Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-20
THE ART OF CONGRESSIONAL. .ORATORY
AND SOME OF IT'S MORE HUMAN SIDES
Most of the Iine-Calvan
sachusetts Exception-How Madden Maddens Mann
Paradoxca Mr.. Kent.
BY E. ". TOWNSEND

~ " lNOAIlNAJ
ble's aid but when he had used up his hv
minutes the amendment was more in neet
of votes than when Tribble concluded. Th
latter asked for and obtained hve minutes
more, and again passionately advocated hi
views. Samuel Mccall of Massachusetts,
rose and asked Tribble to yield, and the lat
ter assuming that any Massachusetts, mar
would be opposed to him, refused to yield
knew differently. AS the matter stood the
least experienced man on the floor could sec
that the Georgian was beaten knew that
Mccall would not ask permission to oppose
a man already defeated, and 1 whispered to
Tribble to yield. He did Mccall who
always had the strict attention of the House
calmly pointed out that the Tribble amend
ment would improve the provision involved,
and quietly gave his reasons consuming his
five minutes in n plain, straightforward talk
as he might have made the same argument
at a dinner table Tribble was as surprised
as pleased when Mccall, having concluded
the amendment was adopted. The orator
had injured his cause the colloquialist had
won for him.
Three Members Who Interest
There is a group on the Republican side of
| the House I have watched with interest:
| James r. Mann and Martin h. Madden, of
Chicago. and William Kent, of the 1st Cali
fornia district. They all came into political
prominence as members of the Chicago City
Council. Kent did prodlgious work as a
municipal reformer in Chicago before going
to California, and Mann and Madden were
both in the political drama cast, playing
parts in the councmanic upheavals of the
early '90s.
Mann is n standpat Republican. Madden
nft ~
Kent an insurgent, unhappy unless he is
insurging with all his might and main Mann
has two manners" as they say Of com
posers in addressing the House. He is hap
piest in his invectlve denunciatory manner,
when he is telling the Democrats what a
futile and generally useless crew they are.
But occasionally 1t suits his hand to pro-
pitiate Democrats and thus After you AL
phonse," would sound rough-hous compared
to his least mild expressions
Madden, tall, white-haired with a COM
plexlon a belle might sigh for, seems to get
more comfort out of his membership than
any other man in the House. One likes to
watch Mann watch Madden. He never
knows what he is going to do-and that
plainly gives joy to Madden. The latter
seems to watch proceedings with a view to
getting into debate on an angle that will
give Mann the greatest surprise.
A Republican amendment is up; many
Democrats are in their offices or doing de-
partment chores; Mann has whipped In all
his supporters; there is a chance to carry the
point Madden rises.
"Mr. Chairman" Cthe House being in com
mittee of the whoIe), he begins, with Just
that tinge Of Irish accent which used to de-
light James o'Neills audiences "it seems to
me"-
Madden Smiles and Smiles
Mann looks worried. Madden sees this |
and smiles. He proceeds with a wonderfully
rich vocabulary to present his objects. art
fully addressing his reasons to Republicans
from some section of the country likely to
be influenced. He is always smiling; the
amendment fails. Madden turns to Mann
with the aside, Jim, didn't quite like that
amendment"
II gathered as much" Mann reJoins, and
goes on with his endless task.
Kent is almost as hopeless for Mann. al
though not as surprising as Madden. Moth
ing that Kent does surprises Mann since
Kent who raises hundreds of thousands of
pounds Of wool in Nevada, voted for free
wool; who feeds thousands of beef steers
in Nebraska, yet voted for free beef: whose
district makes millions Of gallons of wine.
yet he favors prohibition. Mann accents
Kent as Penfant terrible of the House. let's
It go at that-merely praying for the best
Kent is intense. Not bad thing, 1 fancy,
for politician. He would die for the sue
cess OF the least important conservation meas
ure; die a thousand times for peace-and
night at the drop Of hat II you dispute his
of line Of Greek
Madden never tells Mann what he is going
to do until he has done 1t, so to say, but
Kent fesses up In advance
Il rather like this bill. 1 think I'll vote
for IT," he tells the minority leader.
"All right, William" Mann replies pa
Liently. But don't speak for IT,"
But, jim feel that should speak for IT,"
Kent prepares carefully and is yielded is
minutes for his speech. His friends beg him
not to talk rapidly. He speaks a sentence
or two deliberately, then his face turns white
With eagerness; 1t takes too long to open
md close his mouth and through cIenched
eeth and with rapidity which is the despair
II ofticial reporters he fairly Kisses his
views. He has finished IN eight minutes. He
notes the time on the dial OF the big clock
ne faces means II yield back the balance
If my time" and retires to the lobby NUT
ering imprecations on his own impetuoslty.
But his remarks read like a carefully pol
shed essay.
The Record comes in for a deal OF editorial
but in the making OF SO much
II 1t as reports what is actually spoken on
he floor Of the House there is a variety OF
entertainment and instruction for him who
likes the study Of his fellowman