scene in
the senate has seldom been equaled in
recent years.
AS one who fought until the very
last. Senator Gordon asked that Sec
tional feeling, bitterness bred in the
civil war. be forgotten. AS one who
had owned 800 slaves. he implored
against breeding race hatred by agi-
tating the negro question; and here
he read his poem, ''My Ole Black
Nanny" AS one who had been mil
lionaire who now is both poor and
happy, he denounced the FLANNEL
who stir up envy and hatred
against the rich among those who are
less lucky.
I'VE have few dollars" he said,
that always want to be maxim fuss.
They're not even with cussin'."
81 was born a multi-millionaire,"
said Col. Gordon, "but l never was
happy until got rid of my surplus
| spent much of it on my
slaves and the rest of my funds l
the entire incumbrance.
II have listened with interest to the
speeches here and the more l hear Of
them the sorrier am for the million
aires. Why, If there is a fellow in the
United States that am sorry for, it is
because he has more
money than anyone else. That is his
He can't go on the street
with one of his grandchildren unless
ne is afraid that some one might kill
him. Why. know that he loves one
If those children much better than he
owes all the money he has got.
II think Mr.. Rockefeller is good
nan. ] see his employees speak we'll
If him, and am told that he never
lad a strike. am told also that he
he has given much money to churches
md education. Now l don't suppose
hat everybody will like that, but
hose who don't like it can put it in
heir pipes and smoke it. I'd like for
Mr. Rockefeller to come down to Mis-
'issippi and run his pipe lines through
ny land. He could have the right Of
way for all the lines he wanted, for l
Know that in my time coal oil has
'een reduced from 40 cents to ten
'ents per gallon"
The most touching episode was his
ebuke to Hepburn of Idaho. who de-
ivered the bloody shirt" speech
gainst the bill authorizing the war
department. to lend tents to the Con.
ederate Veterans reunion at Mobile
ext April.
LET the senator from Idaho come
own to the Mississippi prairies; let
i'm come to my home" said the re-
iring hero of many battle of 1876,
and l will show him such southern
lie that when we return together