The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-14
TOLD BY SENATORS
Some Amusing Occurrences In
the Upper House.
Department CLERKS NERVE.
How Foraker Shocked tho Modesty q
Plat Of Connectlcut-Morgan'a Lit
tie Joke on GaIIinger, the New
Hampshire Reformer.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


Washington.-The senate OF the
United States Is reported generally az
the staidest kind of body. It is sell
dom that any jokes are cracked on
the floor of the upper house, but occa-
sionally there Is an approach to hui
NOR, or an attempt at humor on the
part of some senator in a speech, and
then there are likely to be smiles, but
there is never anything approaching
even the giggle which precedes laugh
ter.
In the quiet OF their committee
rooms senators occasionally tell sto-
ries and good many of them have to
do with men whom they have known
in public life but who are dead and
gone. Other stories have to do with
their experiences as senators in their
dealings with their constituents, espe.
clally such dealings as are had through
correspondence.
Senators and representatives both
are willing lot, but occasionally there
is limit. A senator from Michigan
told some of his committee room com.
rades the other day that he had re-
ceived letter which he thought ap
preached the extreme of assurance.
This letter, he said, was from a clerk
in one of the departments and it vir
tually ordered the senator-the order
being based on the ground that the
man who issued it hailed from the
state of Michigan-to call upon the
superintendent of the division in which
the letter writer was a clerk, and tell
him to have the clerks desk moved SO
that he could spend the time when he
was not at work in looking out of the
window. The senator vouched for tho
truthfulness of this story
PIatt's Modesty Shocked.
The other day member of the up
per house told a story of Senator For
aker Of Ohio and ex-senator Plat OF
Connecticut who died some years ago
Mr.. Platt was known as the most mod.
est man who ever had seat in con.
gress. He was modest to the shrink
ing point. The story ran like this:
when Senator Foraker was making
his speech against the proposal to ad.
NIT Arizona and New Mexico as one
state he quoted from arguments made
by Senator Plat, who years ago on the
floor of the senate declared that Da.
kota was too large to be admitted al
one commonwealth and that it should
be split in twain. The Ohio senator
started in thus: The senior senator
from Connecticut, Mr. Plat -
AT this instant the main door OF
the senate chamber opened and Sena.
tor Plat appeared and started slowly
down the center aisle. He had not
heard his name as it fell from the lips
of Senator Foraker. Senator Foraker
continued: One Of the most virile-
minded, one of the ablest senators who
ever held membership in this body
Senator Plat had advanced ten
feet. Every eye was upon him. Sen.
atOr Foraker continued: "A man
known \ to the country for his distin.
guished services-a man known for the
fine quality Of his mind
Senator Plat was now within ten
feet of the front row of senatorial
desks. The eyes were still upon him,
and In them and below them was 81.
lent laughter. ~.
Senator Foraker went on: "A man
whose opinion upon questions of mo.
ment carries weight always and convio.
ton nearly always. l go not astray
when seek the words Of the eminent
senior senator from Connecticut -
Senator Plat had been listening
without suspicion. His name heard,
he fairly folded his towering form, fell
into a seat and there sat shiverine
from tho shock to his Connecticut mod,
esty." .f5...-..
Morgan Had Fun With GaIIInger.
Another story was told of Senator
Gallinger Of New Hampshire who il
still in the senate and Senator Nor.
gan of Alabama who died not long ago
at an advanced age. The bill to admit