The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-13
GREAT TEST OF INTEL LIGENCE

A St. Louis Newspaper Finds Out How
Much Public Men Know.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Forty st. Louis
Globe-Democratr reporters descended upon
Washington to-day. They wore big badges
announcing their calling, and each carried
a handbag containing a number of thick
cards ten inches long and six inches wide
containing the following:
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT.
CLASS IN POLITICAL HISTORY.
This card contains a lumber of que stions
relating to the political history of this
country. Th person to whom it is handed
is requested to write out the answers with
out consultation with any other person and
return to the reporter:
l.. How old was George Washington at
the time of his retirement, after having
served eight years as president?
2. How many officers were included in
the abine of George Washington, and
what were they?
8. How long did Thomns Jefferson live
after the close of his second term?
4. When was the navy department. Gre
ated, and who was the first secretary of the
navy?
5. When was the postmaster general
made a cabinet officer, and who WAS the
first postmaster general asa cabinet oficer2
6. When was the interior department cre-
ated, and who was the first secretary of the
interior?
Z. Who was the first chief Justice of the
United States.
8. What chief justice of the United States
served the longest period and how long did
he serve?
8. What speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives served the longest in that capac-
ity, and how long did he serve?
10. How many ex-presidents of the United
States died on the Fourth of July, and who
we're they?
IL. Had any president of the United
States, previous to his election to that
office, been speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives? Give name or names.
II. Who was the first speaker of the house
of Representatives.?
Is. When were the first ten amendments
to the constitution adopted?
Ia. What article of the constitution of
the United States prescribes the method of
choosing a president by electors?
The reporters commenced at eight a. m
their work of getting answers to these ques-
tons, and before evening they had COM
pleted their task. The object of the work
is not quite apparent.
One of the congressman, to whom a card
was presented, said it WIS an effort to
prove that all congressman are damned
fools. A senator replied to this that it
would hardly require suoh a large staff for
so small a Job. However, the work went
On.
The card was thrust at everybody, and
everybody signed it with more or less intel
ligence, including the president, nearly all
the cabinet members, department officials
civil service commissioners, fifty senators
and 30 representatives.
The only man in the entire lot who an
swered all the questions correctly was
Thomas II. Mckee, superintendent of the
house document room. AMI Smith, super.
intonaent Of the senate document room.
Congress Librarian Spofford and Clerk OF
the House Mcpherson were his very CLOSE
competitors. Henry Cabot Lodge came
nearest the mark among the house mem
hers, and Mr.. Higgins, of Delaware, among
tna senators. Senator Plumb won second
p,izo in the senate.
Ins Globe-D Democrat will tomorrow pub
lish tho result of the great test of intelli
gence among public men.
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