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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1906)
THE MORNING ASTORIAN, ASTORIA, OREGON. SUNDAY, DECIMIIR t, 1009. 10 Will be in the Public Eye 'Men Who will Play a Prominent Part in the Coming Session of Congress. By GEORGE ROBERT AGXF.W. Tand the beginning f sundry he session of Congress that opens In the lust month of 1904 marks the end of many careers, others, which promise grea things. While the approaching ses sion will be short, and probably un marked by momentous debates, it real ly stands as a turning point In many particulars. The day of radicalism Is at full dawn. The old day of con servatlsm are passing. The people have spoken for i-tituige, and Congress will respond. For nowhere Is popular feeling so quickly felt and expressed as In Congress, particularly In the House of Representatives. Men whose political lives depend upon executing the will of their constituents will not be mealy-mouthed. In the Senate it la different, since a Senator's term outlasts the ordinary outburst of popular will The issues of yesterday are .not the issues of to morrow. A Senator who deflea anr pits upon the instructions of his State, as some of them have, may be a hero by the time he comes up for re election. Some Senators are so for tunate as to have a constituency which elects them, whatever they do and how ever they may vote. It is these Sen ators, making the Job a lifelong study, who control affairs in Congress. The new voices may be loud, but the grip of the old-timers is strong. Among the newcomers who is at tracting much attention and who pro mises to become still more prominent In the coming session is Robert Mar ion La Follette, Senator from Wiscon sin. Is he a blatant demagogue, as his enemies assert, or is he John the Baptist in advance of the millenlum, calling upon the people to make their paths straight? La Follette His Made Enemies. Senator La Follette has aroused In tense enemies since he entered the Senate. Re has made strong friends also. He does nothing by halves. When he fights he runs amuck, and burns hia ships behind him. Either he be lieves In the reform he advocates with his whole soul, and is ready to burn at the stake for them, or he Is a con summate actor, who delights in fooling everybody, including himself. La Follette is a small man stockily built He wears a long frock coat He is always highly scented too high ly scented to be agreeable to some of his colleagues. His halr-ah, his hair! What a tale of truculence that star ing upright hair tells! It sticks straight up. as stiff as a broom. It Is brown, with a tint of red. It gives the Wisconsin statesman a terrible aspect as he shakes his head and bellows. He does not shout; he bellows. Of a sud den his bellow shrinks to a soft, cooing whisper. He caresses his hearers with that sinuous voice. It even whines as he squirms his shoulders about and looks up sldewise from under buehy brows. Then he bursts out again, his arms shoot forward and upward, his horrid hair rears as If to strike, and from that undersized body Issues a bellow that would stir up envy In an Anduluslan bull. Oh, it Is fine! And It takes the groundlings by storm. What Is the effect upon the Senate? Well, that Is different. These old Sen ators are not totally Ignorant of the art or oratory, although most of them are sorry specimens when they try to ply the art themselves. Most of them do not listen to La Follette at all. They read, or tell stories, or go out for a smoke. La Follette keeps his eye on the empty seats around him, but his soul Is in the galleries. He knows the American people are listening to him. He speaks to them. Has Accomplished Good. This man has done some good dur ing his brief term in the Senate.. Grant that he is an actor that his voice and its accompainments are ex erted solely for the use of the trailerles. He has, notwithstanding, forced hon est treatment of the Indians. He has forced an investigation of the grain elevator trust. He has forced conside ration of the bill limiting the hours of railroad employes. This bill is now the unfinished business of the Senate, thanks to La Follette's persistence. It comes up at once, and so long as he is there it cannot be squelched. He pours out facts, figures, argument, lo gic, In an Inexhaustible stream. It