Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21
THE LIVES OF CONGREssMEN,
How They Are Written Up for the Con-
gressional Directory,

| How They Are Written Up for the Con-
gressional Directory.
THE EXPERIENCES OF THE CONTEMPORARIES
WHO WANT TO MENTION THEIR ANCESTORS
OTHERS WHO CONCEAL THEIR AeEs-RErusAIs
TO GIVE MIDDLE NAMES
The United States government does not Issue
| from Its gigantic printing and publishing es-
| adjustment another work that is in such great
| immediate demand as the Congressional Direc-
tory. Ten thousand people want the paper
covered result of Mr.. w. H. Michael's industry,
and. like the folks who want pistols in Texas.
they need them suddenly. Senators and Repre-
sentatlyes have hourly use for it society leaders
yearn for its appearance because it shows what
| statesmen have wives and daughters with
them-no calling list can be made up without
Its aid; compilers of state blue books and
authors OF almanacs await it's coming, ard the
| general public which is on a visit to Washing
ton scans its pages with interest
| THE ORIGIN OF THE PUBLICATION.
| Inc nrst Congressional Directory was issued
In 1877 and was then little by affair which
was but little more than a list Of Senators and
representatives.: Twenty-four very diminutive
| pages we're barely filed even with the large
| type whlch was then so universally used. In
| N"y vic postmaster OF the house was the
| edltor anu compiler of the document, and as
| It's preparation and publication brought to that
| oinciat neither solid reward nor feeting fame
| put NIUE brain power was used in its compila-
uon. The man who brought it out of the
| darkness was the late Ben: Perley Poore,
whose duty 1t became, as clerk to the Joint COM
mlttee ON printing, to undertake the publica-
uon OF the directory. M2jor Poore, then a
young man, developed it, added new features
to 1t and gave it place among the works of
Stnn nr1 n,rtI
| turing the Forty-sixth Congress. when the
| senate became democratic, reorganization OF
tnat rody resulted in the appointment of Mr..
L. a. hlcnardson, chief OF the Washington bu-
reau OF the Baltimore Sun, as clerk of the
printing records, and as such he compiled two
directories.
| Inc work Is now done by Mr.. W. II. Michael
Nebraska newspaper proprietor, who was
calied by Senator Henderson to the clerkshp
OF the senate committee on printing and the
tory.
| HOW THE BOOK IS CONSTRUCTED.
STAR reporter found Mr. Michael in
chatty mood an evening or two ago and asked
him to tell the public just how the directory
has to be constructed
Nothing elaborate about it." replied Mr.
Michael, put 1t entails good deal Of work.
Tue HrSe step after new Congress has been
| eiected Is TO send to each of the recently ex-
| 1Sho'OiS Suu Representatives q request
| Tor biographical sketch OF himself and the
| size OF the total vote cast for himself and his
| antagonists. Accompanying this request is a
| sample sketch and the information that the
| committee on printing, not having the fear of
congressman before their eyes, had resolved
| that no man, no matter how distinguished he
| was or thought he was, would be allowed to tell
| all ne Knew about himself if he could not do it
| III twenty lines of the directory. The limita-
| tloh was not set until it had become absolutely
4 q, Al
| part OF many to transcend all reasonable
| bounds ana their lengthy chapters would have
nlaue tue DOCK too large to serve properly the
purpose for which it was intended
| HUNDREDS OF LETTERS.
| 10 OBTAIN the information required never
takes less than five hundred letters for not ten
per cent of those applied to send the correct
| hgures relating to their election. New menu
bers always give their majorties and fire.
| quentiy endeavor to direct particular attention
To the fact that these particular majorties are
| much larger than any maiorities ever given
| any one else in the same district. Some send
| their majority and refer the compiler to the
| secretary OF state for the other figures"
| docs the biographical matter come in in
pretty good shape!" asked the reporter.
Sometimes" was the reply but very
| often 1t does not. Frequently the answers are
| campaign sketches from four to ten pages of
| reprint, with an accompanying note to the eff
| rect that the desired information will undoubt-
eddy be found in the pamphlet In several
| instances the brief biographical data called
| 1or has turned up in the shape Of four or five
| columns clipped from a newspaper and en-
hvened by wood cut.
THE AUToBIoGRAPH1Es
"Does it take long to gather the necessary
| information?"
"Yes; it keeps me busy all summer. This
would not be were it not for the delays. As
soon as man is elected to a place in the ma
tlonal legislature he seems to be overcome by
| sudden impulse which takes him away to the
mountains, or the seashore, or to Europe, or
somewhere else where he is hard to find. The
directory, however, must be out during the
first week of December and it must have all
the biographical sketches in it. 80 the compiler
follows the statesman by letter and telegram
until the facts called for are sent him."
us there any particular class of men whose
copy Is clearer and more to the point than
that of any other clasp
The variety OF replies given to the same
set OF questions is almost endless and but few
new congressman give just what is asked for
Inc ciearest replies come invariably from men
whose education was largely received in the
printing office; they never make mistakes
guard against errors as far as l possibly can
and 1T Is regular practice to send each Con-
gresham proof of his biography before it is
published. Very few of these proofs come
back unmarked and quite frequently attemnts
are made to add great deal of matter which
was sent in the first letter, but which neces-
sarily had to be left out Frequent and ner.
slstcnt are the efforts made to refer to dis
tinguish persons who were the ancestors of
either the writer or his wife; of course there is
no room in the directory for the roots and
branches OF a couple of hundred genealogical
trees, however honorable they may be- As
rule, however, the Congressman is modest.
surprised. eh? It's true, though. There are a
few IN whose character modesty is not the
principal feature, but it is fact that the great
majority OF these men whose lives are out
lined IN the directory are inclined to modesty
In their statements as to themselves; too mod
est in many cases."
ARMY RECORDS.
''Do those who have military or naval rec
ords seem DESTROYS of having them incorporated
in their biographies" queried the reporter.
''They do" said Mr.. Michael. Both Union
and confederates are particular about that. |
Both are evidently proud of what they did in
the late war. They are not, however equally |
willing to give the directory the benefit of their
full names. Odd, isn't it? Very peculiar, but
very true. Most of them will give their first
name and their last, but they seem to have a |
decided objection to doing any more than give
the initial of their middle name when thew have
one. Especially is this reluctance-often a di- |
rect refusal-noticeable in northern and west
ern men; southern men are invariably willing |
to tell it ALL"
Have you found out why?" |
~ think l have" replied Mr. Michael sTt |