The evening times., 1895-12-12
NEN MEMBERS CAREERS
Odd Stories Written by Them in
the Congressional mi Directory.
NOT MANY ARE VERY MODEST
Their Rise to Fame Generally Related
In Glowing woris-Some Bold Ad-
verfising-Harry Miner Tells of His
Theatrical Tri1nphs-Senator TIL
mans Proud cat Boast.

The new members, of Congress are enJoy )
ing the sensation Of reading about then
selves in the Congressional Directory,
the latest edition of which has just bee
issued. 'lousaa
1t contains the aitysh aiatygsraphies of Senator
and Representatives. aad as most of tn
sketches are writteht by themselves, the or
portunity is usually taken of exploiting al
the deeds of their. past lives that have at
tfacted the feast public attention.
Senator John NJ. Palmer, of Illinois, pro
vides the longest biography. 1t occupie
forty-two lines OF space, or about go
words. -
The shortest sketch Is that of Represent
ative John IL. Raney, OF Missouri, VIII
in two lines gives the name Of his oppo
nents for Congress-, the votes received
by each, and his own ma jority.
Representative. at-Large Grow, of Penn
sylvania, and Representative Marsh. OF Iii
nois, each takes thirtytw lines IN the
directory 10 rccite the important events ol
their lives.
Mr. Grows autobiography is devoted
largely to his legislative and political
achievements, while Mr.. Marsh uses the
| same space In relating his military and pO-
lificai history. He .'caI0pa igned in cvcfy
secesiing State except Virginia and the two
Carolinas; he received four gunshot wounds
and carries in his body rebel lead
| Mr.. Grow relates that he ''entcret Con
/ gress In 1851, being the youngest member of
! that Congress" and in closing the sketch
| >tateS tttst he "ws.s reelected Congress
man. at-Largc to the Fifty-fourth Con
| grcss as Republican by 4 plurality of
.46, 49,, being larger plurality than was
ever before given a candidate for any
office IN any election In any State of the
Union."
The directory is often used as a medium
to communicate 70 the public special events
and convictions or the Congressman. For
instance, Senator Quay's biography con-
tains n line stating that he did not vote
for the denomination OF President Har-
rison at Minneapolis.
This Is very Innocent statement i first
glance, but 1t contains Il world OF political
history and establishes absolutely in the
public mind the fact that the Pennsylvania
Senator will not favor the nomination OF
the cx-President.
Senator Hale states in his biogra ply that
he was twice offered Cabinet positions but
refused them.
N. w. HOwARD'S STORY.
Opening one OF the new books and going
through the alphabetical list of States IL
will first be noticed that among the new
names from Alabama that of the Populist
authoror III Christ Came 10 Congress-" N.
w. Howard. gives himself the most modest
and scant lines OF all the delegation.
The Southern prediction for old Roman
names finds free rein in the new Senator
from Georgia, the Hon. Augustus Oc,avlus
Bacon, who tells long war record story,
proving that 1t is still OF some political serv-
ice. and follows this with n list of Democratic
conventions at which he was present, how
long he served in the legislature. and how
he narrowly missed the Democratic nom!-
nation for Governor by only one vote IN
1888, after repeated less fortunate at
tenipts.
The next note to strike the eve is where
the Hon. James s. Watson of Indiana. the
man who beat ..w-a -atch Dog" Holman, tells
that he has beeB twice r, elected state
president of the Epworth League OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and is also
a member OF the X nights of PyihiaS in good
He is proud OF his defeat OF
Holman, for he says that he received the
nomination Of his party for
Congress against Hon. William =. Hcl-
man. and made an active canvass of his
district, speaking in every township and
in seven places where Republican speech
had never been made before, but he did
not utter single word Of abuse against
his competitor or say anything to offend
political opponents.
Hon. Charles F. Buck OF New orleans
is. according TO the story of his past life
the son OF old Burgomeister Anton Buck
or Durrheinl, in the German grand duchy
Of Baden. This estimable gentleman is
set forth at some length in the story as aying
been involved with some prominence in the
south German revolution OF 40, only to
'migratc thereafter Ia America. and fall a |
victim To the yellow fever epidemic in New |
Orleans in 1853.
GIVEN TO A SAL0ON-KEEPER.
The subject OF this sketch" as he calls |
himself, was given TO the tender care of |
'aloon and boarding house keeper. where |
ie worked about the house. without any |
he is careful to add. This need |
vas finaily obviated when by some means |
le ATTRACTED the attention of a public
chool teacher" and entered the public
chools, going later to the Louisian Mill
ary Academy, where Gen. Sherman was |
He has no war record. although he tried
cry hard tn get one. He says "when the
was closed he left in COMPANY with
is roommate, resident of Ponte Coupee
'arish, intending to enter the Confederate
rmy at Port Hudson. but they found the
lace invested by the Federals; after
it tdlt vi tlChSDuIS fOEU HUDSON.
e tried again to connect with the Con-
pderatcs somewhere east of the Mis-
issippi, and to enlist in a Louisiana
ommand, but peculiar (?) circumstances
ltervening, abandoned his intention and
pturned to New York.
How inconsiderate of Mr.. Buck to leave
ntoid those peculiar circumstances. any
ate he had not grown beyond early
$50 Citations. but returned to the old
,loon and boarding house family, and
'orked again about the house for his
wing, while he studied law. He is
ow, he says, attorney for q number
[ the largest local corporations at home,
nd has long ago entered upon a sue
,ssful and independent career" He
as given the nomination unsolicited. even
gainst his protest.
A MODEST MEMBER.
The only Democrat from Massachusetts
ld at the same time one of the youngest
John F. Fitzgerald very
odestly tells OF his birth in Boston thirty |
,ars ago, and his education in the public
.hoolS, with % short term at Harvard. He |
a real estate and insurance agent, but
Is been, it seems, from the long list of
ices which he held, most engaged in pur-
tits political.
Hon. William Z. Barrett Of Massachusetts,,
brief description uf himself, tells of
Is service as washington correspondent
II the Boston Advertiser, which service
well remembered here.
Senator Knute Nelson, aid TO be the first
Senator, was, he recites,
1t private all through the war, although
, was bldly wounded.
Crowther uf Missouri sets
rth at length his long service and expert /.
,ssas IA printer. and Representative Treloar =,
entions his service as n music teacher
several local female Colleges, giving them