overwhelms the Senate. Purely to get rid of him and his tireless stream, the Senate is likely to pass the bill. At first the Senate tried to squelch La Follette. It would not work. It sent him down In the sub-basement, in the Committee on Improvement of the Potomac River Front-a dead and mum milled pommittee, which never meets, and which could not do any good if It did meet. La Follette bobbed up se renely, "butted in" all along the line, trampled on a few sacred Senatorial precedents, got himself disliked here and there, and won applause from the plain people throughout the whole coun try. During the past summer, Senator La Follette has been employing Ms time criticising his colleagues In the Senate. The last session bad hardly closed be fore he was on the Chautauqua plat form, pouring hot shot Into the Sena tors, who are popularly supposed to re present railroads. Standard Oil. min ing swindles, land frauds, meat trusts, and everything but the people. La Fl lette hit out in all directions. He gave "Steve" Elklns a dig. He struck Al- drlch. He took time to strike a vl clous blow at Foraker. Tom Carter came In for a awlpe. He did not for get Henry Cabot Lodge. He Intimated that his colleague. Spooner, was an enemy of the republic. At Salt Lake Senators Smoot and Sutherland of Utah introduced him to an audience of Gentiles and Mormons. La Follette then launched into a strong "roast" of Smoot and Sutherland. That helped some. Finally La Follette Jumped upon Senator Fulton of Oregon. When Fulton was asked what he had to say in reply, he remarked, with Senatorial blandness, "It's a waste of lather to shave an ass." Senator Loves a Fight. So La Follette comes to Washington with a fine assortment of enemies, who will do their best to make his term in the Senate interesting. As he loves to fight he will be in clover during the whole session. Some people think that they would like to see a combat between Senator Tillman and Senator La Follette. They think It should be Interesting. It would not La Follette la not a dan gerous man In debate, as debate Is con ducted in the Senate. Tillman would make mincemeat of hjm. Tfllmaifs style of repartee, his astonishing men tal agility, his savage aggressiveness, and his willingness to go to any length, Including a fist fight make him a dan gerous adversary. Of course, much of his savagery is gallery play. That sa. tanic scowl of his Is not nearly as am inous as it appears. He does not con template drawing a knife and dixem bowellng his opponent as the gallery fears. Tet the gallery knows, and eve ry Senator knows, that Tillman would If goaded to It, snatch an Inkstand or draw a knife and go at his tormentor without regard to consequences. So his scowl Is always Interesting as a hint of what might be. Senator Tillman Is one of the rea diest debaters who ever sat In the Senate. He Is not a smooth talker anything but that. But he speaks with such startling frankness that the Sen ate cocks its ear to listen. It never knows what Is coming next. He seems always, when angry, to be on the verge of an outburst of violence and profani ty. When not angry but merely dl' gusted, his tongue drops distilled scorn It Is like the whip of scorpions. It lit erally lashes the subject of his con tempt. The Senate has seen Tillman In ac tion so often that It Is never satisfied with him unless he Is on the rampage, Yet Tillman is a hard student, and has managed to dig up a lot of rascality which he has mercilessly exposed Is said he has discovered a lot during the past summer, especially In relation to the coalcarrying railroads. He sure to be one of the most prominent figures in the Senate this winter. Bailey a Queer Mixture. Next to Tillman sits "Joe" Bailey, of Texas. Bailey and Tillman had a row during the closing days of the last ses sion. Tillman made one of his slur ring remarks about lawyers he Is on ly a farmer himself, he says and Eal- ley resented it. Bailey prides himself upon being a lawyer. He proceeded to dress Tillman down to the Queen's taste. Tillman made a bluff at reply Ing, but he had nothing handy to use except verbal bombs, and he likes Bai ley too well to call him names or hurt his feelings. So he took his medicine. If the medicine had been administered by any one else the patient might have made a scene. "Joe" Bailey's make-up is peculiar. tie