The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-20
DR.. HAkftiS tNpEiIENCES
In hts Far Western Hum. as u s:ate.mnn
and Legislator,

and Legislator.
DR.. r. S. Hurvey, formerly of this CITY,
now OF tho now State OF Washington,
was shaking hands again with old
friends at the McLure house Yesterday.
To all iSTELLlGEScER reporter he ey.
pressed himself AS delighted with life in
the lar West, whore, he said, the oppor.
lunltles ior yonng man to 90 to the
front are lying around loose waiting for
young men 10 come along and grasp
them.
That's so,' remarked n byetander
who had been out in tho Doctors
adopted country; "Doc' speaks from
experience. He went from here 10
Idaho, and hadn't been in the Territory
long enough to become voter before
he was elected to the Legislature, and il
he had staid there until now he might
have been Governor. How long had
you been citizen Of Idaho, Doc, when
they put you up for the Legislatura?"
1.-TWO days, ! believe" responded DR..
Harvey; "but that isn't all oft. IwenL
to the Capital in some .trepidation, fear
Ing the TACT that my short residence in
tho Territory would afford somebody
grounds Tor contesting my seat. To my
utter surprise, however, | was not only
admitted as a member oithe Legislature
but was actually elected Speaker OF the
House. I began to think was getting
along too rapidly. l was afraid that
honors coming so thick and iast might
turn my head, and so l chose what |
considered a very wiso course-I de.
clined the office, saying nodestly that I
thought could do my country more
good by remaining on the floor.
The House then turned In and
elected another statesman 10 the
position. He was more willing 10
serve, but not q whit more competent.
as the resul. showed. What do
you euppose that dulcr did? Give il
up? Well, I'll tell you: You see, he
felt sort OF grateful TO me ior declipipa
the Speakership so as to give him a
chance Tor the honor, and lie resolved
to do the handsome thing by me, and
he did==at least, he thought he did.
when he announced his committees, 10,
ana behold, my nsms appeared az
Chairman Of the Judiciary Committee :,
Everybody knew me 10 be 4 phys!cian,
and when the announcement was made
that l wa3 10 5a Chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee, the House lust
got upon its hind legs and howled. After
the uproar had subsided, arose in nv
place and with all tho gravity l could
command, thanked the Speaker Tor the
high honor he had conferred on me, and
assured him that | appreciated it iaily.
! stated, however, that | felt that the
Craftsmanship OF the judiciary Commit.
tee Ehould be held hy sorne one learned
in the law, and being a doctor By PROBES.
sion, l did not'consdor myself competent
to fill the position, and begged to be ex.
cused. Butthe Speaker was iu!ent upon
giving me the honor, and no amount Of
persuasion could induce him TO alter his
programme. | was forced TO accent and
held the chairmGnship throughout the
session. Fancy . doctor in such a
position
"iow did I get along? Not at all, |
don't know any more about law than a
monkey, and when bill came before
my committee ] just leaned back in nv
chair, looked Wise, and told the rest OF
the boys to settle it among themselves.
l voted with the majority every time
and was generally right"