Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-08-10

and John II. Bankhend of Alabama
Most Generally Considered = sena-
tor Berry's story of Private John
Aliens Change OF Mind.
Especial Washington letter.
The floor leadership of the minority
almost equals the speakership in polit-
ical importance, if not in power and
honor.
Joseph W. Bailey of Texas wearied
of the position and declined to stand
for it again, though certain of re-elec-
ton. 1t is most assuredly a position
entailing hard work and lots of worry.
Democrats cannot be organized, drill
ed, disciplined and led as can Repub-
licans. Like Collins ram, they are men
of their own heads. This character
istic has both advantages and disad-
vantages. 1t leads to independence of
thought and to defeat at the polls.
AT present the three men most gener-
ally considered for the leadership are
David A. De Almond of Missouri,
James D. Richardson of Tennessee and
John Fl. Bankhead of Alabama. De
Almond was born in Pennsylvania,
Richardson and Bankhead in the
states where they now reside De Ar
mond is 55 years old, Bankhead 81,
Richardson 56. They are all in the
prime of life, healthy, strong, ambi-
tious. Bankhead stands about i feet
10, De Almond about ) feet and
Richardson about 6 feet 2. Bankhead
weighs about 200; Richardson about
10; De Almond about 150 Bankhead
is of the brunette style Of beauty, clean
shayen and showing signs of badness.
Not much white in his hair. Richard
son is also brunette, slender and will
lowy, iron gray mustache and fine
head Of iron gray hair. De Almond is
a sort of mixture of blond and bru-
nette, with a reasonable amount of
dark brown hair and good sized mus
tache, slightly tinged by the frosts of
time Bankhead is serving his thir-
teenth year in congress, De Almond
his ninth and Richardson his fifteenth.
Before coming to congress Richardson
was soldier and served in the legis-
lature, and on his first day of service
was elected speaker at the early age OF
%. He has been delegate to two or
three national conventions He is a
great Mason, having been grand mas
ter grand high priest and inspector
general Scottish Rite Masons, thirty
third degree.
Bankhead was a soldier, having been
wounded three times. served repeated
ly in both houses state legislature and
was warden of the penitentiary.
Whether De Almond was soldier
do not know. He was old enough to
have been; but, if he was, he fails to
state it in his biography, and never
heard him mention it. He served in
state senate as circuit judge, supreme
court commissioner, presidential cleo
tor and delegate to Chicago convention
in 1896.
Three Good Democrats.
De Almond and Richardson are law
yers. Bankhead is farmer. He rarely
speaks In the house, while De Almond
and Richardson are frequent speakers.
All three are good committee workers
and regular attendants on the sittings
of the house. All three are men Of
capacity. Richardson is a member Of
the Christian church, sometimes called
the Campbellite If De Armond and
Bankhead belong to any church, | am
not aware of it. All three are my per
sonal friends
BY authority Of congress Richardson
complied the messages and papers of
the presidents-the most valuable his
torical work since Benton's great book
appeared. His short biographies of the
presidents are literary gems, He ought
to publish these in vest pocket edi-
ton, which would make his fortune
and perpetuate his fame to coming
generations
Bankhead dresses like a we'll to do
farmer, Richardson and De Almond
are both good dressers Richardson
running to black Prince Albert coats
and white lawn string ties, looking
much like scholarly preacher, while
De Almond usually wears sack coat
and most any sort of necktie that the
storekeeper recommends. BY his ap-
pearance he would be selected as a
college professor. Bankhead smokes a
great deal: Richardson and De Almond
very little. if at all am not certain
that any of them are teetotalers; but
all are sober men. Richardson and De
Almond are academieal scholars;
Bankhead is self educated. Richardson
is a rattling good mixer Bankhead
fairly good, De Almond q very poor
one. To be Elfxer is q faculty given
by nature. 1t is hard to cultivate l
speak by the card In this regard Rich
ardson has had large experience as a
presiding officer; De Almond and
Bans head very little.
Henry Ward Beecher declared that
tact Is more useful in getting on Ia the
world than ability. Richardson has
both. He is one OF the most tactful
of public men. He is kindness per-
sonifed. He never rubs the hair the
wrong way of the hide ON the animals
In the congressional menagerie He is
a skiIlfuI and able debater. His mind
naturally runs TO parliamentary law
which Is sne great labyrinth of in
tricate teehnicalities- | once asked
him how he happened 10 take TO
that mystifying subject. aud his re-
ply may be of use to the embryo con-
gressmen who read these letters and
who are now wrestling with algebra
or logarithms. He said. 4 learned the
fundamental principles at school by
being president of debating societies
and increased my knowledge ON the
subject while speaker OF the legisia.
ture and Masonic grand master. So
it comes natural to me here
Richardsan of Tennessee.
Much Of the business of the house
Is transacted in the committee Of the
whole. chiefly. | think. because when
in said committee the roll cannot be
called. so as to put themselves on rec-
Ord which many time servers and dou-
BILE dealers fear next to death. The
speaker does not preside over the COM
mittee of the whole He designates
some member TO presiae usually some
favorite First and last Speaker Crisp
selected many different members for