The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-04
THE NEW MEMBER.

He Is Full of Fight and Ambition, but q
Change speedily Comes.
Washington Special to Chicago Herald
1.-THE average new memb has hard road to
travel" observed a congressional freshman to q
corerie of colleagues recently gathered together
in the House postoffice. which establishment is
a favorite rendezvous for comparison of ideas
and the confessional among the membership.
Il have been a member of both branches of our
State Legislature. delegate to State and
national conventions, and on one occasion was
accorded the honor of placing presidential can
didate in nomination, for which effort I received
endless encomIums. At homo l am reckoned
among the first-class orators. 1 was chosen to
the Fiftieth Congress- and came to Washington
see and conquer. When l gazed around
the House and mentally took in the
caliber of the other members / thought
how easily in debate l could down about ninety
per cent of them, if l only had chance. Now"
continued the confessing member, 1T only con-
sumed about three days for me to ascertain two
facts: First, that the chance was absolutely
wanting. and, second, even if chance should
present itself, would probably get the worst OF
the encounter in the first round. came to I'M
derstand very soon that there were dozens or
new members just as anxious as myself to get at
somebody-Bill Holman. Tom Reed, Joe Can
non, Sam Cox, Jim Blount Dick Townshend,
Bill Breckenridge, Jim Burnes, Ben Butter
worth, Bill Mckinley and Bill Springer, for in
stance-and that probably none of the members
named would pay more attention TO the attack
than a horse whisking off fly with his tail
II undertook to digest the rules, and although
/ f1attered myself 1 well up parliament
tary rules, the more studied them the less I
comprehended their intricacies beyond the fact,
at least. that these rules were framed with the
Interior purpose of trying how not to do it.
have. therefore, arrived at the deliberate Con-
clusion that the best way TO progress con-
gressman is to try how not to antaeonize any
body, but to place myself under tutelage and coax
the old fellows to give me small chance by
yielding the floor for five ten minutes occa-
sionaly. am going to get under Carlisles,
Holman's or Sam Randalrs wing on the Demo
Connor on the Republican side, and through
them obtain the good will of the other old mem
bers All the fight has gone out of me, and
don't you forget itl
You have discovered the truth early" re-
piled q three-term member. "1t took me two
standing that the committeeman was the only
place where could blow my horn, and even at
that very gently at times 1 managed to get on
the Speakers list several occasions, but Con-
gress adjourned before the list was half
way down to me, and as to catching the Speak
ers eye, that was my dream by dav and by night
without realizing its full fruition, except to
introduce bills and resolutions on bill day. or
move to adjourn. You seeTwhen you come to
divide the Speaker up and spread him over 300
members and eight Territorial Delegates everv
day. he becomes pretty thin before he gets
around"
1t is safe to assume that every newly-elected
member desires to secure reelection. Let
offer piece of gratuitous advice. The best plan
to secure re election is to answer, il only briefly
every letter written by constituents, distribute
your public documents wisely. sending the right
books to the right persons attend faithfully to
committee work and avoid debate, except when
necessary to go upon tie record.