The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-12
CONSPICUOUS MEN IN THE HOUSE.
People Who Are Pointed Out TO
Visitors.
From the Ner YORK sun.

People Who Are Pointeo OUs 10
Visitors.
From the Nesu York Stsa-
WASHINGTON, April 5.-Among the con-
.,;c,o,s men in the House of Representa-
I've, to-day are Gems. Banks of Massachu-
IT'S Hooker of Mississippi, Henderson of
Io,rs and Wheeler of Alabama. Visitors
- .ha Galleries invariably ask their guide
- -. III fSen, who that old gentleman is with
snow-white hair, moving around SO slowly
ard with so much elaboration. That is
Cen Nathaniel p. Backs, the 'Bobbin Boy
Who used to work in spinning mill in
Massachusetts,. Inen tne guide. II he Is
I'll informed, will give the visitor
s,;af history of the generals
.,,I,iic career. telling how he was once an
ppS;tnr Of a newspaper, member of the
go legislature for several years, governor
tb,aa years. a major general of volunteers.
vi +bat since the war he has served ten
H. in congress and during the Thirty
fourth congress as speaker Gen. Banks is
= very cid man, and Is quite feeble at times
lie does not take an active part in the pro-
aaodinOs. but appears TO be preoccupied and
disinciined TO mingle in the debates as he
ance did. He is especially dignifed and
1olite at all times, and he is popular with
kis associates on both sides of the chamber
The attention of the visitor is next called
+o Gen. Charles Z. Hooker of Mississippi.
one of the most striking men in the House.
Heis a South Caroliniau by birth, and lost
his left arm at the battle of Vicksburg while
colonel in the confederate army. He is one
of the best dressed men in congress, and he
is one of the most eloquent and graceful
debaters He generally wears Prince Al
bert coat buttoned across his weIl-rounded
figure, and his empty sleeve is suspended
from the lower button by silk cord. His
hair is always brushed back from his fore
head. and his face is carefully shaved every
morning by a congressional barber. His
thin moustache is snow white, while his
long hair is heavily frosted. He has been
in congress six terms, and will probably
come back again if he wants to.
After the guide has pointed out Gems
Banks and Hooker, he invariably tells you
to look again on the republican side, and he
tells you that the large man, with thick
crop of iron gray hair and wooden leg, is
Gen. David Bremmer Henderson of Iowa.
Gen. Henderson is one of the best debaters
on the republican side, and, like Gen.
Hooker, is universally popular on both
sides of the chamber. lie tells an amusing
story about his recent canvass for the
speakership, which panned out SO poorly.
Being recognized as one of the leaders on
the republican side, he concluded that he
would become a candidate for the speaker
ship, and depend upon his personal
popularity with the newspaper cora.
spondents on Newspaper row to
pull him through. Soon after arriv-
ing in Washington last November he took
up his headquarters near The Row. and
spent most of his time mingling with the
correspondents. The boys on The Row be-
came very familiar with him and some of
them addressed him as Dave According
b; oil ba 9TH Id g.. AZ
same office, except Speaker Reed, also
counted upon their newspaper friends to
help them to victory While they were
making themselves solid with the BOYS on
THE Row. Tom Reed was capturing the
votes of the incoming members, and thus
captured the speakers chair. Gen. Hender-
son is a valuable member of the House
and possesses the most superb voice in Con-
gress.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler is the fourth mem
Der of this distinguished military quartette
in the House. Unlike Gems Hooker and
Henderson, he is not an orator, nor is he as
slow and stately as Gen. Banks. He is the
most active man upon his feet in congress.
He is short and slight, with a long flowing
beard, and his hair hangs in soft gray curls
about his shoulders. He was originally a
Georgia man, and was educated at West
Point Military Academy. He resigned
from the United States army at the Begin
ming of the war, and became lieutenant of
cavalry in the confederate army. He was
one OF the most dashing and courageous
cavalry fighters in the late war, and the
confederate congress gave him a vote of
thanks for his successful military opera
tions, and for the defense of. the city of
Aiken, South Carolina. The latter state
also publicly thanked HIM for his gallant
services on that occasion. He is a member
of the committee on military affairs, and is
regarded as one of the most interchangeable
workers in congress.
There are other military heroes in the
present congress, but the four mentioned
are conspicuous because of their many diff
ferent qualities and characteristics. Be-
sides, they are always pointed ont to
strangers as real fighting" statesmen.
There are so many men in congress who
call themselves general or "colonel' who
have never smelled powder that it pleases
visitors to look upon some of the men VINO
actually fought and were wounded in the
great civil war.
OF all the men in congress who claim to
have served in the war, there is but one
man who admits that he was still private
when the rebellion ended. His name is
John NJ. Allen, and he represents the First
district of Mississippi He made his repu-
tation as a wit in his maiden effort, when
he declared that he twas the only private
that came out of the war alive" He is re-
garded as one of the humorous members of
the House, and he can always command
attention and create laugh, no matter
how dreary the subject under debate may
be. When John Allen is on the floor he is
always apt to say something funny before
he takes his seat.