Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-23
coNeREssMEE.
THAR Prominent csaractsristlcs
and Their WORK.
Who the Men Of influence Are and What the
Source Of Their Influence ls-Ihs Best
Work Done In the Committee Room
fine Taking Of No Effect
, westemc ongressmea.

Social C~orrespondarcs Of Ae Register.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2l.-nasked who
are the men of influence In Congress
you could easily point them out after .
daily watch for several months over
their deliberations, but it would not be
so easy to define the sources OF such in
fiuence.
This Is especially true Of the House OF
Representatives. 1t Is perhaps the
hardest Of all political bodies for men
aspiring to be leaders. Take the half
dozen foremost men in 1t now and yeu
have a curious combination. One man
has gone to the front by reason OF one
quality while his rival has depened on
quite another. The great majority OF
Congressman, especially OF
southern Congressmeu,
are lawyers.
It is q common belief that any man
of good o~ratorical powers and fair legal
attainments will succeed in Congress,
though the failure Of many such ought
to change this opinion. Most OF these
gentlemen manage to keep up their
constituents faith by literally showing
among them the high sounding speeches
they deliver here, but II their admirers
were to come to Washington and see
the House engaged on some great ques-
ton, they would be embarrassed to find
their favorites in back seats.
Fine Talktsg.
Fine talking is good in its place. 1t
is enjoyed here, tor men everywhere
love 10 hear the mellow music oforatory,
hut the man who comes to Congress to
talk himself to fame will find his task .
hard one In both the Senate and the
House some OF the men who exert the
greatest control of affairs are seldom
heard. They sit quietly by while windy
harangues are made by the l~oquacious
politicians, but when the measure Is
passed somehow it embodies their views.
some of the most gifted men In either
body have damaged themselves this
session by too free indulgence of their
tongues and could say the best OF
things now to nc effect.
Committee Work
1t is often remarked with reason that
the best work must be done in the COM
mittee room. 1t is there the difference
shows between the clear head, this quick
determination, the firm will Of the man
Of action and the frothy fancy OF the
mere man of words. The strange power
of commanding their fellows, born In
some men, is shown no where quicker
Than it is here. Reputation acquired
elsewhere is valuable only as an intro.
duction. 1t gives opportunities, and II
hey are wasted the new man falls to
the grade of his value in Congress.
The Peculiar Fitness.
| am not saying that these estimates
are ipfallible, or e better than those
in other fields, but merely asserting that
a peculiar fitness Is required to attain
emInence in Congress. A lawyers
fame may be more permanent aud may
indicate a higher degree OF greatness,
but a mere lawyer cannot cope with
the difficulties of a congressional career.
The quick-witted, smooth tongue prince
of the hastings a manage to get to
Congress perhaps as often as he chooses,
for people will vote for the man who
pleases them, but he must look for bis
glory in his campaigns and not In the
area to which they elevate him, IL he
is only the fluent and happy talker.
The Indispensable.
One Of the Indispensable, of course, is
industry. A Congressman, to keep the
run Of affairs, has no time to waste. II
he becomes q leader, LIE must work like
a steam engine. The demands on his
time by his party and position here are
enough to keep him busy. Add the
myriad wants and fancies of his cOnstit-
uents and you absorb all Of his days
and most of his nights. Mr.. Bayard
once said in a speech In the Senate he
wished some accurate description could
be given of a Congressman's daily life
in Washington. 1t is a tread-mlll. No
man who does his duty here finds 1t a
soft life. A good practice at law or an
active commercial business is sacrificed
often by the acceptance OF these absorb
ing responsibilities. Yet so strong Is
the political passion in the American
that he seldom voluntarily retires from
this field. Its high prestige, its differ.
ent degrees of power and pre.eminence,
its contests and allurements Of excite.
| ment are seductive and once enjovn'
are dear forever. The worn ,,ut 'nlT
stagers talk Of rest but ..tue most of then
/ are VIKING to die in the harness. Sue.
cess In Congress cannot be easily grasp.
| I'd 10y even the most gifted. They who
| seem to find the prize waiting in theil
way really win it in the old way-tht
| only way 1t can be attained. TimiC
men have to face most disagreeabl,
tests. The House is a rough and tumble
concern very often. Pure cheek Is {
good thing there.
Long Service.
A long service gives almost invaluabi,
experience. One session seldom doe,
more than introduce a man. His COCO
chances begin TO come with the second
but two or three terms are generally
necessary TO put him forward. A Con.
gresham once well in the harness has
great advantages in his familiarity with
the complicated machinery Of legisla-
ton and in the extended personal &C.
q%uaintance among his peers. 1t Is OBJ.
served that young men, a q rule, fly
into frequent display instead of laying
the basis for solid work. They speak
too much and too much 10 the galleries
instead of the House. Naturally they
are more impatient and do not work 81
Sltduliy d Int udIu pTOStocts Vi ltBIslh-
ton a their less passionate seniors,
Modesty n industry are the best STEP
ping stones for the young Congressman,
but he generally scorns to step and tries
to fly right up with the eagles spread
and scream.
The number Of young men in Con.
gress is increasing.
Western Congressmeu.
Western congressman are generally
pure politicians or rich men who bought
their way here. New England IL fond
Of choosing good merchants and bank.
ers-men who can keep up a good tariff
and f%inancier well in Congress for their
section. The South sends all sorts
generally smart lawyers and poor men.
The elements mingie with surprising
readiness, making q conglomerats with
always much fine material In Il and
much common stuff. The pretty speak.
ers come from the South and West,
The shrewd parliamentsrians and man
;Hrlatora - f-n,n NJ, E.-I.-l Ell