The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-03
A CONGRESSMAN AT THE CAPITAL.

Unlike the Prophet, He Receives More Honor
in His Own District than Elsewhere.
Washington Letter in rittsburg Dispatch.
A congressman is great man-in his own
country. In Washington he is very little known
IN his personality. 10 be sure the leaders in
Congress are very well known on the floor, in
society on the streets, and through the press by
the country at large. They have been written up
politically their persons, dress and manners so
infinitely described and their habits so harped
upon that every intelligent reader in the United
States is familiar with them The stranger in the
galleries can pick them out without recourse
to the diagram of seats The rank and file
| OF membership, however, are unknown.
Even the reporters and correspondents whose
business compels a closer relationship with
gressmen, know comparatively few of them
These few are the leaders and members of the
delegations from States wherein their respect
i've papers situate There is not CORE
spondent butte whom at least one hundred mem
bers wholly unknown even by name. This
is not fiattering to the congressman, but it is
truth. 1t astonishes some of the visitors, who
occasionally ask a reporter through the wire
netting which separates the sheep spectators
from the goat reporters who the member
is who is talking to be told that ne
dosen't know But life is too short and
sweet to the congressional reporter to make the
acquaintance of 325 men every two years merely
for the sake of knowing what is no possible use
to him. 1t will astonish the average reader still
more to learn that there are upward of hun
know each other. | have seen two members
introduced at an evening party who were total
strangers and the one didn't know that
the other was a member of the House,
although both had served constantly through
the long session and were then pretty well
along in the second This is pretty apt to
take the conceit out of the rural statesman.
The other day 1 introduced Representative
ONeill, of Missouri, to General Bingham, of
Philadelphia We were standing in the main
corridor of the House. O'Neill is bluff West
ern man and a good fellow. Bingham is a gen
teel aristocratic gentleman and good fellow,
also. The latter has been in Congress some
time and has made his mark. ONeill is new
member | said, parenthetically, "Of course
you know each other"
81 don't think we have ever met BEFORE" said
General Bingham politely.
mo, I'm very glad to make your acquaint-
ance General" said O'Neill, extending his
hand
Thank you," replied Bingham
''Are you in the city longP said O'Neill-'for
business or for pleasureP
81 am a representative in Congress from
Pennsylvania, sir" replied the General, stif1y.
you can draw your own inference!" and he
walked away.
1t was too funny for anything.
l remember introducing another Western
member to hearty and lovable Tom Bowen,
the millionaire senator from Colorado, in the
Riggs House one evening.
Bowman, Bowman" repeated the member,
not having caught the name
Bowen, sir" said the Senator.
"Oh 1 beg pardon. What State are you from,
Mr.. Bowenp
An amused expression shown in Tom Bowers
eyes as he glanced at me and answered, from
Colorado, sir"
This is Senator Bowen, from Colorado, I ex-
planned.
oh yes; knew there was Senator Bow
en-"
''But didn't know Colorado, put in the Sena-
tor. ''Of course not"
1t was too disagreeable to laugh then, but I
have been laughing ever since when think of
the CLEAN of intelligence which suddenly came
into the congressional cheeks.