The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-26
THE TRUE MAVERICK STORY.
And Others Related in Representative
slayden's Swan Song.

SIayden's swan song.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The Hon. |
James l.. Slayden who, after serving |
twenty-five years in the House, re. |
tires at the close Of this Congress,
sang his swan song the other day and, |
being Texan, could not avoid telling |
stories about politicians, and about
Texans whether politicians or not. This
he told about Champ Clark:
Away back twenty or more years ago |
Clark while making an important |
speech, was inopportunely interrupted
by Steele Of Indiana. In the Record
the colloquy resulting from Steele's
question did not appear, and Steele
asked Clark why. The recorded reply
was: Because 1t marred the unity of
my speech" Slayden said that the
fact might as we'll appear in the
Record after oil these years that
Clarks actual reply to the question
why he cut the colloQuy from the
proof was Because the question and
answer spoilt a damn good speech"
The reason why Slayden has no
cause to spare the Presidents feelings
is well known here and probably Is
considered justification for the Texan,
Democrat, of course, not falling upon
occasion to condemn the Presidents
attitude toward Congress. The au-
thors OF the Constitution, Mr.. Slayden
remarked, intended that this body
should have primacy In the affairs Of
Government, but in some respects 1t
has fallen from its high estate. Its
great prototype, the British Commons,
4 hoo ct In, a
power while we surrender without a
struggle rights which some OF our
! British ancestors died for"
| The retiring Texan contributed what
should, IL seems, be admitted as the
! last word on the question Of the origin
and meaning OF maverick" cattle
when he said:
| Mr.. Maverick, civil engineer by pro-
I fession. like most enterpr!sing men OF that
day, went in heavily for land that could
| then be bought at Ave and ten cents an
| acre. and he never engaged in any other
| business
In 1915, while no was living temporarily
| at Decrows Point, on the Gulf Coast. a
! neighbor who owed him $1,000 paid the
| debt in cattle at 50 a head. He did not
! wan; the cattle, but took them and put
! them In charge OF some negroes, nominally
! slaves. but essentially free. and with his
( family returned to San Antonio. The cat
tie remained on the Gulf until 1883. when
| they were moved UP to the San Antonio
I River, about nifty miles below the city OF
/ that name, and continued In the vig!lant
/ care of the same colored family.
| MIR. Maverick was go occupied with pub
| lie duties and other private AFFAIRS that
! he gave no attention to his herds. They
| were left to Craze. TO fatten and wander
| away at will on tho prairies. His un-
! branded cattle found the range were
! referred to as Mavericks meaning that
/ they belonged to the herd OF Mr.. Maverick.
| They were so neglected that from tho origi-
| nal stock OF 400 taken over for debt IN
1s45 he stlll had Just that number eleven
| years later, when he sold them to Mr..
! Tontant de Beauregard. a brother Of the
| Confederate General, from whom / had
the story as well as from members OF the
| family. l have seen all the letters that
were written asd received during those
eleven years that referred to tho cattle
venture, and they established the accuracy
of what am saying.
This. Mr.. Chairman. Is tho trus story OF
t thu origin OF the word maverick" as APP
Piled 20 unbranded cattle. and / hope that
its publication In the Record will end for
ever the ridiculous lies about cattle
, king who never had profit out Of the
business or more cattle than tho 400 head
ne bought in 1s45 and which had not In
creased in 1885. when he sold them.
The Century Dictionary in defining
Maverick" quotes Col. Roosevelt in
substantial agreement with Mr.. Stay
denis explanation OF the words real
meaning.
A story which even the smoke room
frequenters declared to be new was
one the Texan told about social condi-
tons in the Republic OF Texas which
he found in a woman's diary covering
the period from 1886 to the civil war:
The primitive life of the republic and
OF those days Is illustrated in stories each
| OF which is an instructive essay. The
complete independence OF character and
utter unftness OF such people for mental
service Is shown in her account OF visit
made to her by President Lamar and his
stan There was great dinner to which
the fine people came to pay their respects
to the President OF the republic. But there
was a servant problem then. as now, and
our hostess had to pick UP such help as
she could fnd. white man sbsolutel ~
without experience was engaged and al
} thoroughly drilled as possible. After he
: had made one or two trips to and from
the Kitchen he appeared without a coat
Tho mistress called him to her side and
whispered a command 70 put on his coat.
His perfectly audible reply was. II would.
ma am. but II 10 too damned hot"
Mr.. Slayden will be missed from the
House. not only for his personal pic
, turesqueness but for his steady pur-
=, pose in opposing every appropriation
smelling OF pork. He has for eigh,
years been chairman Of the Committee
/, on the Library, which has jurisdiction
, Of bills relating to all art yearnings OF
the House. These largely relate &c
portraits OF past distinguished mem
bers. and Slayden made himself UNI
' popular in certain parts of the flool
s. by insisting that commissions for such
: work should be given to artists Of rec
! ognizcd merit. rather than distributed
. with geogra phlcal impartiality.
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