rd. Just before
we reached them I observed him rising from his seat and leaving
the chamber. He remained away until the items were passed, then
he returned, and the subject was never mentioned between us
afterwards.

Senator Edmunds resigned before his last term expired. There were
two reasons for his resignation, the principal one being the illness
of his only daughter; but in addition, he had come to feel that
the Senate was becoming less and less desirable each year, and
began to lose interest in it. He did not like the rough-and-tumble
methods of debate of a number of Western Senators who were coming
to take a more prominent place in the Senate. On one occasion
Senator Plumb, of Kansas, attacked Senator Edmunds most violently,
and without any particular reason.

During his service in the Senate, Senator Edmunds seemed to be
frequently arguing cases before the Supreme Court of the United
States. His ability as a lawyer made him in constant demand in
important litigation before that court. Personally, I do not
approve of Senators of the United States engaging in the active
practice of the law or any other business, but his practice before
the Supreme Court did not cause him to neglect his Senatorial
duties.

Justice Miller, one of the ablest members of the court, was talking
with me one day about Senator Edmunds, and he asked me why I did
not come into the Supreme Court to practise, remarking that Edmunds
was there a good deal. I replied that I did not know enough law,
to begin with; and in addition it did not seem to me proper for a
Senator of the United States to engage in that kind of business.
Justice Miller replied that Senators did do so, and that there
seemed to be no complaint about it, and he urged me to come along,
saying that he would take care of me. But needless for me to say,
I never appeared in any case before the Supreme Court of the United
States during my service as Senator.

Senator Edmunds' colleague, Justin S. Morrill, was one of the most
lovable characters I ever met. I served with him in the House.
Later he was a very prominent member of the Senate, when I entered
it, and was Chairman of the Committee on Finance. He was a
wonderfully capable man in legislation. He had extraordinary power
in originating measures and carrying them through. He was not a
lawyer, but was a man of exceptional common sense. His judgment
was good on any proposition. I do not believe he had an enemy