is young but ponderous. He is slow of speech, but quick' as lightning In thought. He Is destitute of humor, but often he displays a sharp wit. His manner Is modest, but his egotism Is enormous. He Is scrupously polite out quicic to take offense. He has great reverence for the dignity of the Senate, but has done much to violate Its dignity. He is a profound student but does not hesitate to use sharp and shallow tricks in debate. He is alter nately broad-minded, sectional, patri otic, partisan, visionary, practical, con ciliatory, vindictive, and otherwise con tradictory. But Bailey Is never stupid never prosy, and never Ignorant of his subject. His discrimination In keep ing out of debates which would reveal hia Ignorance Is muck keener that that of many of hia colleague! on both sides of the chamber. Senator lluiley Is so constituted thnl he will always be prominent In the Sen ate as long as he stays there And the people of Texas nre wise, they will keep him there for the rest of his life. It Is the universal belief In, Washington that "Joe" Bailey has in him the mnk Ing of a statesman of the good old kind a real statesman, not of a temporary makeshift or counterfeit. His faults are thoe of youth, such as huatlne of temper, surplus egotism, too Intense partisanship and sectionalism, and u due regard for shifty expedients In the excitement of debate. When Senator Bailey can look upon his foe with un ruffled temper, when his egotism ha settled down Into a Just estimate of his powers and limitations; when he has broadened out Into nn American Instead of being merely a Texan and a Southerner, and when he has learned to scorn transitory forensic triumph gained at the expense of candor or scrupulous fair play, he will have be come one of the great figures In the lengthening line of famous Senators. Thinks He Hat Arrived. It Is a curious fact, proving Mr. Qui ley's oversupply of egotism, that he re senrts all descriptions of himself which speak of what he will be. He thinks he is fullblown and complete, as he la. He does not like the 'dea that he has not reached his growth. But, although he is past forty, it Is nevertheless true that he is still growing. He is an oak and not a willow. It will be surprising if. In the session about to begin, Sen ator Bailey does not unconsciously re balance since his last appearance In veal that he has developed depth and balance since his last appearance In the Senate chamber. Other men are likely to loom large at the coming session. One of them has loomed large at many previous sessions Eugene Hale, of Maine. His grip has been strong for years, but it is tighter now than ever. As Senator Allison, crowned with years and honor, begins to take in sail, Sen ator Hale comes forward as the logi cal successor to the man from Iowa. He will become chairman of the Com mittee on Appropriations when Allison steps out. This may be very soon, as Mr. Allison is not In condition to stag ger much longer under such a load. Eugene Hale's chief characteristic Is absolute Independence. He Is not tied to any man or set of men. He Is rich and is assured of a seat In the Sen ate as long as he lives. He Is as frank of speech as Tillman himself, while possessing greater ability and infinite ly greater power. Senator Hale per forms services of untold value to his country. He is an Indefatigable wor ker, and the quality of his work Is of the highest. Ho completely dominates the Committee on Naval Affairs, of which he Is chalrman.lt Is hardly too much to say that he dictates to Con gress what It shall do In naval matters. The navy credits Hale with all that It gets, and blames him for all that It falls to get and It Is uually right. Senator Hale, however, does not con fine his labors to naval affairs, but watches all the machinery of the Gov ernment, from the President down. Stirs Up the Animals. Once or twice during a session the man from Maine says a few words In the Senate, apparently for the Hake of seeing the fur Ily. He takes a whack at the President, distributes a f'jW well placed Jabs at the Cahlnet officers, and thumps minor officials unmercifully. His crltlclHm of naval officers Is some times painfully frank and to the point. He Is equally frank In showing army officers where their weak spots are. Whenever Senator Hale begins one of these brief speeches the news