Evening journal., 1913-07-12
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
General MahOne'S Maiden
Speech in the Senate
By Holland

At the extra session Of the Federal
Senate which convened Immediately
after the inauguration of President
James A. Garfield. in 1881, perhaps the
most conspicuous. certainly the most
interesting, personality amons all the
seators, who at that session took
their seats for the first time. was
William Malone Of Virginia. He had
established a unique reputation as a
very fierce, undaunted and skilled
commander Of a portion of the Con
federate army. He was man of
such spare figure as 10 cause univer-
sal recognition Of the aptness Of a
mark made by Mrs Malone when Il
was reported to her that the general
had received a flesh wound in an en-
gagement which had Just taken place
NO" she replied ut could not
have been a flesh wound, since The
general has no flesh. He Is all skin
and bones"
General Malone was also widely
known I'm business circles as the skill
part in the reconstruction of the
Norfolk and Western Railroad lines
In addition to the reputation thus
gained by Malone, there was especial
interest in his appearance as a United
States Senator from Virginia Tho
Senate Of that day was almost equally
divided, with respect TO numbers. be-
tween the Republican and the Demo
cratic members Nobody was sure how
General Malone would align himself
or whether he would not act as an
independent.
saw General Malone as he took
his seat upon tho day when II was
understood that he would be ficrcely
attacked by Seuator Ben Hill Of GeOr-
gia as a recrednt Democrat, and when
It was expected that Malone would
reply TO this speech,
With only one or two exceptions
every Senator was in his scat. The
galleries. even the one reserved for
the diplomats. we're filled to their ca
paclty
Senator Hill sat at a desk on tho
front row on the Democratic side near
the centre aisle. He was therefore
in conspicuous place. His speech
was a marvel of vitriolic power, Of
satire and OF ironic insinuatiOn, yet
It was absolutely parliamentary.
When hc took his seat the Senators
wondered whether tho little Senator
from Virginia would he able to mako
adequate reply
General Muhonc's seat was the last
one ON the rear row on the Republi-
can side of the Senate. IL was not n
good place for effective speaking. Yot
ne had spoken not more than three
or four sentences when n was appar-
ent that thin and piping as his voice
was. exactly such a voice as you
would expect 10 hear from so slight
man, nevertheless he had the en-
tire Senate chamber, galleries and ALL
absolutely uudcr his control Ma
! homes speech MAS a marvel of dra-
| matte power aud his peculiar ccccn.
trio personality contributed greatly "a
this dramatic effect
Il wish yOu would watch Senator
! Conkling said someone who was al
my elbow shortly after Malone hegar
| his speech. I was glad that I had
hocn thus advised. Conkiin sat iu
his place on the aisle about midway
upon the Republican side, apparently
convulscd with laughter, silent though
il was lie hid his face In his hand
kerchicf. although saw that his eyes
were peoring over the handkerchief
and that he was looking at Malone
He seemed unable to restrain his NOR
! rimont
Il saw him look across the aisle to.
ward one of his Democratic col.
leagues and make a gesture to cal
attention TO the mariOnette-like ap
pearance of Malone, the lace frill al
his wristband, the old-fashioned frilleC
shirt front. the trousers. very baggl
around the thighs and az the knees
and at that point to the ankles cut Sc
tightly that II was wonder how h'
ever got his feet through them wher
dressing.
OF sudden I saw Conkling stop hi
merriment. He became very serious
He appeared TO forget the eccentrlcit'
Of personal apparel and the extraordi
nary appearance of the speaker. 81
thoroughly absorbed was he in wha
Malone was saying. II was perhaps
unprecedented that a speech should
have so changed the manner of list
ener I'm the senate as Mahone's Wig
orous attack upon seantor Hin, o
reply to his attack changed Conk
lings attitude Conkling's demeano
from that time on until Malone fin
ished was that of a man absolutel
absorbed in the oratory which h
| heardc
Immediately after Malone finished
Conkling arose and in mis- magnifcen
way went over to Malone and shool
hands with him They chatted for
moment or two and then Malone tool
from n case ono of the long. rich AM
very black cigars. which he was ac
cuslomed to smoke and offered II 4
Conkling With equal dignity. Conk
ling took the cigar. and then wen
back to his seat in the Senate.
Copyright. 1913. by F. ]. Edwards
All right reserved).