The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-27


always livelier than st is ia the American
house Of lords, is much more frequently
embellished with epithets or seasoned
with the spice Of bad tempers.
When the Surface rs RuHed.
When the house is calm, visitors are
not numerous. But let the surface be-
come ruffled, let the storms Of debate
brew. and the big audience comes with
amazing NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. from it is as
difficult to guess as who they are. But
in some unknown manner the word is
passed round. and from some unknown
spots the listeners hasten and the CALLER
les are soon filed So it was last week
when a fierce battle was waged over the
tariff. 1t had not been expected. No
one had foreseen the rafting fire Of bat
teries and small arms that filed the hall
of the house with smoke and also left a
number Of wounded lying Oh the field.
When the row began, there were only
a few people in the galleries. In less
than an hour they were filed TO over
flowing, and men and women, both
white and black. stood in long lines
awaiting q chance to enter. To tell the
whole TRUTH far more than half of these
curious persons We're black The appe-
Bite of the negroes Of the Capital City for
tariff debates is wholly inexpdcable=
and all sorts of debates. for the matter
Of that Day in and day ont they con-
stitute a majority Of the congressional
audiences. True. some of them 90 to
sleep. and now and then an oratorical
Congressman ON the floor below has his
periods punctuated by the SHORES Of an
enthralled occupant Of the galleries.
The Newspaper Men,
Possibly the crowd learns of scenes Of
interest in the house by watching the
newspaper men, The corresp ondents Of
the Capital City are thermometer
worth wstching. at i o'clock Of an
afternoon there may not be a half dozen
newspaper men IN the house gallery.
They are at luncheon I'M the restaurant
down stairs. iii the committee rooms
talking to members or louneing IN their
own spacious and comfortable lobby
where they have cheerful open fires, paid
private Office. tt would be difficult to
say where the country is ruled-on the
floor below or UP here in this meeting
place Of the Washington corresp Dndents
OF one thing you may be sure-when the
press men leave their easy chairs drop
their story telling and Joking and rush
into the gallery something really inter
esfing is gong on.
The average correspondent is great
cvnic. More than cynical. he is blase as
to speeches, debates and incidents. He
IS SO hardened 80 all these things that
it takes something extraordinary to
rouse bis interest. but if there is to be
some real fighting he wants to be ia at
tile DEATH Thus it often happens that
where 10 minutes before the press was
wholly unrepresented ia the house gall
lery fully hundred men suddenly APP
pear. They flock from all parts of the
capitol. and even come hurrying up from
their Offices down town.
Potent Factors.
Visitors to Washington are surprised
that the newspaper correspondents spend
Sd little time in the galleries of the house
and senate. They wonder how the press
men are able to report the debates with
out hearing them. But as q general
thing the special correspondents have
little to do with the debates on the floors
of the two houses. They are covered by
the reporters of the two press associa-
tions. men who sit at little tables in
front of the desks of the vice president
and the speaker, who write shorthand
and have nothing else to do day after day
but make up accounts Of what is said by
senators and representatives. 1T is only
on extraordinary occasions that the spe-
cial correspondents handle the debates
such occasions as that fierce hand to
hand fight IN the house over the tariff a
few days ago. Then the brightest and
keenest of the specials" so in for stories
that are worthy the incident and suited
to the tastes Of their journals.
The newspaper men are an important
feature of life at the capitol They are
everywhere. Their influence lis almost
unlimited. They and not the lobbyists
constitute the third house, and it is
stn an open question which IS the most
powerful-senate. house on press gallery.
If the first two make laws, the third makes
or molds public opinion. If the mem beers
of the bodies exercise great influence
upon the correspondents SO do tbs cor