The Red Cloud chief., 1911-10-19
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on every occasion have kept hewing to the limo
Of one special legislative endeavor. John T.
Morgan. for years senator from tho state OF Ala
bama worked for months untold to secure the
adoption BY the United States government Of tho
Nicaraguan route for tho great interoceanic
canal He lost out, but It Is probable that the
facts which no obtained In his researches were OF
moro value to the dggers OF the canal than those
gathered by any other one man.
Senator Morgan was one of the noted excep-
tions to the psalmists rule for the limit Of the
years of man. Some Of the hippant and pos.
siby tired. senators declared that Mr.. Morgan's
speeches were as long as his life. II the voice
Of the Alabama man had been younger there
would havo been few sleepy ones In the senate
when he talked-that is when he talked on any
other subject than the interoceanc canal. Then
Il was to fly before tho face Of his oratory
There was substance to Senator Morgan's
speeches, and this much cannot DO said for the
vocal efforts Of some Of the nlppant 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 the
cloak room. Only rarely did he take apparent no
uce Of the seeming dscourtesy Once. wisely or
unwisely, he said with something of pathos in
his voice that he wished no could talk in the
lunch room, for there he would be sure Of an
audience.
Mr.. Morgan was no imperialst. He had a fear
In his heart Of tho outcome of the policy Of expan
came
lips was frequent and forceful. One day, after
outlining the position which he believed his
country should take, his voice came back to
him. Senators starting to leave their seats sunk
back and listened. The words fairly rang through
the chamber This was what he said:
"In this lofty attitude we can prove the vir.
tue Of the republic before the eyes of all man.
kind, or We can set its light % q beacon to warn
coming generations that. even In the highest
reach Of power and advantage this republic
the synosure Of all eyes-is affected to the core
with the sin Of covetousnsss, and 10 aname with
the consequent lust OF power that 10 attended
with the usurpations. tyrannies and expressions
which have marked the course Of the oligarchies
and despots that have disgraced the history Of
other nations"
Tho senate Of tho United States stands for dig.
nifty. Sometimes the dignity II overdone but. on
one occasion the Senate was undigniAed to the
point Of striking several older senators with
horror.
Senator Tillman Of South Carolina was max.
Ing nothing less than an impassioned specch He
was reaching toward the skies of oratory. when
senator Warren left his seat unseen Of Tilman
and took station behind the South Carolinian.
The speaker had both hands high over his head
directing tho soaring Of his thoughts and words
warren took step forward. His hand stole
to Tllmans side. slipped into his pocket. and
bottle.
All unconscious Tillman went on with his words
OF hre Warren held bis find aloft In full view
OF the presiding olicer. Of his colleagues and the
crowded galleries. There was a gasp. then q
smothered and simultaneous gurgle Of horror
from hundred throats and then roaring laugh.
ter uncheckable.
Tillman turned and knowledge Of the awfuness
OF his situation came to him. For once, possibly
for tho nrst time In his life, he was staggered
70 speechlessneSs. He strove for words but they
came not ut his bidding. His face was first black
with something like anger. Then the cloud clear.
ed and smile broke through Speech returned,
and two words came "Boracic acid"
It was boracic acid, but unfortunately for Mr.
Tiilman. It had been put into black and suspi
cious bottle sore throat was the reason for it,
carrying. and while the South Carolinian 10 q
man OF known truth. he would not let the matter
pass until hs had passed the bottle and had
forced him comrades to smell the stun and make
clear his temperance record.
Neither senate nor house makes light Of pen.
sion pleas In the presence OF the galleries. but
some Of the would.be pensioners play comic roles
10 the committee rooms and corridors. Claim.
ants who can prove things are treated % old sol.
diers and old soldiers widows ought to bs treated
--decenty and reverentiy.
Congress In Its weakness las voted pensions
on many an occasion. though doubtless know.
Ing that the pensions were unearned and unde.
served, but the day Of that sort OF thing 10 pass
Ing. II has not altogether gone Ono member
was asked to use his influence to secure an in.