The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-08-07

w.
49,
THE INTERVIEW REFUSED.
ene name OF Swipes and says he is sure
1t will never offend his dignity, not
even when he becomes a Senator, to be
known by that pseudonym.
In the bestowal of nicknames the
pages seem to delight in contrariety.
For example, Mckee Cochrane, who is
of an extreme blonde type, is called
Ethiope, and Albert Mackey, whose ex-
ceeding generosity has made him the
favorite of the group, is called Shylock.
Events in the careers of the boys also de-
termine their nicknames, as in the case
OF Logan Harris, handsome little fell
low witch bright, twinkling eyes, who is
called Pic because when he was being
Initiated to the secrets of page etiquette
he was informed, and he believed, that
it was his conventional duty to buy a
round of pie at the Senate restaurant
for all of the other pages. He bought,
along with this experience, the name
which will not leave him, at least until
he quits the atmosphere of the Senate.
To 'interview'' Senator who has
nothing to say has been adjudged by
newspaper men pretty difficult thing
to do. But compared with interviewing
fourteen Senate pages who have every
thing to say and are eager to say it all
at once it is as easy as rolling off the
traditional log, I met the boys alto
gether few moments before the Sem
ate was called to ORDER. When they
learned that I wanted their opinions
concerning Senator's they began to push
and crowd and chatter all at once. The
atmosphere was full of opinions. Had
: been fourteen stenographers with a
full complement of ears l could not have
heard and preserved all that they told
me. Every one of them talked louder
and faster than all the rest and each
tugged at some portion of my apparel
to attract my. attention to what he had
to say. The frankness of these boys,
their willingness to declare an honest
eagerness to talk for publication" set
the unaffected little fellows far above
some men of note whom I have known
men who, while. manifestly no less
eager, surround themselves with sham
barriers and sit behind them sorely dis
appointed If the interviewer does not
see the sham and knock the barriers
down-pan talooned Poloniuses who can
not play upon the pipe, yet seek to play
upon the journalist.
Out of the clamor managed to snatch
a few facts--frst, the gen eral fact that
good feeling prevails be tween the Sem
ators and their pages, and then some
specifications as to individuals. Sena-
tor Stanford was unanimo usly declared
to be an able statesman and great man
because each year he gives them all an
entertainment at his house, where he
distributes presents, and then because
he gives a bright crisp IS bill to, each
page every year. But as the chatter
went on this was found to be a compli-
mentary ballot. Senators Henderson,
Vance, Reagan, German and Davis
seemed really to he the m ost general
favorites Of the boys, and Senators
Ransom. Dixon, Moody, Butler and
Henderson were declared to be the
give also to Senator Butler the credit of
being the most polite and elegant gem
tleman in the chamber. Senator Cor
man is liked because he once was page
himself and has not forgotten it. .
.''He is always good natured,, said one
of the little fellows, land often tells us
stories about what he used to do when
bo u,oo q poro ~nooo bo ,,oo - r;o-o,
too" This last remark was intended
to be a sort of cap for a climax of COM
pliment. .-....
Senator Vest is not generally favor
tie with the boys. Indeed, the young
sters passed unmista ka BILE censure upon
the very vigorous language he some
times uses toward them, and they as
sert openly that they would rather be
doing something else when he snaps
his fingers for page. One of the boys,
however, thinks Senator Vest is pref
ty good sort of man. Mckee Coch-
rane was one day rushing at breakneck
speed to do the bidding of some other
Senator, when, darting out of the cham
her, he plumped into Senator
Vest and knocked breath enough.out Of
him to make raw material for half doz-
en- Fourth of July orations. The Sena-
tor saved just enough to supply the sur
AM bience with deep blue
tint and an odor of sulphur. The boy,
who thought his hour had come 'for
surely" this time, SUNK back under
Captain, Bassett's protecting arm and
trcmblingly awaited to hear his doom
pronounced. Instead of declaring war,
however, Senator Vest at once began to
manifest decided interest in young
Cochrane, and sometime afterward,
when the youngster fell into a fight
with one of his colleagues---an offense
which is punishable by two months sus-
pension-Senator Vest pleaded for him
and procured a reduction of the suspen-
sion to two weeks. q
Young Harry Long never tires of tell
ing what a kindly man Senator Farwell
is. The, Senator entertained the boy at
his elegant home in Chicago during the
National convention in 1858
and opened the eyes Of the youthful
Pennsylvania to the glories Of the
Western metropolis and procured for
him a seat in the convention to boot.
n''Why." said the boy, all aglow with
gratitude, he not only invited me to
his house, but he paid all my expenses
Senator Vance is voted the jolliest of
all the Senators, and Senator Reagan
has gained the eternal friendship of the
boys by making paper caps and giving
them around.
Senator Cockrell is more dreaded than
any other member of the body. ''He is
always wanting something" said one Of
the lads 4 ~
Eyes; and it's always something out
side Of the chamber" said another.
.sI've worn path running to the docu-
ment room for him.
''Yoa bet when Senator Cockrell claps