Evening journal., 1915-04-22
New News Of Yesterday
The Speech That Made
Roscoe Conkling
by Holland.

The late William ID. Kelley. who re-
ioiced at the nickname which was
given TO him early in his long SER
vice in Congress. "Pig-Iron Kelly
due to his strong advocacy Of the
principle of protection, was also with
greater dignity, although no greater
satisfaction to hmself called. in the
last years Ol his service in that body
the Father of the House" He had
the distinction of having served long
er consecutively than any other mem
Der of the House in the last two or
three terms of his service in that
body.
Judge Kelley was himself a speak
er who was able 10 command atten-
tion, although he was no orator. The
charm which he infused In his
speeches was due to his intense ear
ncstness. absolute sincerity. and to a
singularly felicitous way he had of
making exposition of dry subjects.
particularly those which related to
the tariff. Judge Kelley was 2 great
admiror OF real oratory and he was
one of the best critics in either House
of Congress. ! once asked Judge
/ Kelley 10 tell me what he thought
were some of the best speeches de-
, livered in Congress in his day He
4 replied that thore we're too many
excellent speeches to speak of any
as being the best. but he could tell
me of one which made as profound
an impression upon him. purely from
the Doint of view OF oratory and of
superb use OF the English language.
as any one which he ever heard de-
livored
Roscoe Conkling. think. was a
little past 30 years Of age when he
entered Congress" said the Judge.
Like myself. ne was a new mem
bcr in the first Congress. which met
after the Inauguration Of President
Lincoln Physically he was a man
who was certain to attract attention
but his mannerism was a misfortune
since a man who is going to make
headway in the House of Represen-
tatives. in addition to ability mus
possess a temperament. real or as
sumed, which brings personal popu.
larity. Conkling lacked that, yet h'
more than made that defect good by
the first long speech which he de-
livered Senator E. d. Baker. of Ore
gon. who was in command of Fedora
troops at Balls Bluff, on the POto
mac, was surprised and surrounded
by the Confederates and his com
mand was practically annihilated, II
the. fall of 1861.
"Conkling. in support OF resOlu
ton which he had offered calling TO
ian investigation, delivered a speech
, / have read Macaulay and have roai
I Kinglake. but have never read
description Of a hattie that surpass
b. ed ConkHng's description Of the trag
I edy at Balls Bluff l was particu
larly struck by his superb comman
= of the English language and won
dered where so young man a
\ Conkling got that style. His pictur
= was Homeric in its clearness, its viz
r idness and its sincerity. He possess
( ed beautiful voice especially adaI
! ted for such an address as he wa
V delivering. The House is a prett
o turbulent body, but il was not Ion
4 after Conkling began before absolut
c quiet prevailed and the House ha
S paid to Conkling the rare tribute {
listening as one man TO him.
r. "The impression this speech mad
Il in the House speedily extende
= throughout the country. for tn
= speech was widely published. II mad
a Conl1ling, and from that day TO tn