Evening journal., 1914-10-06
New News Of Yesterday
When Senator Ingalls, Met
His Match at Repartee
By Holland.


John James Ingalls,, Of Kansas. for
repartee was fully recognized by his !
Senatorial colleagues. With a single |
exception, none OF them ever inten- |
tionally invited Senator Ingalls, TO
dischage his satire-tipped shafts
against him. Occasionally. however. /
he took the opportunity to convey a |
compliment in an epigrammatic man
ner 70 some one of his colleagues Of |
whom he was especially fond
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 1
the Kansas Statesman.
This exception was Senator George I
G.. Vest, of Missouri. Senator ingalls, |
and Senator Vest sometimes typified |
the characteristic rivalry-which /
seemed occasionally almost to be ting 4
ed with animosity-w character I
lied some of the relations between
Missouri and Kansas. Personally, |
Senator Vest and Senator ingalls, |
we're as unlike as it is possible for
conventiOnaiitles and the atmosphere
of high cultivation which characterize
Americans vino read the classics,
etudy 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 mill
tary aspect, and he carried his head
in perfect balance 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 spec
tacles. 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 il has
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
florid. He was inclined to be a little
stoOp-shouldered. and his large and
well-molded head was deep set be-
tween his shoulders His voice was
singularly penetrating, sharp, and
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 MissOurian had been
Senator under two governments.
Every one in the Senate knew what
the allusion meant. While still a
young man Mr.. Vest had been elected
as a representative to the State OF
Missouri to the Confederate Senate.
He served acceptably to the Confed-
eracy while a member 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 cap
tured from the Republican admins
tration by the Democracy Mr.. Vest
was elected a United States Senator
and was not long a member Of that
/ body before the Senate and the coun-
/ try knew why Missouri esteemed him
so highly.
Senator Ingalls, shaft was not an
unkindly one. nor did Senator Vest
take it in that way. He felt however.
that it was 'up to him" TO demonstrate
that 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-
tials were never questioned by either
! governent." That was a return shot
which went home. and Senator ingalls,
made no attempt to reply. The ref
erence was to the fact that there had
been some question about the legality
of Senator Ingalls, election, and for a
time it seemed likely that this might
cost the Senator his seat. The
charges, however, we're set aside. Il
was to this circumstances-inst
recalled by Senator Yest-that he re-
ferred when replying to Senator IN
gals shot. Never again did the two
Senators attempt to measure mental
swords against each other.