The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-09-08

congress as member of the house of
representatives. l was a page boy
then, and was growing too large for
the business. and soon afterwards they
gave me a mans position which / held
for some time.
when Senator Morrill, came to con-
gress he was one of the most striking
figures 1 had ever seen; and, in fact, L
have never since seen any man of liner
physique or more intellectual appear
ance. In the coffin | saw the shriveled
form and features of very old man.
In the house of representatives l used
to look up to a man six feet four inches
tall, with broad shoulders and perfect
" proportional. He had heavy wavy
black hair and abundant black whis-
kers. while his carriage was that of
giant. He was by far the most attrac-
tive looking man in congress. L saw
him as he advanced in position until he
became chairman of the committee on
ways and means, when the tariff act of
the civil war was named after him. In
those days he was sent for very often
by President Lincoln, who consulted
him on all matters of great Importance,
Just as President Mckinley has been
in the habit of recently seeking coun-
sci of the late Chairman Dingley on
financial and revenue matters. He was
very great man, and was always re-
garded as very good man, too.
i remember when he was elected TO
the senate. and what splendid recep-
ton he had on the floor of the house of
representatives., when that honor was
conferred upon him. The leaders of the
house regretted to lose him, and yet
they were sincerely glad Of his eleva-
ton TO the upper house of congress, be-
cause his abilities warranted the adj
vancement. Besides, while he was the
leader on the floor of the house, in
stead of making political enemies, as
sc many leaders have done. he was for
ever increasing the number of his sin
cere friends, by treating all men fairly.
There was another handsome man
in the house of representatives at that
time. 1t was George W. Jones. of Iowa
He had been representative from
Michigan, later from Wisconsin, and
finally from Iowa; and that state also
sent him TO the senate. Gen. Jones had
been a great Indian fighter. He was a
man of splendid ply and very at
tractive manners. He was very warm
personal friend of Lewis Cass, John c.
Calhoun, Henry Clay and Daniel Web
-ster. They were together great deal,
and they had jolly good times together
after the custom of the day; for tenn
perance principles were not then in
vogue as they are now. Everybody
lived in hotels then, and there were few
boarding houses for congressman.
when John c. Breckenridge came to
congress he took precedence over them
all, because he was not only a hand
some man, but a gentleman of the most
genial manners. He had an indescrib-
able air which drew men to him: and
he was also ladies' man. That was not
because he was particularly dangler
after the society of the ladies, but be-
cause the ladies were all after him. l
guess that John c. Breckenridge was,
for a time, the most popular man in
either house of congress.
Thomas ii. Benton, of Missouri, was
unpopular in the house of representa-
tiyes because he was so pompous. He
had served for 80 years in the senate
a record which had never before been
equaled. When he came to the house of
representatives he naturally expected
considerable consideration. because of
his long career in the senate But in
that he was mistaken. Nobody in the
house of representatives has ever Sc
cured Difference for what he has been.
but every man there has to stand upon
his own merits and manners. 1t has al
ways been largely question of man
ners. For example, in later years
James 6. Blaine captured everybody
with his manners. while Roscoe Conk-
ling repealed men by his austerity.
Thus it has always been and ALWAYS