The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-08-19


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HEA ers, fasteners and westerners
81 have their strengths and their
NW weaknesses their likes and their
III dislikes their physical manner
&cz3SSzi isms and their mental idiosyn-
~ crases Just like all other human
beings.
There have been men In con-
eress who year in and year out
on every occasion have kept hewing TO the iine
GE one special legislative endeavor Jonn l.
Morgan, for years senator from the state OF Ana
hama worked for months untold to secure the
.,douti,n nv the United States government of the
Njcararuan route for the great interoceanlc
canal He lost out, but it is probable that the
facts which he obtained in his researches were OF
moro value to the diggers of the canal than those
gathered by any other one man.
Senator Morgan one of the noted excep
lions TO the psalmist's rule for the limit of the
wears of man. Some of the fippant and pos
slbIy tired senators declared that Mr.. Morgans
speeches were long his life. II the voice
Of the Alabama had been younger tnere
would have been few sleepy ones IN the senate
when he taiked-that is when he talked on any
other subject than the interoceanic canal. Then
II was to fly before the face of his oratory.
There was substance to Senator Morgan's
speeches and this much cannot be said for the
vocal efforts of some of the fippant and younger
ones. The aged ones words went into the Con-
gressional Record and Illuminated its pages
When he rose to speak many of the colleagues
of Mr.. Morgan retreated to the restaurant or the
cloak room. Only rarely did he take apparent no
tice Of the seeming discourtesy. Once wisely or
tmwisely he said with something of pathos in
his voice that he wished he could talk in the
lunch room for there he would be sure of an
audience.
Mr.. Morgan was no imperalist. He had fear
I'm his heart of the outcome of the policy of expan-
sion and the note of warning that came from his
Hips frequent and forceful One day, after
IT, ht.1h h1lt1 y
country should take. his voice came back to
him. Senators starting to leave their seats sunk
hack and listened. The words fairly rang through
che chamber This was what he said:
In this lofty attitude prove the vr-
tine Of the republic before the eyes of all man.
Kind. or we can set its light as a beacon to warn
coming generations that, even in the highest
reach of power and advantage, this republic
the cynOsure Of all eyes-is affected to the core
with the sin of covetousness, and is afame with
the consequent lust Of power that is attended
with the usurpaticns, tyrannies and expressions
which have marked the course OF the oligarchies
and despots that have disgraced the history Of
other nations"
The senate Of the United States stands for dig
nifty Sometimes the dignity is overdone but, on
one occasion the Senate was undignifed to the
point of striking several older senators with
horror
Senator Tillman OF South Carolina was max
ing nothing less than an impassioned speech. He
was reaching toward the skies of oratory, when
Senator Warren left his seat unseen of Tillman,
and took station behind the South Carolinan.
The speaker had both hands high over his head
directing the soaring of his thoughts and words.
Warren took a step forward. His hand stole
t0 Tfllmans side. slipped into his pocket, and
came out again holding In its clutch big black
bottle
An unconscious Tillman went on with his words
of fire. Warren held his find aloft in full view
DFeSidjDC officer of his colleagues and the
crowded galleries. There a gasp, then
sniofhered and simultaneous gurgle of horror
from a hundred throats and then roaring laugh
ter uucheckable.
TIIlman turned and knowledge of the awfuness
OF his situation to him. For once possibly
for the first time in his life he was staggered
Co speechlessness. He strove for words, but they
came not at his bidding His face was first black
with something like anger. Then the cloud clear
ed and a smile broke through. Speech returned.
and two words came: "Boracic acid"
IL was boracic acid but unfortunately for Mr..
TfIlmaz, IL had been put into black and suspi-
cious bottle. sore throat was the reason for its
carrying and while the South Caronian is
man OF known truth he would not let the matter
pass until he had passed the bottle and had
forced him comrades to smell the stuff and make
clear his temperance record
Neither senate nor house makes light of pen
sion pleas in the presence of the galleries, but
of the woud-be pensioners play comic roles
I'm the committee and corridors. Claim
ants who prove things are treated old SOL
dlers and old soldiers widows ought to be treated
--decently and reverently.
Congress in its weakness fas voted pensions
many occasion though doubtless know
fny that the pensions unearned and nde-
served, but the day of that sort of thing Is pass
ing, III IL has not altogether gone One member
was asked to use his influence to secure an In