The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-25
BLUE GETS ON.
Kansas Congressman-at-Large
is Doing Famously.
He Likes Everything and Every
body Likes Him.
COL. BLUES COMMENTS
On Matters and Things at Wash
ington is Entertaining.
What He Has to Say of Reed
and Others.
COL. BLUES COMMENTS

from the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-Mr. Richard
Whiting Blue of Kansas, author of the
remark that it is harder to get started in
congress than 'just an ordinary legis-
lature," is accustoming himself to his new
surroundings as rapidly as possible. He
now feels well enough acquainted with
his new duties to talk about them in
tentative way and describe how things
are done. .
Col Blue has an original way of ex-
pressing himself and draws his SMILES
from sources which make it possible for
the humblest of his constituents to un-
derstand.
Col. Blue fully appreciates the signih-
canoe of his title, congressman at-large,
and does not shrink from the task of
representing the whole state. This ls
not to say that he encroaches on the pre-
negatives of others, but merely that he
intends Kansas shall be in it when there
are ''goings on" He is here to see the
whole thing and he intends to do it up
right
OF course there have been some diff
culties encountered. Social technicalitles
are run against with which a career
on the Kansas stump and in
''just an ordinary Legislature" could
not be expected to tamlliarize one;
bothersome little customs and details OF
society which never enter into tariff
argument and a knowledge of what
would be of little use in a thunderous
denunciation of the opposition. But TO
be conversant with these trif1es is neces-
sary, if one wants to do the whole thing
as congressman. and do it right. So the
Hon. Dick Blue has set himself to the
task of brushing aside these tangled
grasses which obstruct his path in order
that he may do the proper thing by Kan
sas and that she may shine with his
glory.
One of these little troubles arose to
annoy Mr.. Blue the other day. It was
brought to his mind that it was the
proper thing for him to have cards. He
saw that other congressman had i'm
maculate pasteboerds with their names
and states engraved thereon and he re-
allied that in order to be in the process
sion and that Kansas at-large might not
be trailing, the representative of the
whole state should have cards too.
Though this was new one on Mr..
Blue who had served many terms in the
Kansas legislature and had never had
his mind crossed by fear that he was
leaving any function undone, he did not
shrink from duty. He went to one of
the ladies of the Kansas delegation and
had her go with him to order the neces-
sary bits of pasteboard. She was per-
fectly willing to assist in this emergency
and they started to u stationers.
why" said Mr.. Blue, explaining, ST
didn't know you had to have cards here"
The lady assured Mr.. Blue that was
the proper thing and of course that was
just what Mr. Blue wanted to do.
On the way Mr. Blue impaired some
of his social tastes. 81 tell you" he said,
81 just like to go where l know every
body and every body knows me and I like
TO have them come up and say, why.
how are you Dick. How do you do
That's the kind of place where enjoy
myself"
Dir. Blue now has his cards and his
copper plate carefully slowed away for
further use, and as soon as he gets a
dress suit will be prepared for any
exigency which may arise in his duties
of representing the great state of Kansas
at the nations capital,
Col Blue, who fretted a little at first
under the muzzling of speech rules in the
house has become more reconciled to
them now that he has learned more
about the reasons for their existence. He
says he sees now that they are necessary
and that nothing could be accom- plished
without them. These novel features of
Legislation interest Col. Blue and he likes
to talk about them.
"Why," said he, speaking of the
method of introducing bills in the house,
''if such rules obtained in the
Kansas legislature and man
couldn't get up in his place and flourish
his bill when he introduced it, the fell
lows would rebel.
ut looks at first like tyranny the way
they do here but I see now they couldn't
get along without it."
Then Mr.. Blue figured mentally how
many days would be consumed ia sim
ply introducing the 10000 or 10000 bills
OF a session. He figured some time and
then was satisfied to put his deductions
In round numbers.
He went on to explain: "If member
wants TO Introduce bill he Just sends it
up to the. clerks desk and puts it in
trough. The bills are taken out of the
trough and distributed among the COM
mittees. Ii It is reported back from the
committee the chairman of the commit
tee has the floor and you don't get to
speak unless he gives you some of his
time. Why, if man would try to get
up aRd speak just of his own accord he
would get run over. As far as anything
be could do he might as we'll be ont in
Kansas hoeing corn"
Mr. Blue thinks the senate is a much
easier lay out. SIT isn't much more than
the Kansas legislature over there" he
said. "Ihere are about twice as MANY
of them that's all. It's easy to win fame
over there. Those fellows get up aud
slash around and talk as much as they
please"
It is 4IE Blues opinion that Mr..
ingalls, would never have cut such a
wide swath in the house He thinks
about the time he had skinned some one
q bowling mob of the mans friends
- tAs house would have jumped on him,