Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-25
Congress Bssiegsd by an Army Of
Chicago Promoters.
SOCIETY LADIES WITH BEAUTY
And Lovely Language Buttonhole
the Members in the Corridors
Congressman Holman Almost
Ready to Succumb to the Bland
ishments ofthe Fair Ones-How
the Great "Objector" Over
reached Himself.
sr.eta! TsIeram 70 Ms Rsgt.t.r.

most picturesque anu Ieudl hoOiO lOO
bies that has ever appeared at the Cap
itol is that working for the Worlds Fair
appropriation. The individuals engaged
in this work do not consider themselves
lobbyists; they feel that there does not
attach to them the same stigma which
rests upon those who are working Tor
ordinary legislation, and they IND a
dignity in the title Of promoters. "
They feel pride In the fact that they
are associated with this great celeora-
ton and are therefore the most. open
and persistent lobbyists that have been
seen at she Capitol. The are breezy
lot, too, fairly representing the great
bouncing city which they are working
for, and having the approval Of large
minority Of the members Of the House,
they take possession OF Congressman
and things in a way that is refreshing
in this hot weather. They swarm
around every door to the House, llnger
in the recesses OF the windows and
stand guard over every approach. The
member who is In doubt or is against
the appropriation has TO run a
gauntlet on his way every time
he ventures out Of the Hall. Many
members have tried the back stairs to
the basement exit, only to find that
there is no sub-cellar approach that
the Chicago folks are not on TO, and 1t
is questionable whether there Is safety
even in the bath or barber's chair.
There are some of the genuine profess
sional lobbyists engaged In the work,
but for the most part the lobby Is made
up OF people whose social standing
gives them greater latitude, as well as
more influence. Starting in with a
large majority Of the House dead
against them, they have succeeded In
making IL close fight and will proba-
bly, end with majority and the appro-
priation in hand The most interest
ing, and you might fairly presume the
most effective OF the workers are the
ladies'. The skIrted habitues or the
building have been fairly driven out
and lobbying has become respectable,
even fashionable, and may become fad
and change the whole character OF
things in the future.
You are liable at any time to run
across some beautiful and queen-like
creature in the corridors surrounded by
members In deferential attitudes, who
are taking her commands. Even Hol-
man will bend his head before one OF
these, and, while blushiug, stammer:
why, certainly. OF course" Then
he will go Into the Cloak-room and
chide himself for his weakness and
fight the appropriation more deter
minedly than ever. Holman never be-
fore receive so much attention from
ladies. He seems to enjoy IL. He is
even getting fastidious and commands
the attention of the most beautiful.
There is q suspicion breaking into the
minds of some OF his colleagues that he
will never yield TO their entreaties. but
will stay here until December, fighting
against the appropriation, If by so doing
he can prolong these delicate attentions.
He is sly old fellow. All his life
his congressional life-he has had the
poor and owly, the widow and the or
phan, the old soldier, the claimant
grown gray waiting, and even his col
leagues in the House, petitioninR his
favor for this measure and for that; but
being importuRed by lot Of brilliant,
attractive and distinguished society la
dies, is a new experience, and he finds
the reputation OF an objector and a
Watchdog OF the treasury is not with
out It's rewards over and above the graf
itude Of "tax-burdened people" But
IL is only a question Of time when he
will have to yield to the arguments OF
Miss Chicago.
There is probably no one OF these
novices who has not, at some time, fat-
tered herself that he was about TO give
up the fight, for he cannot be stubborn
or disagreeable when it is only a matter
of words. 1t is when II comes TO action
that his determined nature asserts IT.
self.
The other day Holman got over
reached in the House in the matter OF
passing a "little BILL" The bill was
on the Speakers table. The man most
interested In it had reasons to fear
both Holman and Butler, Of Iowa, one
or the other OF whom was almost sure
to make a point Of no quorum against
il, there being clearly no quorum pres
ent at the time he had TO call II up.
He had been rather considerate Of
Holman one way and another, and had
a right to expect that the great OBJ
structionlst would be friendly with
him. He, therefore pleaded with him
not to make any point against the bill.
Holman knew that 1t was one Of the
sort OF bills which Mr.. Butler particu-
larly objects to. He saw also that
Butler was in his seat close by, on the
watch.
'I'n make no objection" be said to
the anxious member. 'I'll let IL go for
YOU" The member with the bill was
filed with gratitude and wrung the
bony hand which was pledged not 70 be
raised against his BILL A few minutes
later, when the vote was being taken on
the measure, Holman sat watching But
Ter intently. The vote was through and
the Speaker was about 10 announce II,
and still Holman watched Butler, and
Butler made no move and showed no In
terest. The fatal moment FOR the OBJ
lection was almost past Hastily Hol-
man bent forward. That's bad bill,
Butler" he whispered.
''Is it?" was the cold reply.
"Yes; you had better make the point
of no quorum. Aren't you going tO?'
Holman persisted.
"No, I'm not. Do it yourself, II you
want to-"
Then the bill was declared adopted,
and the two obstruetionists sat looking
at each other hard.