my memories of eighty years-第32节
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hat was practically a nominating speech for Sherman。 The response was intense and unanimous。 When I came down from a high flight as to the ability and popularity to the human qualities of 〃Sunny Jim；〃 I found 〃Sunny Jim〃 such a taking characterization； and it was echoed and re…echoed。 I do not claim that speech nominated Sherman； only that nearly everybody who was present became a most vociferous advocate for Sherman for vice…president。
The position of vice…president is one of the most difficult in our government。 Unless the president requests his advice or assistance； he has no public function except presiding over the Senate。 No president ever called the vice…president into his councils。 McKinley came nearest to it during his administration； with Hobart； but did not keep it up。
President Harding has made a precedent for the future by inviting Vice…President Coolidge to attend all Cabinet meetings。 The vice…president has accepted and meets regularly with the Cabinet。
Sherman had one advantage over other vice…presidents in having been for nearly a quarter of a century a leader in Congress。 Few； if any； who ever held that office have been so popular with the Senate and so tactful and influential when they undertook the very difficult task of influencing the action of a Senate； very jealous of its prerogatives and easily made resentful and hostile。
Among my colleagues in the Senate were several remarkable men。 They had great ability； extraordinary capacity for legislation； and； though not great orators； possessed the rare faculty of pressing their points home in short and effective speeches。 Among them was Senator Frye； of Maine。 He was for many years chairman of the great committee on commerce。 Whatever we had of a merchant marine was largely due to his persistent efforts。 He saved the government scores of millions in that most difficult task of pruning the River and Harbor Bill。 He possessed the absolute confidence of both parties； and was the only senator who could generally carry the Senate with him for or against a measure。 While wise and the possessor of the largest measure of common sense； yet he was one of the most simple…minded of men。 I mean by this that he had no guile and suspected none in others。 Whatever was uppermost in his mind came out。 These characteristics made him one of the most delightful of companions and one of the most harmonious men to work with on a committee。
Clement A。 Griscom； the most prominent American ship owner and director； was very fond of Senator Frye。 Griscom entertained delightfully at his country home near Philadelphia。 He told me that at one time Senator Frye was his guest over a week…end。 To meet the senator at dinner on Saturday evening； he had invited great bankers； lawyers； and captains of industry of Philadelphia。 Their conversation ran from enterprises and combinations involving successful industries and exploitations to individual fortunes and how they were accumulated。 The atmosphere was heavy with millions and billions。 Suddenly Griscom turned to Senator Frye and said： 〃I know that our successful friends here would not only be glad to hear but would learn much if you would tell us of your career。〃 〃It is not much to tell；〃 said Senator Frye； 〃especially after these stories which are like chapters from the 'Arabian Nights。' I was very successful as a young lawyer and rising to a leading practice and head of the bar of my State when I was offered an election to the House of Representatives。 I felt that it would be a permanent career and that there was no money in it。 I consulted my wife and told her that it meant giving up all prospects of accumulating a fortune or independence even； but it was my ambition； and I believed I could perform valuable service to the public； and that as a career its general usefulness would far surpass any success at the bar。 My wife agreed with me cordially and said that she would economize on her part to any extent required。
〃So；〃 the senator continued； 〃I have been nearly thirty years in Congress； part of this time in the House and the rest in the Senate。 I have been able on my salary to meet our modest requirements and educate our children。 I have never been in debt but once。 Of course； we had to calculate closely and set aside sufficient to meet our extra expenses in Washington and our ordinary one at home。 We came out a little ahead every year but one。 That year the president very unexpectedly called an extra session； and for the first time in twenty years I was in debt to our landlord in Washington。〃
Griscom told me that this simple narrative of a statesman of national reputation seemed to make the monumental achievements of his millionaire guests of little account。
Senator Frye's genial personality and vivid conversation made him a welcome guest at all entertainments in Washington。 There was a lady at the capital at that time who entertained a great deal and was very popular on her own account； but she always began the conversation with the gentleman who took her out by narrating how she won her husband。 I said one day to Senator Frye： 〃There will be a notable gathering at So…and…So's dinner to…night。 Are you going？〃 He answered： 〃Yes； I will be there； but it has been my lot to escort to dinner this lady〃naming her〃thirteen times this winter。 She has told me thirteen times the story of her courtship。 If it is my luck to be assigned to her to…night； and she starts that story； I shall leave the table and the house and go home。〃
Senator Aldrich； of Rhode Island； was once called by Senator Quay the schoolmaster of the Senate。 As the head of the finance committee he had commanding influence； and with his skill in legislation and intimate knowledge of the rules he was the leader whenever he chose to lead。 This he always did when the policy he desired or the measure he was promoting had a majority； and the opposition resorted to obstructive tactics。 As there is no restriction on debate in the Senate； or was none at my time； the only way the minority could defeat the majority was by talking the bill to death。 I never knew this method to be used successfully but once； because in the trial of endurance the greater number wins。 The only successful talk against time was by Senator Carter； of Montana。 Carter was a capital debater。 He was invaluable at periods when the discussion had become very bitter and personal。 Then in his most suave way he would soothe the angry elements and bring the Senate back to a calm consideration of the question。 When he arose on such occasions； the usual remark among those who still kept their heads was： 〃Carter will now bring out his oil can and pour oil upon the troubled waters〃and it usually proved effective。
Senator George F。 Hoar； of Massachusetts； seemed to be a revival of what we pictured in imagination as the statesmen who framed the Constitution of the United States； or the senators who sat with Webster； Clay； and Calhoun。 He was a man of lofty ideals and devotion to public service。 He gave to each subject on which he spoke an elevation and dignity that lifted it out of ordinary senatorial discussions。 He had met and knew intimately most of the historical characters in our public life for fifty years； and was one of the most entertaining and instructive conversationalists whom I ever met。
On the other hand； Senator Benjamin Tillman； of South Carolina； who was an ardent admirer of Senator Hoar； was his opposite in every way。 Tillman and I became very good friends； though at first he was exceedingly hostile。 He hated everything which I represented。 With all his roughness； and at the beginning his brutality； he had a singular streak of sentiment。
I addressed the first dinner of the Gridiron Club at its organization and have been their guest many times since。 The Gridiron Club is an association of the newspaper correspondents at Washington； and their dinners several times a year are looked forward to with the utmost interest and enjoyed by everybody privileged to attend。
The Gridiron Club planned an excursion to Charleston； S。 C。； that city having extended to them an invitation。 They invited me to go with them and also Senator Tillman。 Tillman refused to be introduced to me because I was chairman of the board of directors of the New York Central Railroad； and he hated my associations and associates。 We had a wonderful welcome from the most hospitable of cities； the most beautifully located City of Charleston。 On the many excursions； luncheons； and gatherings； I was put forward to do the speaking； which amounted to several efforts a day during our three days' visit。 The Gridiron stunt for Charleston was very audacious。 There were many speakers； of course； including Senator Tillman； who hated Charleston and the Charlestonians； because he regarded them as aristocrats and told them so。 There were many invited to speak who left their dinners untasted while they devoted themselves to looking over their manuscripts； and whose names were read in the list at the end of the dinner； but their speeches were never called for。
On our way home we stopped for luncheon at a place outside of Charleston。 During the luncheon an earthquake shook the table a
