The Washington herald., 1911-03-19
Stanch InSurgent from
Idaho Tells FOrcibly of
Cold Storage Evils.
By JAMES u. MORROW.

on MS desk: Inc people are eaunS
from here, the beginning pointing
''and not from there, at the end
Weldon Brfnton Hepburn, the Senatorial
potentate from Idaho and the man afraid
of nobody, was delineating disagreeable
fact pertaining to the cold storage of
food on q scrap of paper. It was serious
business and so he took another drink
Of water.
-One's roast beef" he gravely OBJ
served, may be two years old. The
Christmas t'--key for the family feast in
1911 may have been killed early in the
month of November. 1910. Possibly the
fresh fish was caught before the salt
mackereI on sale at the same meat shop
or grocery store left the ocean. We are
consuming old food from the bottom of
the pile"-here he drew a large figure
that looked like a stack of hay-"and
not the new and healthful food from the
top. I am not a muckraker, but there is
the proof and he gesticulated toward a
thick pile OF letters and documentary
records.
Some men hunt deer and grizzly bears.
Senator Hepburn hunts frauds, cheats,
and impOsters. Giving him a paternal
relationship to a celebrated measure of
legislation. he can be called the father of
the pure food law. He has been trying
to eliminate mud from paint and has
prepared a report Of I35 pages on the
subject. Now, with all the gloomy and
Irresistible force of a battering ram. he
is trying to drive a law out of Congress
to regulate the cold storage of meat,
fruits, butter, eggs, and vegetables
A peppery man while on his feet-an
explosive man more nearly describes him
temperamentaIly-ev watchful in a
front seat of the Senate to strike blow
at some colleague or at irreverent
spectators, I deemed it prudent to ap-
proach him cautiously.
You are an interesting man." I said,
which was true. absolutely.
&" would rather be interesting" he re-
piled looking at me with his deep blue
eyes, than notorious. But I shall not
help you write a jocular article. No
anecdotes. I have heard Of such books
as Forty Years at the Bar Of Georgia.
but wouldn't degrade my mind by read
ing such literature. Any lawyer can tell
stories-that is. any lawyer who has been
in active praCtice-bUt the business and
condolences of a client are private and
should be kept out OF books and news
papers"
Can silence the Gallery.
In a recent CoIoquy with Borah, also
OF Idano, Hepburn turned his face up
war. and Sternly said that smokers
and sneers' from the gallery would not
he tolerated under any circumstances.
The galleries heard and were silent in
stanty. Such is the authority of Hey
burns look, voice, and robust personality.
Accordingly, when he warned me against
anecdotes, I abandoned all thought of
joyous excursion in that direction and
sOlennly spoke of the serious aspects OF
human Lfe-Of toll. its victories, and so
on.
4 was sIeepIess last night" he re-
piled. taking a sip from his glass AT
o'clock I got up and read the philosophy
Of Seneca. He said that no boast should
be made of any achievement that was
without some useful consequence
ManifestIy. I was being walled in with
muddy paint. rancid butter, ancient
poultry, and bad eggs. ] had heard that
Senator Hepburn carried a rife during
the Leadville strike; that he sent a good
many men TO the penitentiary for their
conduct in the Occur CAlcne riots; that
$3.50 was voted to the assassin who
would kill him on sight and that they
met-the prospective assassin and Hey
burn-faCe to face. but that no part OF
the reward was ever paid or earned.
You experienced some exciting days" !
] remarked, COnCealinE all show of the
interest I felt. during the strike of !
Idaho miners hack in 1892
II did" Senator Hepburn answered, |
COurteOusly enough. but 7 shall not talk !
70 you or any other man on a subject |
like that. l have seen an orderly court |
room become a battlefield inside of a |
minute, with guns going off and human |
beings going down. But l am no his |
torian OF such scenes. have heard OF |
rr-hn I-.- -b1
Ordinarily their flow of language is great !
or than their courage or common sense. !
There Is a class at all frontier settlements !
that gets undue publicity. They are the !
fellows who loaf around saloons dance |
halls, theaters, and gambling joints. |
never went to such places. I never as
soCiated with such men. My purpose, |
first in Colorado and then in Idaho, was |
serious. I told Bret Harte that doubtless
" he had written accurately and artLs-
tically of the persons he knew, but that |
my studies. fortunately, were with mine |
owners. railway managers, and gentle |
men. Every few days ] used to read a |
list Of the killed. Not man among them |
was ever missed"
You have never confessed with shame |
that you were once a corporation law !
yer?'' said. hoping to get some mustard !
in the answer
I have not" Senator Hepburn replied. |
''Th- cry against corporation lawyers was
started hy men who were unfit to be the
lawyers OF anybody ] had mining COM
panies for clients in Colorado. and the
same kind OF clients in Idaho, having TAX
en- thorough courses in civil and mining
engineering, metallUrEy, and geology that
l might be competent as a specialist as
well 5 a general practitioner ! refused
longer to serve a transcontinental rail-
road because l could make more money
in mining litigation ahd because liked
the work better. Contingent fees were
never accepted, nor have ] ever taken
any mans property. Old soldiers under
stood that I would do their business for
nothing. II I told a client he didn't have
a case worth trying on its merits 1
charged him just as much as I would
have charged him had l gone into court.
Poor people paid me according to their
means So did the rich ones
Meanwhile, you have not hesitated on
occasion TO give your opinions in Ian
guage distinct enough to be heard by all
Talks from Shoulder.
II am not a loud person, although I am
so represented by reporters who seek to
make their managing editors believe they
are witty and mighty clever young
writers. 4 public character is obliged
by duty to state his opinions. 1t is
sometimes necessary for a private man
TO do the same. ] never thrust my opin-
ions on others, but il am invited to tell
hesitate. When Congress adjourns I 20
y 1nH TvafR RH1rIr NarfWk ~