Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02
NOTED MEN.
How Newspapers Make Fame for Con
gressmen.

gressmen.
sPRINaISG FROM oBscuRIrY INTO SoToRIETY-
STRIKING CHARACTERISTIC AND THE NEwsPA-
PER INSTRUMENTATION OF LEG
1sLAToRs IN THE PRESENT CONGRESS.
Statesmen become known to the public famil-
iarly in various WAYS. During the past two
years names have become familiar to nearly
every man, woman, and child throughout the
land that before were unknown outside of the
districts In which the bearers of the names
live. A man may be in Congress several
terms and remain in obscurity; then he may
suddenly burst out as new light. Or a
new member may become famed at once.
1t does not argue that man is not able
because he is unknown, nor. on the contrary,
does 1t follow that he is great for being
noted Some very able men in Congress. in
the House particularly. are known scarcely
AT all to the country-at-large. Some of them
nave served more than one term and are known
III the halls OF legislation for their true worth,
out their names seldom appear in the newspa-
ipers-consequcntly they are without fame
mans name may be in the Record every day;
he may make speeches all over the country;
he may have his name written in red letters on
the board fences by the wayside-still he will
De unknown In the sense that a statesman must
be known unless the newspapers take him up.
| AS soon rs mans name is taken up by the
papers ana he Is frequently written about his
tame begins. The only effective way for him
| 10 advertise Is in the newspapers. Public men
are aware Of this and, as rule, it is their am
| Dltion TO appear in print often as possible.
most OF them would prefer being abused to not
| being mentioned at all. If they can be at
tackled and defended and get up controversy
concerning themselves it is of great value to
| thelr lame. 1t Is marvellous how some men of
| no especial mark-not especially shrewd in
other matters-cultivate this sort of notoriety
until 1t becomes fame. There are some men in
public life who are essentially advertisers.
| They do little else than cultivate publicity, and
In that way contrive to be better known than
men who are the ablest legislative workers.
| ESSENTIALS To NoToRIETY.
man in entering congressional life is for
tunate if he possesses some striking character
istic or popularity. If he looks like some
great man of far fame; if he has ''classic
! lace; II he has an inordinately loud voice, or
is extravagantly tall or has large mouth, it
gives hlm an advantage over his colleagues
Ii he has an extraordinarily large nose. fiery
red halr or possesses fertile vocabulary of
startling invectives which he is not timid about
using, his fortune is assured from the start.
Anything that makes the statesman interesting
to the Photographer hastens him on the road to
fame. Occasionally man becomes notorious
through no effort. fault or merit of his own.
put merely because, in the absence of some
thing more interesting to write about, he is Sc
lected hap-hazzard out of the whole pit full of
men as suitable object about which TO weave
to the letter-writers chiefly that
such man is indebted for his fame. He is
surrounded at once with an atmosphere of in
terest and individuality which is a marvel to
himself. He is made to say witty things and
to tell bright stories that it was never in his
mead 70 create, aud sometimes he is actually
framed by this to appear like the model that is
set up Tor him. Sometimes he has fashioned
for him giants robe" which hangs too
loosely upon him. In that case it is his head
that developes. and the giants hat. if not the
robe, would fit him. This sort of fame or noto-
riety Is OF much more rapid growth than that
winch IS based on tirmer qualities. 1t does not
follow, however. because a statesman is in
debted to a red head or the inordinate prolon-
CATION OF his sentences for fame, that he pos
sesses no more worthy qualities Sometimes
man Is unfortunate in becoming known through
some trivial popularity, when he has true
worth that entities him to more lasting renown.
INSTANCES
''Sun Set" Cox has become so well known for
his sparkling wit and entertaining humor that
it is often forgotten that he possesses the rarer
qualities of statesman. One of the greatest
trials of his life is the difficulty he has in con-
vincing the public that he is ever deeply in
earnest.
Tom Ochiltree has worldwide reputation
as wit, wag, and a story-teller. He is in
debted-or at least was in the first instance-to
the wit OF newspaper-writers who found it
more in keeping with their impersonal char
acter to put bright things into his mouth than
to say them themselves. This and the fact
that he Is very comical-looking man with
clustering manner and a fery-red head have
hxed his standing as wit. He started out as
butt. He improved his opportunities and
has tried to swell himself to fit his reputation,
which was a few sizes too large for him
Holman, OF Indiana, first became famed as
an objector in the House. Since he has ceased
to occupy this position he attracts less public
attention, though he is as active as ever in per-
forming his duty in the House. Several men
have emulated his fame. Beach. of New York
NOW no more), was his first successor. He
surpassed the master. Others have taken their
turn at it since, and all have got more or less
nOtOriety out of it.
REAGAN's FAME.
Reagan, Of Texas, after long public service,
became famed, not because he left the United
States Congress to take part in the organization
of the confederacy, was the acknowledgement
and secretary of the treasury of the confed-
eracy, and then again entered the United States
House-not because he was unique historical
figure, but because he has a curious habit of
tearing up bits of paper and sprinkling them
on the floor while he is listening or thinking
and because of a story told of his being caught
in the bath when he wanted to vote on the
Morrison tariff bill. The name of Reagan
awakes, not recollections of the great historical
struggle OF four years, but the more recent
struggle to get wet body into tight under
clothing.
OF RECENT DATE.
A number of men have come to public notice
during this Congress. The name Of Kilgore is
familiar wherever the newspapers are read.
He got his notoriety through his hard-headed
objection to the bill to make Sheridan general
of the army while he was lying on his death
bed. For his bravery" in resisting sixty
million people, lot of newspaper men, in a
spirit of irony, made q mock hero of him. He
is a thoroughly good fellow at bottom, and he
entered into the spirit Of the thing, so he got
written up extensively. Since then he has been
kept before the public as an objector.
Mr.. Martin, as everybody knows, leaped into
fame before he took his oath of office, because
the story was published about his blowing out
the gas. That started some of the newspaper
men and some of the members Of the House
to playing pranks upon him and telling stories
at his expense. Now, is there anyone in the
whole country who does not know Martini
Recently he has demonstrated that he don't
want to be trified with and he may live to get
some other fame.
A short time ago q new member, who had
heard of Martin, thought to have some amuse-
ment out Of him. mo man." he said, shas
become famous as rapidly as you, Colonel Mar
tin. / am q new member-elect of the next
%aIl hon IN 90,