The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1911-02-24
MEMORY OF CLAY
H0N0RE0 IN SENATE
Senator Tillman Overcome
BY Emotion and I'm
able to Speak.

S6LI5, OVeTmdn, OF North Carolina.
Carter, of Montana; Tillman, Of South
Carolina, and Bailey, of Texas, who.
one after another rose in their seats
and eulogized the sterling attributes of
the distinguished Georgian, who has
gone to his final earthly rest, TO await
another dawn some radiant Easter be-
ryQnd the gates of Night"
Senator Joseph M Terrell, who sue
ceeded to the vacancy occasioned by
the death of Senator Clay, was to have
Joined in the eulOgies, but unfortunate
ly he lay helpless in a hospital.
Senator Tillman was so overcome by
emotion that he sank into his seat and
could not proceed.
1t had been Senator Tillman's pur-
/ pose to- pay tribute to the memories of
both Senator Clay and Senator Dolli-
yer. who was also eulogized
He had prepared his speech, but had
proceeded for only a minute when he
was overcome.
The pathos of glory lead but to the
grave" said the venerable South Caro-
linian, and he proceeded in this strain
as he called the roll of death that has
overtaken the senate within the past
year.
He alluded briefly to the attack of
paralysis from which he suffered last
year, and proceeded to recount his love
for Clay and Dolliver
Il loved them" he said. They were
worthy of my love. Good men are
plentiful in this country, but not so
good as Clay. He has left us and we
know not how soon our time may
come. | feel that with especial force
But "a long pause) | cannot go on, Mr.
President. | have the thoughts but
the words will not come"
And Senator Tillman sank into his
chair.
Senator Bacon opened the exercises
with a beautiful eulogy. He was fol
lowed by Senator Scott, then Taliafer-
70, Lodge, Overman, Carter and Bailey
And the speeches of each touched a
responsive chord Each elaborated
the traits of Senator Clay, yet each
found and illuminated some special
quality.
Senator Bailey said he had never
known public man who was so will
ing and ready to answer every call
made upon him as was Senator Clay.
He answered every call promptly and
cheerfully, no matter how occupied his
time. And no Georgian who called for
had been denied his best efforts.
Mr.. Bacon said that Senator Clay
was not Graded in luxury, nor were
his muscles in early boyhood softened
in indulgent ease. de reviewed brief
ly his life's history from early boyhood,
told of his manual labor on the farm Of
his father in Cobb county. and recount
ed an incident recited to him by his
late colleague while they were driving
together through Cobb county. At the
age of Is Senator Clay was blowing in
a field when his father called him to
the roadside to meet Gen. John B. Cor
don. Twenty-eight years later, when
General Gordon retired from the sen
ate, he was succeeded by the farmer
boy he had met in the Cobb county
road
Like so many men who have later
achieved the highest place, young Clay
taught school while he prepared him
self for admission to the bar" said Sen
ator Bacon. Among his pupils was a
charming, fair-haired girl, Miss Fran
ces White, who soon thereafter became
his loving and devoted wife, sharing
his every burden, inspiring him in ev-
cry effort. encouraging him in every
struggle. and proud of him in all his
successes ending within the power o
the state to bestow'
Senator Clay's rise at the bar was
rapid, said MFR. Bacon, and within
very few years he was recognized as a
leader in a bar of exceptional ability,
bringing him not only prominence but
material reward.
The election of Senator Clay to the
Georgia Legislature from Cobb county
and his six consecutive terms of serv-
ice were touched upon by Senator Ba-
con, who also spoke of his record as
speaker of the Georgia house and, sub
seQuently, the honor and ability with
which he served as president of the
state senate. His service as chairman
of the state Democratic executive com
mittee and his management of the
campaign against the Populist party
candidates in those stirring times were
recounted
From being local leader in his own
the state" said the senator. In ali the
commonwealth there was no man OF
wider and more active personal infu.
ence. and there have been few public
men who could confidently number so
many warm personal friends"
There can be little doubt but that in
his death he was self-immolated mar
tyr to his official duty as he conceived
it, SAID .,e senator 1T was not
doubted by those who watched him
closely that each days labor was fix
ing more and more plainly the stamp
Of death upon him He was daily con-
iured by them to leave the work and
seek the restoration of his health, but