Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1915 — SENATORS ARE GAME [ARTICLE]

SENATORS ARE GAME

Night Sessions Test Old Mem- * bers’ Endurance. Bitter Antagonisms Conquer Age and Lend Strength to Participants in Ship Purchase Bill Debate in Senate Chamber. By EDWAfiD B. CLARK. (Staff Correspondent Western Newspaper Union.) Washington. —Night sessions of the senate which, paradoxically, are the order of the day, are tests of the endurance of the* aged participants. The senate at night is a study of deep Interest, though one pities while he studies. “There Is no gamer bird than the old bird,” said the man in the gallery, whom the dignity of the senatorial garb did not halt from comparing an aged one to a cock in the pit. Senator Jacob J. Gallinger of New Hampshire, -seventy-eight years old, was then In the last round of his seven hours’ speech against the ship purchase bill. On an average the senators of today are younger than those of a day not long gone by, but age still .rules and the word senate still holds its significance. Gallinger Is seventyeight years old and there are other men In the chamber who are older. Then again there are younger men whose physical stamina cannot compare with that of the veteran physician of New Hampshire. Lodge is a much younger man than Gallinger, and so is'Root, but neither (r sK ir jpHcno the~cockpK, could stand the gaff as Gallinger stood

it and is willing again to stand It. If all the opponents of the ship purchase bill physically were Gallingers the advocates of the measure would hard nothing to hammer against from now until March 4 but a re-enforced concrete wall. In days when something big is at stake the senators give over all enticing social engagements. The dinner at the home of the cabinet officer is foregone; the reception at the Army and Navy club goes begging for senator guests; the Geographic society lecture, one of the most potent attractions of the Washington winter, shows a dwindled attendance. The capltol is the scene of action and no senator must desert it. When some senatorial opponent of the measure under consideration is talking relevantly or irrelevantly to the subject the other senators wander into the cloak room to smoke, or down to the restaurant to drink dubious milk or eat doubtful doughnuts. They make it a point never to go beyond earshot of the warning bell which announces "no quorum” or the approach of a vote. One learns from the senate gallery that age can stand much when it is strengthened by the spirit of bitter antagonisms. Words are drawled out. but, speak slow or fast, the senator who holds the floor is the senator who holds the fort against the enemy.