The age-herald., 1899-01-08
HOUSE CAREERS CUT SHORT
Brilliant Leaders WhO Were Turned Down
 by Their Constituents.
NOTABLE EXAMPLES MENTIONED
Representative Cummings Talks of His Colleagues Who Are Soon to Pass Out-Men Who Gave Promise
 ofAchieving Greatness.

Washington, January "A bright boy with no more than a winters schooling is un- fortunate, but not more unfortunate than statesman who serves only one term in congress. The boy returns to his parents and Is put to work on the farm, while the statesman is returned to his constituents and resumes work for himself. He has hardly mastered his congressional a-b abs and i-b ibs, and tackled the first reader be- fore his career is cut short. The house is at first only a school for aspirants. Some are unusually bright and display remark able aptitude, while others appear plod- ding, if not inert. Some master parliament tary problems quicker than others, but TO man is thoroughly equipped for the work before him until he has served two or three terms. Bright men appear in the primary class in every congress, but large percent age of them never become sophomores. An i'll wind in politics waits them from the house, and most of them never return. Hor- ace Greeley was striking example. He had only thirteen months schooling when a boy; his congressional career was limited to three months-the short term of the Thrtieth congress. He ran on the same ticket with his brother editor, James Brooks, but James got the long term and Horace the short one. In that time Greeley stirred up the house by attacking the mileage system editorially. Some of the members bitterly resented it, and he narrowly escaped a committee of inves- tigation. He failed in his work of reform, and retired from congress. Years after ward he again ran for congress and was defeated by Sunset Cox, but by only 1,02o majority. He also signally failed in an effort to secure a seat in the United States senate. Henry Watterson also served term in the house. It's work was dis tasteful to hm, and he refused renomn- ation. His father before him had been member of congress.
 Another case is that of Charles A. Towne, of Minnesota. No man ever achieved more brilliant reputation in the short time that he served as member of congress- His free silver speech aroused not only the house of representatives but the whole country. It was delivered with telling effect. It was so unique that an immense diagram was used by way Of illustration. Towne stood in the main isle, wand in hand, like a magician, explaining it. The speech showed careful preparation and a thorough mastery of the subject. His constituents, however, took different view of his usefulness. Twice since then has he been an unsuccessful candidate. Other remarkable examples are those of George Fred Williams, John c. Crosby, and Sherman Hoar of Massachusetts. All three were young men of exceptional abili- ty They learned their lessons quickly, an1 no scholars were more apt in recitation; vet all were left at home in the next cleo tion. To these may be added that queer block of congressional driftwood, Walter H. Butler, of Iowa.
 Forty Failed of Reelection
 There are forty new members in the present congress who either failed of re- nomination or were showed under at the last election. Ten of them have remain ed hermetically sealed, and of these ten three are from Mayland. The one who achieved the greatest prominence is un- doubtedly James Hamilton Lewis. of Washington. He had been elected by IT, S64 majority, and yet he failed of re-eec- tion. One of the brightest of the forty Is Albert M Todd, of Kalamazoo, Mich. AL though born in 1850, he is very youthful in appearance, but alert mentally and physi- cally and an eloquent speaker He re- mained silent ten days, and then opened upon the Dingley bill right royalty It was radical democratic speech-one which aroused his party colleagues, and drew from them well-merited applause. From
 
 ready and effective participant in discus sion. Wherever the interests of his state are concerned he Is wide-awake. as active as a ferret and makes himself heard to some purpose His assaults upon trusts and monopolies was masterpiece in poll tics.
 Michigan has never sent q man to con- gress who won a greater reputation in a single congressional session. MT Todd occupies front seat. and is favorte on his side of the house. He has had re- markable career, spending his early life on farm, afterward graduating from the Sturgis high school, and making an exten- sive tour of Europe. He devoted himself to the study of chemistry, and through his discoveries is well known to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and kindred bodies He is a manufacturer of peppermint and other essential oils. He has not only established plants for distilling these oils, but owns large sections of land devoted to the cultivation of the plsnts themselves. He represents the district which sent the Hon. Julius Caesar Burrows to the house for so many years. Despite his usefulness, however, his term at school has been cut short This Is undoubtedly due to the fact that he really represents republican district. and that he was elected by combina ton of democrats and popu- lists. Much of his reputation in the house comes from the action of Speaker Reed in placing him oD the committee on mines and mining and on alcoholic liquor traffic. These committees have very little to do. This made Todd close attendant on the sessions of the house. and gave him scope that he would not otherwise have had
 "Buck" Hinrichsen's Rise and Fall
 Another apt scholar whose congressional career has been clipped is the Hon. w. H. Hnrchsen, of Illinois--better known as 'Buck" Hinrichsen. A massive man, with curly hair and good-natured face, he has been fayorite in the cloakrooms and CT