The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-05

has existed IN any party. Mr.. Reel = the
candidate practically UNANIMOUSLY support
81 b. New England. and ne ali hope be
xtu b. nominated tie is A remarkably
bralny man. ana would make splen1id
president
/ asked Mr.. Dingiey to tell me something
OF himself and his entrance. into public
life some men engage in commercial or
professional affairs until they have at
tanned prominence and wealth and then
drsft snto public life gradually. Few men
ars educated to public life as was NJ
Dingley. Il always had taste for pubic
afairs' ne said 10 me. From my earliest
youth I was a student Of public questions.
] had a taste FOR Journalism. too. and the
journalist. you know. is born, not made
So il was very natural that when l gTadu-
atea from Dartmouth and had studied law
and been admitted 20 the bar / should pur-
chase a half interest in a newspaper, the
Lewiston, Ne. Journal and enter the
Newspaper neId. Yes: I had had little
preliminary training in newspaper work
/ had done some work on the paper during
ny vacations although / taught Il our
public schools nearly every winter After
a time ! bought the other half OF the pa
per, and ] have been its editor and pub
Usher ever since. my brother being assoc
clated with me and having charge Of the
paper"
/ suggested that in many cases good
editor had been spoiled 10 make poor
politician. and that the general opinion
was that an editor was better off 10 re-
main an editor Mr. Dingiey said. though
with modesty. that he believed that de-
pended a great deal on the man. lie had
gone into politics quite naturally. going
first 20 the legislature. whore ne was
elected for six consecutive terms OF 4 year
each. and for two Of those terms was
speaker Of the house Afterward be served
81
made governor OF Maine. He retired 10
private life for a time and then was sent
to congress. He is now serving his If
teeuth year in the house
he had a good training for legislative
work for he graduated in law before he
left college. He never intended 10 prae-
tlce. however His study Of the profession
was merely disciplinary. Since he has
been in congress he has served on the
committees on banking and currency,
merchant marine and fisheries. appropria-
tons. and ways and means.
How He Prepares His Speeches.
Mr. Dingley has Il good library In his
home. There f. a fine library belonging
To the city Of Lewiston. and when he can
not find the books OF reference he wants
I'm one Of these he goes 10 Boston and uses
the delight OF all students. the Boston
public library. He tells me he reads au-
"a girl feels in reading novel. He pre-
pares himself thoroughly before making
set speech IN the house. but he rarely uses
notes. relying on a wonderfully retentive
memory for the facts which he uses in
running debate
Il dictate some OF the matter for my
speeches he SAID in answer to a question.
''but much OF IL 7 put on paper with a pen
oil or pen and have copied on the type
writer by my clerk afterWard. When my
son acted as secretary. used 10 dictate
most OF my work. but with him ! could stop
when I felt like doing 50 and discuss the
subject in hand. The newspaper habit of
thinking AZ the point Of a pencil. though.
Is strong with me. and | write best in that
way. / always prepare q speech with care
because ! believe a man in public life owes
n to his audience TO make preparation,
but never use the manuscript of a speech
on the floor OF the house. and never try
10 commit Il TO memory literally. The ef-
foctiVeness Of speech is spoiled. ] think,
by a man who confines himself 10 the Ian
guaRe Of what he has prepared. / throw
the manuscript away, and follow In my
remarks only the outline of what ! have
pat on paper.
As Mr.. Dingley 4 essentially a domestic
man he does most Of his work IN MS quar-
tcrs at the Hamilton. He says he has
never grown accustomed TO working in
comm ttea room During his absence from
Lewiston his brother attends 10 the man
aGemtnt of his newspaper.
= have been independent OF my salary
"a a congressman always he said 20 me-
II don't believe in a public man feeling
that he must have an Office of some kind.
If | should retire from public life at any
time IN the future would return 10 the
active managemnt Of my paper