The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-27
SENATORIAL STORES.

To Put on the Gloves With Jem
Mace-Pomeroy's Insistent Consti-
tuent.
Old attaches Of the United States
senate like to tell stories of the paimy
days Of Senator'S Pomeroy. "old Pom
Of Kansas; Zach Chandler. OF MIchi-
gan, and Nesmith. of Oregon. chand-
Ter was more of a practical Joker than a
story teller. Roscoe conkllng. being a
much younger man and In almost con-
slant training. subjected Chandler to
some severe drubbings in their friendly
bouts with the gloves. Once Chandler
invited Conkling to dine with him. his
family being away at the time, and az
the table he was introduced to q mild
hammered. well-built man. who seemed
to be somewhat embarrassed by his en-
vironment, and ventured not a word be-
l yOnd the most commonplace express
ions. Conkling concluded that the
stranger was backwoOds constituent
and. beyond the common civilides,
ceased to address him. After dinner
they repaired TO the billiard room, and
presently old Zach and Conkling, as
| usual, put on the mIttens. Conkllng
was in high spirits and seemed to en-
/ Joy himself immensely in knocking his
old friend all around the room.
Chandler soon cried enough, and In
timated that his other guest might be
disposed to Join Conkllng In a bout.
The stranger jumped at the sugges-
ton and donned the gloves. Some
awkwardness was shown by the new
conner, although he seemed quite spry
upon his feet. COnkllng caught him q
heavy blow on the chest which stagger-
ed him, followed by an upper cut that
missed its purpose. and he caught In
return blow on the point OF the chin
that landed him fiat on his back.
Throwing back his curls he was up in
an instant and rushed on his antagO-
mist, fun OF fire and Indignation, In
tending to give him a settler. Instead,
he was turned upside down by left
hand blow on the neck that came with
triphammer force. AS he slowly raised
himself, he caught sight Of his host
doubled up with laughter, rolling on a
settee in the corner OF the room. With
out saying a word he removed the
gloves and stalked out Of the house. At
a dinner party next night, Chandler re-
lated how he had engaged Jem Mace,
the champion heavy weight pugiiist OF
England then exhibiting In this coun-
try, to meet his friend Conkllng, and
the result of the interview. For few
days ConklIng was boiling mad, but the
fun of the situation was too much, and
he gave in and Joined In the laugh.
Senator Pomeroy used to tell Of a To-
cal preacher In Kansas who had forced
| himself upon the stump after Lincoln's
second nomination and who demanded
80 ka aNNV To- \ q
during the campaign. He said he would
like to be sent as minister plenlpoten-
tiary to England or France, and when
| told that It was impossible. insisted on
being appointed consul to Liverpool.
Finding that the powers that be- con-
sidered that equally preposterous. he
was quite offended at what he consider
ed lack OF appreciation Of his services
In a state that nothing could have
turned against the Republicans. Final
IS, Senator PomeFoy said to him: I'm
going to Washington in about two
weeks tlme-think the matter over, and
II you should light on something in ren-
son, I'll aid you in getting It" In ten
days he called on the senator again. his
head still away up in the clouds, and
being assured Of the impossibility OF
getting what ne thought was about his
due. said:
Senator, can't you think OF some
place that would suit me?"
YES" said Pomeroy, I've thought
OF place that would suit you and that
you would suit. and that there is n
possibility OF getting for you. It's an
lnian agency"
IAN indian agency? What's that2"
querled the preacher.
well, you are to look after the well
fare OF our red brothers and see that
their supplies are properly and honestly
delivered to them"
What is 1t worth?'
Fifteen hundred dollars and perqul-
sites" returned the senator.
"Perquisltes-whnt perquisites?"
'Well, you see. my friend, the gov.
eminent contracts for so many head Of
beef cattle. averaging about so many
hundred pounds. Now, In delivering
these cattle, they are counted while be-
ing driven into an enclosure. and II
yenrling should happen to slip in now
and then, you are not to make too much
fuss about II, and there you will find
your perquIsltes. Think Il overt"
I'm take 1t" said the reverend gen.
tleman; I've already thought 1t over,
and do you know. Senator, think veal
Is blamed sight better than beef for
Indians. anyway"
NesmIth, of Oregon, had never been
Mt the capital until after his election as
senator, and Of course he was much i'm
pressed by his new surroundings. He
was sworn in alone, being escorted TO
the vice presidents desk by u senator
from Pennsylvania, and the scene filled
him with awe. Some months later.
when he had grown familiar with fell
low senators and surroundings. and
been discovered to be the most compan-
ionable OF men he was asked as to his
feelings when he first entered the SEN
ate chamber. lie replied that when he
walked down the aisle to take the oath
and viewed the white and venerable
heads on either side Of him, his heart
jumped to his throat and he Gould
hardly refrain from saying aloud:
"Nesmith, how the devil did you ever
get herew Well" said n colleague,
''now that you have been with US six
months and are no longer q stranger.
what are your feelings us you look
over the august body?"
"Well," replied Nesmlth. nov that
I've had chance to meet you all and
take the measure Of each. look on the
old bald pates by which / am hetiged
in. and Involuntary ask myself: Mes
NTH, how the devil did they ever get
here?'"