Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26

WASHlNGION, NOV Eo'-NSpeCldi CoiIe-
spondence. )-Nebraska officeholders, as a
rule, have not been large, numerically, in
the national capital. What they have
lacked in numbers, however, they have made
up in point OF ability. But since President
Mckinley has taken hold Of the reins OF
government, Nebraskans are more largely
represented in Washington than ever before
in our country's history. They may be
found in all the bureaus hereabouts and in
a very large degree their work and influence
are felt throughout the whole departmental
service Some time ago l thought 1t would
be a pleasure to the citizens Of Nebraska
to picture the daily appearance Of some Of
the leaders from the Prairie state holding
responsible positions In Washington, and to
this end evoked the help of a Photographic
fend upon a kcdaking campaign. But be-
fore / secured the pictures here produced
much time and much more patience were ex-
hausted Have you ever attempted to kodak
friend as he passed along the street? Have
you ever experienced the calamity OF just
as you were about to push the button to
have big dray loaded with merchandise
shut out the object entirely? Have you
had your kodak properly focused and then
have somebody jcstle you so that three
images are shown upon the plate? In other
words have you pursued the business of
kodaking to a finish? II you have you will
realize Just what my friend was "up against
in attempting to make pictures OF Ne
braskans passing to and fro in their daily
life, without any attempt at posing and
without the stilted expressions usually seen
in photographs
MeikIejOhn a Central figure.
The central picture, that Of Assistant Sec
retary of War Meiklejohn, and Solicitor for
the War Department Charles e. Magoon,
will be easily recognizable by the multitude
of their friends. 1t was taken on the east
front of the state, war and navy building
just what Secretary Meiklejohn Is impart-
ing to Mr.. Magoon is left wholly to the
Imagination of the reader. My individual
impression Is that the secretary is telling
Mr.. Magocn something about the yacht races
about which he Is well informed, since he
was the guest of Howard Gould on the
Niagara during the battle royal between the
Shamrock and the Columbia, and maybe he
is explaining the Marconi system Of wire
less telegraphy to MagoCn, for Secretary
Meiklejohn sent wire to Secretary Root
by the Marconi system when the Gould yacht
was twelve miles outside the roads, In
ventor Marconi sending the wire himself, an
answer being received two minutes after
1t left the ship. Little need be said about
Secretary Meiklejohn. He is known to the
people Of Nebraska most favorably. He
has lived in his adopted state for many
years, having been in turn school teacher,
prosecuting attorney, state legislator lieu
tenant governor, member of congress and
assistant secretary of war, to all Of which
he has brought high ability, unceasng per-
severance and indomitable will essentials
that make for success in these closing CEN
tury days
Charles Il. Magoon, who stands to the
right OF the picture, Is holding his first
political Office under the republican party
and comes from Lincoln. He Is a Min
nesotan and was born in the early days
of the civil war. He settled in Nebraska
In the spring Of 1872 on homestead in
Platte county. In the fall OF 1875 he en-
tered the University of Nebraska, from
which he graduated and studied law in the
office OF Mason & Wheedon was admitted
to the bar and since that time has ap-
peared in more or less important litiga-
tion in the state and federal courts. He
has been a republican all his life, having
taken an active interest in the politics of
Lancaster county and the state since he
reached his majority. 1t can truthfully