The Washington herald., 1914-10-06
HISTORY BUILDERS.
When Senator ingalls, Met His Match
at Repartee.
By DR. 4. J. EDWARD!

Cwnttsn Expressly for The Washington HeTad.l
The rare facility of the late Senator
John James Ingalls,, Of Kansas. for
repartee was fully recognized by his
Senatorial colleagues With a single ex-
ception, none OF them ever Intentionally
invited Senator Ingalls, to discharge his
satire-tipped shafts against him. Occa-
sionaIly, however, he took the oppor-
tunity TO convey a compliment In an
epigrammatic manner to some one Of
his colleagues OF whom he was especially
Nfond.
One Senator, however, was without
any fear of Senator ingalls, shafts, since
he was confident that, no matter how
sharp or how hard-driven they were,
he was himself able to turn them so that
the recoil would wound the Kansas
statesman.
This exception was Senator George G.
Vest, Of Missouri Senator Ingalls, and
Senator Vest sometimes typiied the char
acteristic rivalry-which seemed occa-
sionally almost to be tinged with animos-
ity-which characterized some Of the re-
lations between Missouri and Kansas.
Personally, Senator Vest and Senator In
gals were as unlike as IL is possible for
Americans to be who still retain the con-
ventionalities and the atmosphere of
high cultivation which characterize
Americans who read the classics, study.
and are brought constantly in touch
with the leaders OF American thought in
that way.
Ingalls, was tall, slender without any
stoop to his shoulders, OF military aspect,
and he carried his head in perfect bal
ance and symmetry with his body. His
hair was iron gray his eyes were very
dark and full Of light, and he wore heavy
gold-rimmed spectacles. His voice was
as clear and resonant as a bugle's blast
Senator Vest, on the other hand, was
about the same stature as was Stephen
A. Douglas, of whom 1t had been said
that he was the shortest man when
standing up and the largest man when
sitting down of any Of the members Of
the Senate. Vests hair was OF sandy
tint. his complexion forid. He was in
clined to be a little stoOp-shouldered.
and his large and well-molded head was
deep set between his shoulders. His
voice was singularly penetrating. sharp.
and vibrant, but his enunciatiOn was dis
tinct. even when he spoke in low tones.
Early in Mr.. Ingalls, career as United
States Senator he ventured to discharge
an arrow at Senator Vest. He alluded
to the fact that the distinguished Mis-
sourian had been a Senator under two
governments.
Every one in the Senate knew what
lHt dlluSlOn meant. W nlle SUN q gOuIB
man Mr.. Vest had been elected as a rep
resentative OF the State OF Missouri to
the Confederate senate. He served ac-
ceptably TO the Confederacy while a MEM
Der Of its senate. After the war was
ended Senator Vest returned TO Missouri
and speedily gained a reputation as a
lawyer and orator. which distinguished
him as one OF the leading citizens of the
State. After Missouri had been captured
10 fgnVR lvg,F r1fgF- lon hNr
the Democracy Mr.. Vest was elected a
United States Senator and was not long
a member OF that body before the Senate
and the country knew why Missouri es-
teemed him so highly.
Senator Ingalls, shaft was not an un-
kindly one, nor did Senator Vest take
it in that way. He felt, however. that
1t was up to him to demonstrate tina:
he had the capacity TO meet and turn
away a shaft Of that kind. He instantly
replied to Senator Ingalls,, saying:
Yes, Mr.. President, and my creden-