The Forrest City times., 1912-05-24
Two Senators on Titanic lnves- tlgatlng Committee Are
 Former Sailors.
SMITH MAKES FUNNY BREAKS
Chairman Amuses Spectators by Lack of Seamanship knowtedge-Pe kins and Bourne Know Snip
 From Stem to Stern.
By GEORGE CLINTON

Nashington.-Senator William Al den Smith, who is chairman oi the committee on inquiry into the Titanic disaster. was given the chairmanship of the body as q recognition of the Tact that he Was the hrst senator to offer in the senate a resolution c; in qulFy into the causes of the wreck NIT. Smith is from Michigan and be Is newspaper proprietor and d lawyer When asked about the newspaper bus1- hess the senator always says that he went into it when he was a mere child, and so he did.
 When tAe Michigan senator was a little boy his father died, leaving the widow and son virtually without any means of support. William Alden smith, mere boy. went to work to support his mother In those days transportation was not as rapid as II Is today and the news dealers of young smiths town yied with each other to get the first copies of the Chicago morning papers The pres ent senator at the age Of eleven used to wait at the railroad station at an early hour in the morning on the chance that the Chicago papers would come in on train on which they oc- casionally came in advance of the usual hour Of their arrival Sometimes the boy would get the papers earlier than anybody else and consequently he would sell a good many of them be- fore others got started He made quite little money in this way.
 Bourne Knows the Sea.
 Senator Jonathan Bourne. Jr.. who Is also a member Of the Titanic dis aster investigating committee. recent ly was defeated Tor the senate in the primaries Of his 5tate. Oregon Mr Bourne for years has been an advocate Of the primary system, and hts defeat at home was unexpected In Washing ton. IL Is said here that he owes II to oyer-contidence in the result. for he did not go to Oregon to plead his own cause.
 Senator Bourne has not taken an ac- tive questioning part in the investi- gation, because that work Is left al most entirely to the committees s chair. man, Senator Smith There are men In Washington who wish that Mr. Bourne would ask more questions. for be Is eUinently qualified to deal with questions Of the sea His father was one of the great whalers of New Eng land, man who knew ships from stem to stern and from topmast to keel. and he' imparted his know ledge to his son. not only in lessons. but bY sending him to sea. Senator Bourne once was shipwreeked and went through many dangers like those which attended tho rescue or the pas sengers of the Titanic
 Perkins Was Seaman.
 Senator Perkins of California. who also Is on the Titanic investigating committee. spent several years as an able seaman. lie knows the sea and ships. and while he has not asked many questions during the course of the investigation he made many notes. and his judgment VIII be Ten. dered on the case al its end
 The sailors wEe have testified in the Titanic case have shown something very much like amaseu ent. and possl- bly sayoring of contempt. oi the lack Of seamanship knowledge IS shown bv some of the questions which they are asked. l. is needless to say that none of these questions were asked by the two mcrbers of the comrIitteo who were formerly sailors Senator Smith had au idea that the water tight compartments We're places or refuge for women and children. not knowing that they were depended up or to keep the ship aaoat. and f the doors had been opened t0 admit any. body CT anything the water would have rushed n and everybody would have gone te the bottom The ships officer who was asked fl any women and children were put into the water tight compartment was completely "dabbergaste by the question. He Of course. was aware Of the dignity of the occasion, but he had 10 gasp ana then smile at the corners Of hls mouth when the question was put 10 him The audience was not as self-contained as the sailor witness Its smile de- ftlpHtu IutO iftuSu. II pFADdhly was slip Of Senator smiths tongue, but the question proved that he Is very much Of a landsman
 Memorial Day at Arlington.
 Preparations are being made in Washington for the annual Me morial day. ordinarily called Dec oration day. exercises. In Airing. ton across the Potomac from Wash ington sleep 2o.oo0 Of the country,s dead. Federal officers and soldiers and Confederate officers and soldiers side by side. Arlington is the camping ground of an army that never again will bear arms.
 This national cemetery is perhaps the most beautiful burial ground in all the country. II lies upon a hilltop where grow mighty forest trees ana where the yiew is uubroken 10 q point