The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-31
TALES OF THE TIMES.
Some Interesting Traits of the Lawmak-
ers at Washington.


When Representative Joseph w. Bailey,
the leader of the Democratic minority in
the house, first appeared above the polt-
ical horizon of Texas as a star Of promise,
some years ago, an admiring uncle In
Philadelphia presented him with the mag
nificent gift of 800. 900. He had been n
practicing lawyer at Gainesville, had served
as elector on the CT veland and Hendricks
ticket and was the y youngest member
of the house, known quite largely for his
frequent arguments concerning the federal
constitution.
This rather unexpected windfall enabled
Mr.. Bailey to crafty the ruling passion of
his existence, the acquisition of a number
of fine horses, and today at his farm, lit
tie outside of Gainesville, he has some of
the finest steppers in all Texas. In fact
his admiration of fine borseflesh is about
the only thing that ever makes Mr.. Bailey
really avaricious of money. During his
political career he has been very popular
In Kentucky and has spoken extensively
in two or three campaigns In the Blue
Grass State. While his sojourns there have
been primarily to assist the followers of
his political faith, a second object has been
the selection of thoroughbred Kentucky
horses. Mr.. Bailey Is at present the owner
of several splendid steeds that are being
kept and trained for him in Kentucky.
Mr. Bailey's fame In his own district MS
connoisseur on horses is not in any
manner superior TO the fame of Represent
alive Samuel Matthews Robertson, from
the adjoining state of Louisiana, as a bear
hunter Mr.. Robertson halls from Baton
Rouge the capital of Louisiana, but his
district is an agricultural one and abounds
with divers specimens of the bruin tribe.
Having been reared in the state from boy
hood Mr.. Robertson has hunted bears
from the time when he was first able to
shoulder a gun, and the record of his kill
ings runs far beyond the hundred mark.
Personally Mr.. Robertson is genial
man. Thoroughly typical of the south in
his manners, he has big, magnificent
physique, actuated by q warm heart His
hunting trips mark an era annually in his
life at Baton Rouge. Being a splendid
shot and entirely familiar with the haunts
of his big game, he always returns from
his outings with plenty of bear and jolly
fund of experiences.
Probably the most careful member of
the house about his official correspondence
is Representative Walter Evans of the Fifth
kentucky district, who is reckoned among
the strong opponents of the present meth
DDS of administering the civil service law.
Mr.. Evans is a tall man, apt to be con-
sentative in his thinking, and not at all
swift in his movements. But in replying
to the communications of his constituents
he is promptness itself. Immediately fol-
lowing the delivery of each mail at the
house postoffice Mr.. Evans bies himself to
the committee room Of ways and means,
xxh loo io mi mo-
and, il possible, an immediate reply die
tated to the stenographer, who always ac-
companies him at mailtime. Mr.. Evans
finds this moro satisfactory to himself as
well as to his correspondents. He is never
barassed by the presence of an accumula-
ton of unanswered letters, and kentucky
Republicans are gratifled at the celebrity
with which .beir requests are attended to.
In the matter Of writing Representative
Dingley has popularity that has singled
him out to the compositors of the govern
ment printing office. Everybody knows
that the government Ia very liberal with
Its senators and representatives in the way
Of stationery, and this makes all the more
interesting the habit of Mr.. Dingley in
writing all over sheet of paper. He leaves
q good margin at the top, when he begins
to write, and follows the lines in good or
der to tho bottom. Then when he has
filed the page horizontally he writes up
the right hand margin, fills the margin at
the top and frequently down the left hand
margin, SD that the original manuscript Is
entirely framed with writing when 10
reaches the printer. And while the print
ers personally have q high regard for the
eminent Maine statesman, as do all who
come In contact with him, their language
IL not always gentle when they have to de-
cipher the marginal sentences.
The house has two gum chewers--"Slim
Jim" Richardson Of Tennessee and Mr..
John Dalsell Of Pennsylvania. As a par
Humanitarian Mr.. Richardson hardly has
superior In the house, and be 10 known
among his colleagues, both Republican
and Democratic, TO have bis eye on he
speskership OF the next house should his
party be victorious IN the next elections.
Mr.. Richardson never chews gum In the
house. His sense of the proprieties would
forbid that, but when other Democrats
eeek the cloakroom for q quiet smoke or
for chow of the fsvorite weed Mr.. Rich