Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-25

Meeting Mr.. Gillett, one finds man
slender, Of medium stature, with
closely cropped beard and clear blue
eyes. Always courteous and otter
|, smiling, the personality and voice blend
to make up an impression distinctly
pleasing. You feel he would be inter.
esting on any subject at any time with.
out sign of self-consciousness.
Although senior member of the
house in point of service and sixty
seven years of age, Mr.. Gillett does
not impress one as an elderly man. A
casual caller at his office would put
him down at forty-five or fifty. He is
fit physically, his beard is not gray,
and he gives rather the impression OF
being in the prime Of life.
Dwelling upon the new speakers fu-
ture methods, as they may be indicat-
ed by his career and disposition, the
same paper asserts that
Mr.. Gillett will not resort to spectac-
ular, Grassland means nor uncalled-
for abuse Of political opponents. He
will rely on facts and figures and the
common sense Of the American people.
He believes in scrupulous fairness and
courtesy, but at the same time he can
resort to cutting irony and incisive ar
gument in driving his facts home. AS
a debater Mr.. Gillett, despite his mild
manner, has already established a rep
utation which is appreciated. particu-
larly on the Democratic side Of the
chamber.
To illustrate Mr.. Gillett's ability as a
debater and his fairness to his oppo-
nents, the Sun reprints several anec-
cotes, saying:
Although his speeches generally are
pre- pared very carefully and he avoids
taking part in discussion excepting
when he deems it necessary, Mr.. Gill
lett can mix matters with the best of
the extemporaneous speakers. Follow
ing the presidents appeal for DEM
ocratic congress, certain Democrats
sought to make it appear that the kali
ser hoped for a Republican victory.
This drew the Gillett fire.
do you think that he (the kaiser)
knows whom he has most to fear?" he
asked.
"will he think it is favorable to him
If the next house Is controlled by the
party of Roosevelt and Wood and Gar
diner, by the party Of La Guardia and
Heintz and Johnson, who left their
seats here to try to put bullets into his
we'll protected sons?"
Responding to charges Of partizan-
ship on the Republican side, Gillett
said:
"I believe there never has been a
time when a strong minority, almost
equal in numbers to the majority. has
so suppressed partisanship and criti-
cism and so effaced it's organization of
whole-hearted support Of its political
opponents"
Rare, classical bits Of irony and hu-
NOR sparkle occasionally from Mr..
Gillett's debate on the floor. Speaking
on corrupt practices recently, he said:
Everybody here-at least, almost
everybody-is against the purchasing
Of votes"
Mr.. Gillett made an excellent i'm
preston on his confreres in the house
on September 27 last with regard to
published reports that he had said
Champ Clark had voted against the
war declaration. Speaker Clark's
friends were incensed. Gillett should
say something to correct this impress
sion, they asserted. or If he does not
want to embarrass his party he should
at least tell the newspaper men to cor
rect it.
Don't worry" one Of Gillett's
friends said; "if any misstatement has
been made Gillett won't hesitate to
have it corrected. I've seen him play
golf. He's a good loser"
"Mr. Speaker" Gillett said, rising on
this occasion. I'm some Of the press
reports of some remarks which
made last Saturday it was stated that
the speaker, Mr.. Clark, had voted
against the declaration Of war"
Here comes the apology, the news
paper men thought, and they could
themselves complete it along the we'll
worn lines Of 'the newspapers made a
mistake, it was their fault. I was mis-.
quoted, ETC., etc"
Continuing, Mr.. Gillett said: 1T was
my fault. And as he did not vote
against the declaration Of war, wish
to state the fact here publicly.
az think anybody who heard my
whole speech or read it in the Record
will appreciate the fact that made ne
reflection at all upon the loyalty ane
| patriotism Of any member of thu
house, least of all against che speaker
who has given to the service Of tht
country a life which he values more
than his own"
Perhaps the best example OF Mr.
Gillett's cutting irony is found in lit
tie speech he made back in 1914, wher
William Jennings Bryan was the chic
member of President Wilson's cabine
and was being made the recipient O.
fulsome praise from members Of TIT
official family.
"I do not, of course, forget the nota
BILE eulogium pronounced in his pres
ence by the secretary Of the navy (Mr
lDaniels)" Mr.. Gillett said. "and pub
lished by the press, wherein he was de
scribed as the greatest secretary O
state since jefferson, but think it wa
rather an index of the discretion OF th'
secretary Of the navy, who spoke, ant
the receptivity for adulation of tn
secretary Of state, who listened, thai
any impairment of the prestige o
Madison, Adams, Webster, and man.
others"
There was something about Bryan
llecturing for money while a memoe
of the cabinet that did not colncid
with Mr.. Gillett's feeling Of prophet
O.. his conception of national dignity.