Evening journal., 1916-01-08
New News Of Yesterday
The Critical Ability OF
Francis M. COckrell
D, HOLLAND

Near the end OF the long session OF
congress in 1882. ! spent an evening
with the late Senator Francis NJ. Cock
rell, of Missouri.
/ knew, of course. what his repu-
tation was for industry and how great
his ability for analysis and criticism
was. but not until that evening did l
realize how thoroughly and with what
patience, shirking no drudgery, he
made his Investigations and studies
the results Of which were embodied in
his work in the committee Senate
rooms and on the floor of the Senate.
| had heard it estimated that Senator
Cockren. by reason Of his watchful-
ness, had in his career in the Senate
already saved the government large
sums of money. When l called upon
him he was serving his second term
as Senator.
There was much about his library
and study which reminded me of the
room in which Judge William S. Hol-
man, of Indiana, spent all his spare
time in investigation and study so
that he, too, was prepared to make
many objections against the accepting
Of extravagant items in appropriation
bills.
l spoke to Senator CocKrell Of this
resemblance, and he said that others
had made like remark to him. Then
he delivered to me a little disquisition
on the necessity of work of that kind
In order to restrain Congress from
making undue appropriations OF
money.
1T would be a thankless task fol
me- said the senator, "if it were moi
for the fact that have some capacity
! for critical analysis and Investigation
] like work OF that kind. For me II il
not drudgery, and I am certain tina
Judge Holman would tell you. il yol
were to ask him. that the similar worl
which he does is one in which he take
pleasure, for his mental equipment 4
OF the kind which qualities it for analy
sis. investigation and criticism.
However. some one must do thi
work, and if it is done in the prope
spirit il is not necessary to inspir
antagOnism I have objected to man
items. some Of which were sponsore
warmly by other Senators, but l d
not know that | have incurred an
personal hostility. There is a righ
way of doing these things and / hav
tried TO follow il. / am glad to fee
that there is not Senator upo
either side Of the aisle who does nc
respect me and upon whom l am nc
on friendly terms"
Here Senator COckrell paused
I moment as though rejecting and Z
last said: II have sometimes woI
dered whether the critical analyzin
and investigating faculty goes wit
constructive ability. ! doubt If that
so. l. can't recall any constructiV
work that I have done as Senate
nor do l contemplate any"
Many Years later I was chattir
with Chauncey NJ. Depew, a fe
months before he retired from Il
Senate. "Cockrell was one of d
finest characters who ever sat in u
Senate chamber" he said. "He hS
no enemies Yet he did what wou
have been for most men an unplea
ant work--for he criticised. but a
ways wisely. His was a master mil
in work Of that kind. When he WI
a member of the Interstate CONNER
Commission his services i'm that W;
were very valuable. But he seemi
TO lack the ability to build, to co
struct There are very few men, a
cording to my experience, who a
both mastery anslyzers and criti
and are also Of great constructi
ability"