The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-24

one hears here every hour in the day, as
to who the Republicans and who the Dem
ocrats will nominate as Presidential can
didates, follows the question, when will
Congress adjourn? Noonc has any idea.
Some say June, others July, and still
others predict that Congress will not get
away before August. The records show
that in Presidential years Congress has
never adjourned but once as early as June
TO- and this was in 1872, Since 1882 the
dates Of adjournment have been as follows:
1882, July 10; 1896, July a 1910, July 81;
1874, June IL; 1913, August IA; 1852, Au-
gust 81 1856, August IS; 1860, June %;
1854, July 4; 1865, July %; 1872, June 10;
1875, August 10.
one would suppose that Congressman
in Presidential year would be glad Tor
public opinions sake to dispatch business
as rapidly as possible and get away, and
devote the summer as far as possible to
making sure Of their calling and cleo
ton. But the fact that they will stay here
until the dog days, in thissemi-tropical eli
mate, and encounter all the political risks
that attend those who govern the people
too much, shows how dear to the Con-
Vressional heart is life at the seat OF gov
eminent. No Congressman thinks 1t sale
10 leave here until he has made speech
aometime In the session. What is to be-
come OF him on the stump il he cannot
show that on the latest issue between the
parties he made great speech. He knows
enough TO know that theayerage consttiu-
ency estimates q Congressman by the Ire.
ouency OF his name in the Congressional
accord, and he looks upon his chances as
half lost unless great speech has gone out
in advance under his frank to prepare the
way for voice in the wilderness. There
are 293 members OF the House, aud they
nil expect TO make speech sometime III
tho session. and some Of them are anxious
TO make several. They are like the boys,
therefore, who won't go home ~ morn
iny,n which means that they won't leave
here until the last rose Of summer Is lett
blooming alone, unless they have mean
while got in their work as satisfactorily as
possible in the way OF political capital Tor
use on the stump.
After an experience OF nearly two
months here on this visit, beside several
former experiences, / am convinced that
one.half Of the members OF Congress
who speak do so to little or no purpose,
and, in Il large number Of cases, have no
other purpose in view than TO figure In
print for effect among their constituents.
This fact is SO well understood here that
not one man in ten, who makes speech
on the floor OF the House, commands the
attention OF twenty members. They get
the drift Of his remarks in his first utter
ances, and, having taken his measure or
discovered his motive, pay no further at
tention to him, but go on with their VIII
ting, reading or smoking, as the case may
be. There Is no place in the land where
man finds his proper level SO soon as in the
popular branch OF Congress. There is no
place where talents and information areso
quickly recognized and appreciated, or
where quackery has so little influence. A
man must be man indeed who can
command the attention Of the whole
House OF Representatives when he rises.
There are not out OF the whole 2gS mem.
bers dozen men who can do this.
Among the men who can do it on the
Democratic side are Randall 1.-THE Speakerl,
and Carlisle, of Kentucky, and on the Re-
publican side General Garfield and ex-
Secretary Robson. Besides these there
are number who are always listened TO
by q majority OF the House with more or
less interest. For instance, there is Sun
set Cox, Reagan, OF Texas, General Ewing,
OF Ohio, Hawley, OF Connecticut, Conger,
OF Michigan, Ran Tucker, OF Virginia,
Frye, OF Maine. Kelley, Of Pennsylvania,
and Blackburn, OF Kentucky. With few
exceptions, the balance OF the members
fail TO command general hearing. do
not mean that there are not other men Of
talent in the House. A man must have
not only talents, but experience to ex-
ercise commanding influence in Congress.
The men whom have named have both,
and hence they are leaders. Garfield, who
has been in Congress for II years, is by all
odds the most commanding man in 1t, on
account OF his great talents, his ripe ex-
perience and his diligent scholarship. 1t
pays to be astudent in Congress. A man
OF talent who is thoroughly furnished as TO
the subject matter OF an issue under dis
cussion comes easily to the front, while
conceited quack who is trying to impose
himself on the attention Of members is
speedily disposed OF as a nuisance. Gar
held is to begin with, an educated
man. He stood high In college as q
scholar, and, like Blaine, taught for some
years alter his graduation. Hence he en-
tered Congress with trained and discip-
lined mind that Is, with habits OF thought
and investigation thoroughly formed.
United with these habits, he possessed
great physical capacity tor work. He has
been able to burn the midnight oil with
out detriment to his health. His reading
and research has been immense, and he
has systematized and economical his re. |
searches in the way OF notes, references |
and memoranda that his information is |
always available 10 him. l spent part OF
an evening recently in his workshop"
as he calls the room at his house, where |
he spends such portions Of his time |
out OF the House land out Of the commit |
tee ROOM as are at his command, and
where he has little drawers filled with en-.
velopes in which are newspaper clips, |
manuscript and other memoranda, bearing
on all sorts OF subjects connected with
the legislation OF Congress. He has been |
for years collecting these odds and ends |
OF information, and he has made 1t pay.
For instance, he told me that when some
months ago he was suddenly and unex.
peCtedlys called upon to reply to Judge
Relly's elaborate aud crushing speech los II |
was intended to bel on the Currency ques.
ton, he shut himself up in this work
shop for one evening, and was ready the
next day after the expiration OF the morn
ing hour to begin his reply. "And il ever
Ibid sustain my position on any subject,
exhauslively and unanswerably, 1t was In
that reply" said the General. Aud his
great success was owing to the fact that he
had prepared himself little by little for
years,
The average congressman does not fit
himself for influence after this fashion.
1t involves too much patient toll, and
quiet, persistent and intelligent research.
4 man rnnv he brilliant ,,.iihnnL nnl,innL