Is In stantly telephoned down to the State, War, and Navy building, and the three big departments are on the tiptoe of excitement. They never know what Hale Is likely to say, He is Just as apt as not to blurt out a department se cret. More than once he has thrown a Javelin or two at the State Depart ment and Its conduct of foreign rela tlons, with the result that he has had foreign offllces In various European capitals by the ears. Senator Hale's manner Is not engag ing to the stranger In the galleries. He has a haughty air as he rises and motionless, awaiting recognition. Af ter having been recognized, he stands silent until Senators are absolutely quiet This slight mannerism has something about It which grates upon the stranger. He is provoked still fur ther when Senator Hale begins, for the Senator's voice Is Inaudible. He speaks directly at the Vice-President, and seems to care nothing for the peo ple above him. They can hear him or not he doesn't care. But after Senator Hale has spoken a moment or two he Is easily heard He speaks quietly always, although audibly after the first sentence Is out, tie inouiges in noflourlshes of any kind. His language Is compact and bluntly to the point, but not devoid of Imagination. Mr. Hale can use sar casm when he likes with withering ef fect. His tongue is sharp and polished He chooses his words with deliberation but without hoHltatlon. Some of his phrases are epigrammatic. Occasio nally he employs a word that Is so pat as to pass Immediately into current use. It Is probable, that during the coming session, which will be devoted largely to appropriation and expendi ture, Senator Hale will be more popu session when the railroad bill was up. He does not make speeches on such things. He Is not seeking the bubble reputation, and he does not appear to care how the public regards him. Aldrloh In Fin Fettle. Senator Aldrloh, of Rhode Island, is coming to Washington In fine shape this winter. He Is In good health. wd has Just completed a palace near I'm vldence that would put Newport to shame. People who sny that Aldrlch's grip on the Semite Is loosening do not know the ways ho kMps. He Is stron ger than ever, more resourceful, and more popular with his colleagues, As the tariff question seems to loom tip senators of ordinary caliber run to Al drlch as little chickens run to the mo ther hen. He Is master of the flnan ces nnd tariff schedules the only mat ter there Is. Aldrlch Is finance inlnlntr of the government alsonot In mime, but In fact. Last spring, when San Fran clsco people came here to aK for n loan of $10,000,000 of government mo ney, they went to Secretary Show first n funny blunder. Of course, ho sent them to Senator Aldrlch. Aldrlch ll tened to them, told them how powr less he was, and what a small figure he cut In Congress, nnd advised them to drop the plan. They went back to Secretary Shaw. Shaw said: "I'll lend you the money If you will got a note from Aldrloh saying It will be O. K." The committee trotted back to Aldrlch, but they did no! get the note. He merely shrugged his shoulders and told them he was only a Senator. Senator Wlnthrop Murray Crane, of Massachusetts, also comes to Wash ington In fine shape for a winter's work. He Is a brldgeroom, having mar ried one of the charming Boardman sisters of Washington. Senator Crane another Aldrlch, when diplomacy and mixing qualities are needed. He becoming a power In the Senate. Tet he never made a speeh In his life, and would faint If called upon to do so. His Influence Is entirely personal and based on the fact that he Is not on ly the prince of good fellows, In a gen tlemanly and quiet way, but an ninax Ing business genius. He can unravel tangled situation with the skill of a Houdlnl. His genius Is purely modern nd of the Yankee type. He neither looks or dresses like a statesman, and he would laugh If he were addressed as one. 8nators Who Are Potent. Among the potent ones In the Sen ate, during the coming business ses sion, will be Morgan, of Alabama, who watches the Panama Canal with never closing eye; Lodge, of Massachusetts, who can turn his hand to anything and who does everything well; Foraker, who loves a scrimmage; Spooner, who can split a hair finer than any other lawyer In the Senate; Dolllver, who can make the rafters ring with the real old genuine Star-Spangled-BanncH