Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-02-20

| of our meanderings we came upon
statesmen of every degree, all of them
men of more than ordinary ability, and
many of them occupying places OF great
| distinction and honor at home MS well
as in the national capital.
| just few feet from the elevator is
the speakers room, and at its door sits
| Neal, the colored man who has acted
as messenger for the speaker of the
house of representatives for the past 20
years. He arose and opened the door,
and Speaker Reed entered his special
apartment, turning as he did so, say
ing: IL bid you good morning, gentle
| men," The door closed and the speaker
was thus safe from intrusion of any
kind. When he enters that room he
dred and fifty letters, all of which have
been opened by the clerk and spread
out upon the desk for perusal and con-
sideration. He picks up the letters one
by one, reads them, and then, without
raising his eyes, he begins to talk as
though he were answering the letters
to the persons from whom the letters
are received. His stenographer sits on
the side of the desk opposite the
speaker, and rapidly takes down every
thing that Mr.. Reed says, including
addresses of letters. 1t usually takes
Speaker Reed about an hour to read and
answer these letters. By the way, that
fact gives rise to the reflection how
changed are conditions during the past
generation. The art of shorthand
writing has been so perfected that ex-
perienced men can write down as rapid
ly as any man cares to talk every SEN
tence, every word and every syllable
that is uttered. Only by the means Of
shorthand writing could public men
keep up with their correspondence.
walked through the house of rep
resentatiyes, meeting and shaking
hands with great many public men
from the various states, and then pro-
ceeded through statuary hall and the
capitol rotunda to the north wing Of
the capitol where the senate is assem-
bled. On the way over there l met Sen.
ator Stewart, of Nevada, who is great
champion of the cause of free coinage
of silver. You do not know, and the
people throughout the country do not
know, but the people Of Washington
are well aware of the fact that Senator
Stewart has become so imbued with the
one idea of which he has taken posses
sion and which has taken possession of
him, that all of his conversation is con-
corning silver. This morning was no
exception. After shaking hands, he
said: 1.-THE robbers and thieves in
both of the old political parties are de-
termined to enrich themselves and keep
the people poor. l will fight them as
long as live. l wish you would read
my silver paper published every week.
I hope to live long enough to see the
triumph of my ideas"
After leaving Senator Stewart pro-
ceedcd to the room of the senate COM
mittee on territories, of which commit
tee Senator Davis, of Minnesota, is
chairman, and there / hung my coat
upon the hatrack and made myself per-
fectly at home. Senator Davis sat at
little desk which stood in the corner of
the large and beautiful room. dictat-
ing to his stenographer. He merely
looked up and said good morning"
He went on with his dictation and l
went over to the room of the committee
of pensions, to see Senator Gallinger,
of New Hampshire, who is chairman
of that committee, and makes his head
quarters in that comnittee-room.
After transacting a little business
there, coming out into the corridor
met Rev. DR.. Milburn, the blind chap
lin of the senate, who was being led by
his niece. a mild-mannered little lady
who always accompanies him. To-
gether they go to the elevator every
day, ascend to the floor of the senate,