The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-12
DOUBLES IN c0NGht, :.
National Legislators Who Look
Alike Often Confounded by
Strangers.
Amos j. Cummings Tells Of Sew
eral Amusing Incidents in
This Connection.
Horror Of q Republican ON Finding Wan
amaker Before q Democratic
Fireside.

Especial Correspondence to The INDEPENDENT.l ]
WASHINGTON, May THE other night
"a member of congress from New York
was standing in Willard's hotel. The
rotunda was crowded with visitors. A
national convention was being held
and Willard's was headquarters for the
delegates. Electric lights made the ro-
tunda as light as day. Scores of persons
were circulating through the corridors. The
soft click of the ivory spheres in the billiard
room gave staccato effect to the murmur
of conversation and the music of the cleo
trio bells. The congressman stood watch
ing game of billiards through an open
door. A well dressed gentleman put a
twentp-dollar note into his hand as he was
passing, and said, ''I'm much obliged
The representative was dumbfounded.
He shouted after the stranger, who came
back and inquired what vas the matter.
"This twenty-dollar bill,' the congress
man answered: "what does it mean?"
''That's all right" the stranger replied.
Its kind in you to try to make me think
that you had forgotten that had bor-
rowed it. do that thing sometimes my
self.''
"But you never borrowed it of me-" the
representative replied.
''Oh, yes, did," said the stranger. "I
met you at the entrance of the house of
representatives yesterday afternoon and
asked you for 1t. Don't you remember it?"
"You are certainly mistaken" was the re-
ply. II never saw you before and posi-
lively never loaned you any money"
"Are you not Frank Lawler, of Chicagoy''
the stranger asked.
"Oh! no, am not Mr.. Lawler, but I
understand it now. Tn a friend of MIR.
Lawler. We sat very near each other in the
house. I have been mistaken for him sew
eral times while upon the floor"
The statement was true. The clerks and
even the pages had frequently taken the
gentleman for Mr.. Lawler.
~
On the following evening Hon. Frank
Lawler stood in the corridor at Willard's.
A hundred busy feet were moving over the
marble floor. A string band in the ante
chamber leading to the dining-room was
reciting the sorrows Of McGinty. Lawler
| from fragrant Havana. A dapple little
fellow with shining beard, cutaway coat
and check trousers rushed up to him and
said: "Fm little short tonight. l wish
you'd loan me ten dollars. got the wrong
| horse at the races to-day"
| Lawler clinched the cigar between his
| teeth, placed his hands behind his back, and
regarded the little fellow with stoical indif-
ference.
''You make make it twenty while you're
about it, the stranger continued. "l've
got a dead sure tip for tomorrow
his head and then said "What's your lit
| tie game? What do you take me for? Chi
cago's got the fair. What racket are you
working, anyhow"
why, used to work at the case with
you years ago when you set type on the
Rome Sentinel" the stranger replied.
.., "Oh, you're way off," Frank responded.
why, are you not ---. member of
Congress from New York City?''
"No," Frank replied with laugh, tbut a
great many people take me for him. I
don't know why it is. I'm sure that I'm a
great deal better looking than he isl
The stranger apologized, but he got
neither the twenty dollar nor the ten dol
lar note.
These two congressman are not the only
ones in the house who resemble each other.
So many have doubles that the new repre-
sentative finds it difficult to fix the faces of
his fellow members in his mind. Some
visit the postmaster-general. He intro
duced himself to Mr.. Wanamaker and was
treated very cordially. The cabinet officer
listened with much courtesy to his request
and promised to grant it. 1t concerned the
fate of a democratic postmaster out i'll Iowa.
A month or six weeks passed and the
postmaster still held his place regardless of
Mr.. Wanamaker's promise. One day,
while upon the floor of the house, the new
member crossed over to the democratic
side of the chamber. To his astonishment
he saw Mr.. Wanamaker sitting in an easy
chair in front of a glowing crate. The
postmaster was i'll earnest CONVEX
t;op xvitb AcEar r Garufh of Toicvillo
A yea -an1-nay vote was being taken. Ca
ruth got up to answer to his name, and the
new member made dead-set for Wana-
maker.
''Good morning. he said. as he dropped
into the chair vacated By Mr.. Caruth. You
don't remember me, / see.''
mo, sir, !" was tae reply; "but I know
that you are on the republican side of the
house,
Il am Mr.. from the-Iowa dis
trict," he said.
We'll. I am very happy to make your ac-
quaintance, said bis companion, reaching
out his hand.
The republican showed a trace of indig-
nation in his manner. 81 just want to tell
you," he said. ''that fellow is in the postof-
flee yet, and my man is getting little inn
patient. If You are going to do anything
for me, the time to do it is now. right
away. / want to get that democrat out and
put good republican in. They will be
holding a congressional convention out
there in few weeks, and the matter is a
little important to me.''
Here the postmaster general looked more
than surprised. what do you mean?" he
asked.
DO you mean to tell me,'' said the new
member. that you have forgotten your
promise?"
WHY, know your face" was the reply,
"bnt Pm not conscious of having ever
spoken to you at all before.''
We'll. Mr.. Wanamaker, you may be a
good man. but
He was broken off short.
"Great heavens! you don't take me for
the postmaster-general, do you?" exclaimed
the representative. II am not Mr. Wan
amaker. Fm Mr.. Goodnight, of Ken
tucky."
The republican half arose and looked
Mr.. Goodnight in the eye. He was appar-
emily disposed to dispute his word, but,
after some seconds, replied: Excuse me,
Mr.. Goodnight. but did anybody ever
tell you that you looked like John Wana-
maker?"
"Yes." was the reply, "rm stopped on
the avenue two or three times a day. Clark
Harry Bingham always asks my opinion
before he reports bin from the postofice
committee"
There il a remarkable resemblance be-
tween Roger Q. Mills and Henry j. Spooper,
|of Rhode ysland. chairman Of the commit