The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-08-22


on every occasion have kept hewing TO the line
of one special legislative endeavor John T.
Morgan for years senator from the state of Ala
bama, worked for months untold to secure the
adoption by the United States government of the
Nicaraguan route for the great nteroceanic
canal. He lost out, but it is probable that the
facts which he obtained in his researches were OF
more value to the diggers OF the canal than those
gathered by any other man.
Senator Morgan of the noted excep-
tons to the psamists rule for the limit OF the
years of man. Some of the fippant and pos
sbly tired, senators declared that Mr.. Morgans
speeches were as long his life. II the voice
of the Alabama man had been younger there
would have been few sleepy ones in the senate
when he talked-that is when he talked on any
other subject than the interoceanic canal. Then
IL was to fly before the face of his oratory.
There substance to Senator Morgans
speeches and this much cannot be said for the
vocal efforts of some of the hippant 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
unwisely, 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 imperialist He had fear
In his heart of the outcome of the policy of expan
sion, and the note of warning that came from his
lips was frequent and forceful. One day. after
outlining the position which he believed his
country should take, his voice came back tn
him. Senators starting to leave their seats sunk
pack and listened. The words fairly rang through
the chamber. This what he said:
In this lofty attitude can prove the vir-
tue or the republic before the eyes of all man.
Kind, or we can set its light as a beacon to warn
coming generations that in the highest
reach or power and advantage this republic
tne 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 usurpations tyrannies and expressions
which have marked the course of the oigarchies
other nations"
The senate of the United States stands for dig
nifty Sometimes the dignity is overdone but. on
one occasion the Senate undgniied to the
point or 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 Carolinian.
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
to I1llman's side, slipped into his pocket and
came out again holding in its clutch big black
bottle
All unconscious Tillman went on with his words
or fire Warren held his find aloft in full view
of the presiding officer, of his colleagues and the
crowded galleries. There was a gasp then a
smothered and simultaneous gurge of horror
from a hundred throats and then roaring laugh.
ter uncheckable.
I1hman turned and knowledge of the awfulness
or his situation came to him. For once, possibly
for the first time in his life he was staggered
20 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 smile broke through Speech returned
and two words came: "Boracic acid"
1t was boracic acid but unfortunately for Mr.
Tillman. it had been put into a black and suspi.
ctous bottle. sore throat was the reason for its
carrying, and while the South Carolinian is a
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 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 wouldbe pensioners play comic roles
an the committee rooms and corridors Claim
ants who can prove things treated as old sol.
diers and old soldiers widows ought to be treated
-decently and reverently
Congress in its weakness Eas voted pensions
on many an occasion, though doubtless know.
ing that the pensions unearned and unde-
served, but the day Of that sort Of thing is pass.
ing. if 1t has not altogether gone One member
was asked to use his influence to secure an in.