The evening times., 1895-12-06
Heard By the Louneer.

q
The stories of Speaker Reed multiply
daily. One Of the statements with regard
to Mr.. Reeds college days, and one that
has been published more than once, Will
bear modification, not TO say correction.
This particular statement Is to the ef-
feet that while the Maine man was at Bow
doin college he manifested his character
istic Independence by refusing to join any
ore of the Qreek-letter fraternltes. 1t is
further said that he was an active leader
of the "uutcns," or non-society men.
The fact is, as Mr.. Reed himself fs proud
to say, the future statesman was mem-
ber o.: the Chi Psi, one of the best known
OF the college secret fraternities, while
he was at Bowdoin.
CHER Justice Fuller was a member OF
the same fraternity during his course at
Bowduin, though he was Mr.. Reeds pre-
decessor by seven years in college. Sec
retary of Agriculture Morton and Don III.
Dickinson were affiliated with the same
society during their college days, though
both these gentlemen matricuiated at the
University of Michigan. These and other
public men have been the guests OF honor
upon more than one occasion OF tGeir OLD
socicty's ''annual banquet"
Speaking OF public men ana COHeSe 60
cietIes, IL will be remembered that some
widespread amusement was caused by
the Initiation OF Mr.. Cleveland into one of
the college secret fraternities since his
inaugural ion as the Chief Executive. This
same fraternity held its annual conven-
tion last month In Western city anu the
college youths there convened passed the
following resolution: Resolved, That we
congratulate Brother Grover Cleveland on
results already accomplished, but that we
respectfully remind that this Is not
girf's fraternity" If a copy of the Teso-
luton was sent to the President he was
doubtless edified by the reading of 1t.
Since the palmy days Of Congressional
debating passed away with the exit OF
Clay and Webster and Calhoun and The
other men eloquent, it has become gener-
ally known and recognized that some Of
the sharpest political discas sions have
been carried on among the statesmen in
less formal places than the floor of Con-
grpss.
One of these informal. but nevertheless
vigorous, debates took place last evening
betwcpntwo we'll -kno wn congressman. The
place was nowhere else than the lobby OF
the Lafayette Square Theater.
II cannot find that the number OF thefts
and burglaries is any greater here than in
saying. Additional police protection
seems to me to be an unnecessary thing. On
Just what do you base your claim"
II do not think the need has been espe-
cially emphasized this year more than In
any year since the hard times" replied the
other. 1.-The difference is that at the begin
ming of the winter season, when the tranps
are coming citywarG. the need is called TO
our attention In a special way. For my
part, Ibelieve Washing ton has needed better
police protection for some time"
At this point in the conversation the niern-
bers of Congress moved on to enter the thea
ter for the second act. and the remainder
of the argument, which, from the manner OF
the first speaker was about to become in
terest1ng. was lost
The young Congressman from New York.
George B. Mcclellan. whu has been referred
TO as the pet of Tarinauy Hall and who is
one nf the youngest members OF the House,
is not making a stir as yet an the floor
of Congress.
1t would hardly 0e expected that So young
n member would make himself heard within
the first three days. He seems to take an
active interest in all that transpires. how
ever, and from Some wise talk in which
he INDUCES with other new members around
the lobbies of the Capitol 1t would seem
that he has some ideas which VIII find
more formal expression later on.
BY the way, it is said of him that he was
a football player while at Princeton. This
suggests tnat in an extreme ease OF parlia-
mentary tor supplementary disorder
Mr.. Mcclellan might be an influential
member.
Among the ex1nembers If Congress who
are In town are n number whn have become
residents OF Washington since retiring
from active pulitical life. In other words,
not all or the ex1neinbers here are those
who are merely making visit to the
capital to see that with their advice the
machinery of legislation gets smoothly
started. Among those who are sharply
distinguished from this last class is the
venerable ex-senator James +. Fowler OF
Tennessee. Mr Fowler is a familiar figure
around the Capitol, as he has been for
several years siEce his retirement from the
Senate after his famous participation in
the Impeachment proceedings against p resi-
dent Johnston The ex-senator has lately
returned from a visit tu old home scenes in
his native State.