A BUND SENATOR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 129, 2 June 1908, Page 2

A BUND SENATOR.

" That was an interesting little incident that occurred the other day in the United States Senate," says Current Literature. " The Indian Appropriation Bill was up for consideration. Two of the Senators had special reasons for being interested in such a Bill. Senator Owen, of Oklahoma, rose to his feet and began to assail the policy of the Committee. Senator Charles Curtis, of Kansas, rose to his feet to take issue with the Senator from Oklahoma. They had it, back and forth with considerable earnestness, and then Senator Gore, of Oklahoma, rose to his feet. 'Mr President," he shouted, ' I move that the Senate recognise the belligerent rights of these two Indians.' " The throe men thus on their feet at the same time in. the staid old Senate formed a picturesque group. Gore is totally blind, the first blind man who ever sat as a member of that body. Curtis and Owen are sure enough Indians. That is to say, they have Indian blood in their veins, and maintain personal relations with the Indian tribes. Senator Gore was born in Mississippi, moved to Texas, and took up his residence a number

of years ago in Oklahoma. He lost one eye by an accident at the age of eight, and the sight of the other was ruined by another accident at the age of eleven. He could see outlines of objects for several years afterwards, but he has been totally blind ever since he was sixteen. But he got ' book-larnin' ' despite his loss of sight. He went through the public schools, then through a normal school, then through the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, being valedictorian of his class and one of the six graduated with the highest honours. Of course he had to have somebody with him to read the lessons to him. That is the way he has done all his reading. He once tried to learn reading with his fingers, but quickly gave it up. " His one dissipation to-day, according to his wile, is books. He doesn't smoke or drink, but a bookstore ;draws him as irresistibly as a saloon draws some other men, and he buys an:l buys. He loves to have a book in his hands. When he is being read to he wants to have his hands on: a book, and when he is thinking out.. a. speech he goes into a room by himself and takes a book to hold. He is .particular'.as'to bindings, for he knows books by the feel of them, and if he doesn't like the feel he can't learn to love the book".

"He is described as a man whom it is distinctly pleasant to meet, Says a Washington journalist in The Independent : ' He likes to be met. His strong hand gives you the real Southern grip. The face lights up with a pleasant smile, and an exceptionally musical voice convinces you at the start that you are persona grata until you prove yourself unworthy., The smooth-shaven face is decidedly [classic. The head is large, covered with light brown hair, well shaped for the vigorous machinery it contains and the material it turns out.' Ho loves trees and flowers, especially roses and honeysuckle. But he doesn't like cats or dogs, or animals of any sort. Trees and flowers will ' stay put.' Cats and dogs will not. That is probably why he dislikes them. They add an element of uncertainty to his life."