Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-12-10


. dinner. The Gridron Club, be it known
is an organization of the best newspa
per workers at the Capitol. Once I
year they give grand banquet. anc
invitations are extended To the leading
statesmen Of all parties. 1t is under
stood that none of the speakers on in
cidents of the banquet will be reported
in the press, and As a result the prOml'
nent men present AT such times talk
with great freedom ON matters that
they are usually reticent about in the
presence of II reporter.
At the last dinner, given some time
after the Presidential election, num-
Der IF supposed telephone messages
were read To the banqueterS. About
that time it was political gossip that
Representative Boutelle would be given
place in the Cabinet, and many PEG
pie thought that Mr.. Boutelle was on
the anxious seat awaiting the portfolio
One of the telephone men presumably
called up Canton and told the President
that Mr.. Boutelle wished TO talk to him.
What does he want?" came back
the reply.
HE says to tell you that he is still
waiting"
A laugh vent around the board at
Boutelle's expense. few minutes af-
terward the young man at the telephone
said 10 Speaker Reed, who was present:
MIR. Reed, what shall tell the Presl-
dent for your
on" said Mr.. Reed. in his dry fash
ION, Just tell him I'm not waiting
Boutelle flushed and when, in the
course OF the evening, he responded to
toast, he referred to the Speakers re-
ply and said that lac had known the
gentleman from Name for good
many Years and this was the first time
IN his career that he had ever caught
HIM not waiting for some hing He
had a wire edge 10 his voice as he said
il, and these same knowing ones. say
that il was another illustration that
Maine is small State with large crop
OF brainy men. and that it is but natur
a. that at times they should cross
swords.
No one can question Boutele's fight
ing obiIity, Time and time again on
the floor he has tainted and goaded
the Democrats into state of despera.
ton, and when he had them hot and
furious, much 10 everyone'a surprise,
forced them to accept some measure a.
most partisan in lis nature. He is one
of the men who gain their point through
the medium Of Il fight. He il never
concniatOry, and feels most at home
when the passions Of the men are
aroused and It is give and take all along
the line. And Yet he i a man of most
generous impulses, ever ready to AS
si,t the needy and with hearty ready
to do or die for friend al any time.
HIS record during the civil war IN the
naval service is an admirable one, and |
he assisted in some OF the most import
ant naval maneuyers of the Federal |
cause. He was one of the ranking Of
iicers on board the SaSsacus IN her I'M
portant engagement with the Alba
marie when that staunch wooden YES
sci boldly attacked the rebel ram.
Representative Boutelle had that en-
Lagement recalled To him during a
committee meeting one day last session.
His messenger brought him a card, and
he failed 10 recognize the name. MIR. !
BoutelIe was very busy at the time, and
he told the messenger to find out who
the man was aud his business. In a
II moments the messenger returned
with another card, and on it was writ
ten, The quartermaster of the Alba
marie
bring HIM i'm almost shouted Chair
man Boutelle. And the Naval Commit
tee witnessed the striking sight of two
fine looking gray haired men clasping
hands with brotherly fervor, who, thir-
ty-fve years before, had done the best |
they could to send each other into eter-
nifty by the shot and shell route.
Housewives will be glad to know that
every Congress new carpet Is pur-
chased for the floor of the hall of the |
House of representatives. 1t takes
400 yards of single-width carpet to
cover this floor. 1t is a pattern made |
esneciallV for the Covprnmpnt and costs