ora tory; Knute Nelson, of Norway, who nows a thing or two In English; Be- eridge, of Indiana, a brilliant fighter nd debater; Perkins, the sailor, who stands behind Hale In naval affairs; Culberson, of Texas, who Is regarded by many people as superior Inlellec- ually to his brilliant colleague; Pan- I, of Virginia, a descendant of Poca- ontas; John Rolfe, and a doxen ot ers on both sides of the political fence. In the House well, VmU Joe Can non Is still on deck, so everything Is ovely In the House, Several old era will sing their swan-song in the House this winter. Chief among them Is Oen. Grosvetior, of Ohio "Old Fig gers," the only man In the United Sta tes who knows In advance what tb people will do on election day. He could not foresee his own victory, but that was not his fault, It wasn't there, He will be Joined In the Journey across Styx by "Jim" Wadsworth, of Oeneseo, N. Y., a man who owns a whole coun try and still was beaten. Another who crosses the ferry is Mc Cleary, of Mln nesota and whose many tongued constituents did not stand pat, or he never would have Joined the houseboat party on the Styx. Bigger than them all, among the singers of swan-songs, Is Babcock, of Wisconsin, who defied the Speaker's lightning last session, and who was mortally hit In the heel by La Follette. But the House will swing along, even with these great men gone. They will be here this winter, and by the time another session arrives the government will have become accustomed to the prospect. So long as Uncle Joe Can non is on deck, a quorum is present, the House Is ready to do business. He has been spending the past few days hunting quail with his old chum "Jim" Hemenway, now a Senator from eagle will gaze down the aisles of the House, loklng for something bigger than quail. He Is reported to be in fine physical condition, and mentally he Is fit as a fiddle, aside from a dull,, mysterious buzzing in his ears. But you can't keep these youngsters from trifling with the Presidential bee. AMUSEMENTS. ASTORIA THEATRE It. E. KI.VKKH, Mfcjr. TheHack Swai n Theater Co. TWO PERFORMANCES TODAY This afternoon, at 3. Tonight ,at 8.15 The great sensational melo-draiua THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS" PRICES Night 15. 23 and 35c NO MORE JtWBIItiJ .1 STAR THEATER P. GEVURTZ, Manager THE TAYLOR CO., IN "The Lighthouse By the Sea." Commencing Monday, Dec. 3, 1906 Popular Prices: 1 5c, 25c and35c. Box Office Opens 7:30. Curtain Rises at 8:15 Sharp. Scan cm be secured by Telephone Main 382 1 for all performance! Ilox office open from 3 until 4 p. in. daily The Art of Fine Plumbing has progreued with the development of the science of eaaitauoo and we have kept pace with the improvementi. Have twit Or la your bathroom one of tbe old bunkoed, unhealthy kind I If yoo are atCl wing the "doted in" fixtures of ten yean ago. It would be we!! to remove them and initall In their neid, enowy white 'Stacisftf Porcelain Enam eled Ware, of which we hive lampki udiiplayed in our showroom. Let us quote you price. Illuaoated catalogue free. I, A. Montgomery, Astoria. 1 J FINANCIAL. 8UNDAY TRAVEL TO PORTLAND lar on the floor than during the lust Increases and $2.50 Round Trip Rat. via A. & C. R. R. Is Popular. Travel from this city to Portland on Sunday at the low round trip rate of $2.50 is on the Increase and many enjoy that day In the metropolis each week. This rate will be continued throughout the winter and the volume of travel toward Portland every Sun day would Indicate that the public appreciates It. 11-8-tf Q. A. I10WLBY, President. I. PETERSON, Vice President. eRANK PATTON, Ca.hler. J. W. GARNER, AsUUnt Cashier. Astoria Savings Bank Capital Paid In 1100,000. Surplus and Undivided Front M,000. Tranaacta a Oeueral Banking UUHlnes. Interest Paid on Tim. Deposits 1G8 T.nth Strot, ASTOMA, OREGON First National Bank of Astoria, Ore. EHTAIILISIIKI) 1880. Capital $100,000 Sherman Transfer Co. HENRY SHERMAN, Matter Hacks, Carriage. Baggage Checked and Tnmsf erred Truck, ard Furniture Wagons Piano. Moved, Boxed and Shipped. 433 Commercial Street Phone Main 121 ASTORIA JOHNi FOX, Pres. P L BISHOP. 8ecretar IRON WORKS Designers and Manufacturers 01 THE LATEriT IMPROVED Canning Machinery, Marine Engines and Boilers Complete Cnnery OutiUs Furnish. CORRESPONDENCE "SOLICITED, Foot of Foilrth