Evening journal., 1912-03-04
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Two Answers That
Turned Away Wrath
By Holland.

Roscoe Conkling was thought by
many Of his colleagues in the United
States Senate TO have attained the
highest perfection in the. art of skill
full, appropriate and conclusive re-
paree. In my opinion, however, Conk-
ling's gift in this respect, which was
a wonderful one was fully matched
by the ability of Senator John J. In
gals of Kansas to make instant and
complete repartee" SO said the late
William p. Frye Of Maine for many
years president pro tempore OF the
Senate, shortly after the death of the
brilliant Kansan, in 1900
u can best illustrate Conklings
mastery, of repartee by an incident
which happened in 1S76,Y continued
Senator Frye He had been speaking
for some time TO a full Senate and
to full galleries At last it became evil
dent that Senator Allen G Thurman,
Of Ohio, whose seat was opposite Con-
kings on the center aisle was feel
ing annoyed over something connected
with Conkling's speech or its manner
of delivery; for that grand old Roman
would look up quickly at Conkling
every once in while and then move
around nervously in his seat. Finally
he asked
Is the Senator from New York
| addressing his remarks to me? / am
| led to think so because he constantly
turns and looks at me while speak
ing
C"onkling turned and drew himself
up to his full height. For a moment or
two he looked silently and with a
kindly manner at Thurman for whom
he had very great respect 1t was a
| dramatic moment; every noise was
hushed on the floor of the Senate,
and the galleries became as quiet. And
when the silence was perfect, Conk-
ling began speaking slowly in that
| rich, musical voice of his:
Mr.. President, when | turn to the
Senator from Ohio, turn as a Mussul-
man turns towards Mecca; and when I
turn to him upon occasions like the
present, when our common profession
of the law is the subject of debate,
] turn to him as | would turn to the
common law of the Union, the worlds
most copious fount of Jurisprudence
Thurman was really overwhelmed
by the compliment He said nothing,
but he could not have failed to notice
the strong current of approval of
Conkling's sentiment that ran through
out the entire Senate chamber.
II was sitting behind ingalls,. a lit
tie to his right, when, in my opinion
he matched the reply that COnkling
made TO Thurman.
Just beyond ingalls, was the desk
of Senator Henry l.. Dawes of Mas
sachusetts He was busily engaged in
writing and apparently paying no at
tention to Ingalls, speech. although it
had reference to some Indian land
question, subject in which Dawes
was interested Two rows in front OF
Ingalls, desk was that Of George T..
Hoar, junior Senator from Massachu
sets. Something that ingalls, said If
ritated Senator HOar and he rose and
asked if-the Senator from Kansas re-
ferred 10 him or was addressing him.
Instantly, ingalls, answered;
" When I spoke it was not to the
successor of the historic Senator from
Massachusetts Daniel Webster but it
was to the worthy successor of that
other historic Senator from that state,
Charles Sumner
1T was wonderfully quick mental
operation which ingalls, then display
| ed Senator HOar was the successor,
in the direct line, of Daniel Webster
Senator Dawes was the successor in
! direct line Of Charles Sumner, and
doubt if any other Senator than In
gals could. without pausing for a few
| moments to reflect, have identified
those two Senators as the successors
of the statesmen whom he named.
The compliment pleased Mr. Hoar and
delighted Dawes, who rose half way
from his seat and made a slight but
courteous acknowledgment"
Copyright. 1912, by p j. Edwards
All rights reservedl
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell