The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-05-26

Senator FAIRBANKS TounQ another occasion to NAL
Is isthmian address. I'm til the hour came for i
elivery he had an eye Sin gle for Senator Morga
he Alabaman. however, for once in his life whs
Is pet subject up for discussion was content
t still and say nothing. In the press galleries
as whispered that Mr. organ wasn't feeling vel
ell that day.
In the particular case of the Panama matter Sen
tor Cullom, being the chairman on the committee
on foreign relations, had charge of the legisla-
tion the floor of the senate. The trials of
Senator Cullom on that occasion were the trials
of the pilot on every measure of magnitude that
is launched for passage through either house
or senate
Nearly every senator and representative wishes
to make speech on the big things that are
before congress. OF course all of them cannot
speak, but the trials of the man in charge begin
when the members ask that their speaking may
be postponed for day or two The intending
speakers have their fralty of vanity They want
to speak when the galleries are not crowded, and
if the galleries are not crowded they ask that
they may speak another day.
When the Panama matter was up Senator Gull
lom finally became angry and tired with the
tors who asked that yet another day be set for
the making of their speeches. The Illinois senator
did not wish Senator Morgan to have all the
time to himself, and Morgan could be counted
on to take every minute that was dropped to him
to talk about the glories of the Nicaraguan route
for canal, about the mbecility of using the
Panama route and about the Republican sin of
the recognition of the republic on the isthmus
The Panama matter is only an instance in
point. Many speech the railroad rate bill
was put or because the attendance was not
what 1t should have been from the viewpoint OF
the man who was to speak. Congressman have
their human weaknesses.
The last great duty which Senator Platt of
Connecticut performed for his country was his
work presiding officer of the senate court dur
ing the trial of Judge Charles Swayne. Unques-
tionably the strain of that trial shortened Senator
Platt's life. He presided with dignity and with
the rarest impartiality The hours of the courts
session were long, and yet the aged Connecticut
senator refused to leave his seat even for the
getting of necessary food until the session OF
each day ended.
Prior to the opening of the trial Senator Plat
stood in the vice-president's place and told his
colleagues that it was their duty not to lose
word Of the testimony lest they bring in an un-
just verdict The result of this that with
two exceptions the senators sat in their
seats and heard important and unimportant testi-
mony. listening to every argument of counsel.
and lest anything should escape them they made
insistent demand that every witness should speak
SO that all men in the chamber might hear
1t is probable that before one-quarter of the
trial proceedings of the against Charles
Swayne was ended every senator had made up
his mind as to the guilt or the innocence of the
accused. but the belief of guilt innocence
formed early did not prevent the attendance of
any member Of that high court during the entire
time of the trial. Judge Swayne was acquitted
His acquittal not made party matter as
many feared 1t was to be. On some Of the counts
against him he acquitted unanimously. On
others where there was minority which believed
him guilty both Democrats and Republicans
formed part Of that minority.
Senator Jacob II. Gallinger is known in con-
gress as the chief Of the humanitarians and as
sha sathar Of many reforms