Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28

ticular for their failure to act on some
measure In which he was interested.
As the debate waxed warmer the Re-
publican member became more and
more worked up over the subject
FINALLY he charged members Of
congress generally with idleness.
"'Look at the farmer! he shouted
He produces the food upon which we
| live. The honest lahorer toiling home
at eve to his hun 70 supper, fur
nishes the motive p,"or .or ,nis great
civilization. The stcrekeeper fur
nishes the storehouse and the weaver
the cloth that goes within the store
house All these do their share. Why
are we producing?
Instantly the southerner was on his
feet, courteously requesting recogni
ton. After gaining permission to
speak he turned to the excited Repub-
lican and said.
81 will enlighten the gentleman IL
he so desires
81 do. said the Republican.
"'Then, said the southerner. I will
tell the gentleman on the other side
OF the chamber that congress pro
duces more talk per capita than any
organization In the world"
Serene T. Payne, ranking minority
member of the ways and means com
mittee, recalls this as the quickest re.
tort he ever heard in congress.
Many years ago Representative
Springer of Illinois was debating on
the floor OF the house. During the
course OF his speech he made several
remarks OF a rather variant nature
without apparently realizing the blum
der that he was making After he
had talked about ten minutes Tom
Reed arose and interrupted him.
The gentleman from Illinois, sale
Reed. has made three distinct state
ments of contradictory nature.
would like to remark that any one o
4 the three could be used to disprov,
q the others.
Z Springer, taken aback thanked
9 Reed. who sat down. He delivered
rather a howery effort, In which HI
5 expressed his satisfaction at having
= / Uttl DIOuBHl W Doph ny Nttu
;, Then he concluded
9 "And will say. Mr.. Speaker. II
r words that have been used before,
j. would rather be right than be presi
Z dent
/. Reed did not arise, but smiled sar
l. donically.
: No danger OF your being either
( he yelled across the aisle.
Senator Boise Penrose OF Pennsy
e vania, who has himself been the her
: of many debates, also regards Tor
@ Reed as his beau ideal OF the ma
; with the lightning retort.
One of Reeds eharpest shafts wa
l. flung during the debate on the Wilso
d tariff" said Senator Penrose. 9TH
= argument had been bitter and tn
q fight against the measure had bee
determined When the bill finall
g. passed the house a group of Wilson
'r friends. among them William Jenning
a Bryan. picked him up on their shou
II ders and carried him about the chan
n. ber.
n Tom Reed had been watching tn
| pio'''uihS III q sdNui SoIt VI wa
,f When Wilson and his triumphaI
bearers reached the center doors
ID the chamber Reed lifted up his ra
n cous voice and shouted:
x You may carry him out now, viii
@ you have the chance. The people
the United states will carry him o,
IN next November
IN And 1t turned out to sbe as Rec
had prophesied."
y. What clings to my mind as OF
a of the most amusing incidents ev'
witnessed in debate" said Senate
Dt John sharp Williams OF Mississippi
grew out OF not exactly a retort. b.
W speech that was delivered by Il
as late Senator Robert Taylor of Tenne
ne see. In this address the senate
Ir- using his pose Of preternatural sc
ID emnlty. announced that he had lis
r, ened In state bordering on stup
faction to the splendid tributes Whit
Ir. had been paid to various American
O. dustries.
n Then he turned toward Senat,
lr- Hepburn of Idaho. whose speech