Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-08
HEPBURN CUTS LOOSE.


against loaning government tents for
the use of the Confederate veterans at
their annual reunion at Mobile in
Mobile in April, Senator Hepburn OF
Idaho in the Senate late today made
the sharpest comment upon the issues
of the Civil War that has been heard
III Congress in 20 years.
He inveighed against men in Rebel
uniforms being permitted to occupy
government property, or the "Rebel
flag being allowed to float above it
Finally he drifted into the question OF
honoring men by placing their statues
iii the Congressional Hall of Fame and
by urmist akeable Inference condemned
the action of Virginia in sending the
statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee to Wash
ington.
Take it away and worship it if you
please" he Numbered, but do not in
trude it upon the people who do not
want it,
Democratic senators moved uneasily
about the floor conversing with each
other or sat, froWning and angerod,
listening to the speech, which contin-
ued for nearly an hour. Finally. when
Senator Hepburn had concluded Sen
ator Bankhead said:
II am sure the Senator from Idaho
feels much 'hetter and 1 ask for a
vote"
by roll call" shouted q dozen or
more senators and hands went up in
second OF that request from every part
of the Senate chamber. When the
vote was had on the tent loanins
measure, all of the Democrats ana all
of the Republicans, except Mr.. Hey
burn, voted for it. His negative vote
was uttered in loud and defiant tone.
When the measure was reached, Mr..
Hepburn was prompt to raise an OBJ
lection Mr.. Ban!lhead was just rs
alert in moving consideration, regard
less Of the objection.
It Immediately was evident that The
OBJECTION had aroused some feeling, foi
with flushed face and raised voice, nlr.
Bailey, who sat near Mr.. Bankhead,
declared that if this measure was to
be ruled ont of order no other business
could he transacted.
The Bankhead motion being unbeatable
the Senate Immediately proceeded to an
ave and no vote on the question as to
whether the resolution should be taken
I'D and it was adopted unanimously. Mr..
Hevburn himself refraining from voting.
With the resolution adopted Mr.. Hepburn
took the floor and spoke for 40 minutes
in which he went over many of the is
sues of the war and declared himself as
much a patriot as he was in 1S62-64
The only interruption of Mr. Hepburn
was bv Senator Jeff Davis of Arkansas,
who. without even awaiting the permits
sion Of the Idaho senator abruptly put
the question:
Were YOU in the war;
"Oh responded Mr.. Hepburn. chat il
the stock question of the cheap repoT-
ter"
Il understand" replied Mr.. Davis. that
the senator represents 264 'nggers in
his state
Responding to the last interruption, Mr.
Hepburn said if there We're 264 negroes IL
his state, he intended to try to represent
them. He added that he was not SEN
ator from his state alone. but senator
of the United States.
DEPRESSING from the consideration CT
the resolution, Mr.. Hepburn discussed
the wisdom of placing statue of Gen
Lee in the national Capitol.
I'm sending up figures for the National
Hall of Fame / would advise you nc
said, mot to overlook your Marshais
your Earlys, Lees, your Monroes and your
Henrys. Do not violate a sentiment
which you know to exist and which ex-
lists today as it did in the CO.'S.
II ask you in the interest of loyalty
and harmony to say to the people who
have sent here this image to come and
take it away: it may e dear to you, but
it is not dear to US. Take him home
place him in the most sacred spot; give
him the dearest place in your local tenn
ples-but. for Gods sake, don't again
start this spirit out of which the terrible
trouble of the past arose"
Mr.. Hepburn declared that he had no
personal feeling in the matter and that
If was not his intention to wave the
blodv shirt. II am" he said "as far from
doing that as any man you ever dreamed
of. But I love my country too we'll to SEQ
it drifting on the shores of discomfort and
personal strife"
HOUSE AND SENATE