The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-12
HOW HEPBURN
WOKE UP SENATE
Senator From Dakota Thumps Desk
With Judgment, But Every
body Votes Against Him.
BY FRED scHAEFER.

WASHINGTON, Feb l2.-Oratory
when enthroned in the United States
senate. holds doubtful sway Let
this he warning 10 the young per
son who is training himself In the
forensic art expecting some day -
make the halls OF the nation resound
with eloQuence until the listening
throng with one accord Is reused 10
action
II doesn't happen There is some
thing wrong about the tradition that
oratory sways The senators can l''
ten 10 oratory all day and remain
pulseless as so many fsh. Either ora
tory is not comprehended as II should
be or the senate lacks red corpuscles
For example. | saw Senator W. 3
Hepburn, OF Idaho, arise and utterly
waste perfectly good broadslde OF
eloQuence Il WAS that noted speech
in which he unfurled the star spangled
banner over the matter OF lending
federal tents 70 the United Contede.'
ate veterans for their next reunion.
Il was a gem OF speech-one that
would have won a gold medal In 1861
BUT the remainder OF the senate, cal
lous and unpatriotic. did not enthuse'
Indeed. as the proud ensign was stow
cd back into its black oilcloth case
after Mr.. Hepburn had Haunted Il,
there was not moist eye in the
house. Even the New England sena
tors refused TO become 'het' up over
the rebel" issue.
When the war started, as Senator
Heyhorn confessed. he was just II
- In ~
nate In sthose historic festivities even
as a drummer boy Now nearly nuN
years afterward, he found chance
70 leap into the conflict CARRIED in q
white vest and a neat haircut
II came as a surprise, this battle
cry OF freedom by Senator Hepburn
He is a handsome impressive states
man. with a seat away up In front;
also he is one OF the most impressive
tCilers in the upper Legislative cham
Der He is always doing something
in a plodding SNOWY manner. He can
be seen az any time with documents
on his desk. Nor is he like SO many
of your statesmen who place their
whole happiness In smoking bulky
segars In the cloak rooms
However. soon after he had risen
to his feet and begun his clarion enun
citation, the galleries began filling with
listeners. brought by the general alarm
sent out that this day something n
last was happening in the senate. He
has rich. melodious voice that Il
a q eat 20 hear His language Is able
very. He employs correct gestures
and thumps on his desk with judg
ment and effect He implored the
senate. not, oh. not 20 give recogni
ton to the confederacy. He appealec
, especially 70 the patriots on his sid'
OF the house, whose party had save
/ tho union from that period OF error
! He was vehement. but not unduly BIT
ter Things struggled within him 10
utterance. but he had calmly set hi
! limitations He woulc not wave tn
/ Bloody Shirt. But by everything tina
/ was sacred. he urged that the old feel
! ting. the old rancor. be not aroused
/ n this manner The terrible past
as pictured by him. should not az thi
I late day be revived.
Amid a tense silence he sat down
/ The galleries craned forward, ever.
| heart beating Would The senate nov
I be torn by sectional strife?
It didn't even rip.
Everybody but Mr. Hepburn voted
70 let the United Confederates have
What they wanted. The northern folks
voted right along with the southern
contingent. Even eagerly did they 81
vote Mr. Heyburn's vote was tn
solitary recognition given the throb
bling appeal from far-off Idaho.
Thus was oratOry martyred In tn
Urited States senate.