Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03

the few whose personal appearance does not
belle description. Both the Massachusetts,
senators are men whose regulations are not
confined to politics and whose names stand
for something besides prominence IN legisla-
ton.
Both Hoar and Lodge are men of affairs.
of scholastic attainment, of family and OF
varied interests. Either would have ma
tional reputation, even though he did not
hold a seat in the Senate. There are few
senators of whom this can be said and few
er states of which ii can be said of both
Sc nators. They represent the old and the
new. One approaches the end of his career
crowned with honor and respect: the other,
though he has been IL good many years in
Congress- may be said to be upon the
threshold of Il career the end of which is
not yet in sight.
Not Visionary.
Mr.. Lodge has been called a scholar in
politics. That is an easy phrase that is
usually applied without overmuch discrimi-
nation. 1t is true that he is a scholar and
that he is in politics. but he doesn't con-
found the two. In the popular fancy the
scholar in politics Is visionary person
with high ideals. which are usually quite
impractical when it comes to carrying them
into eject Lodge is practical. He has his
ideals, as every man in public life ought to
have; but he appreciates the limitations of
human nature and knows instinctively when
those ideals are Immediately capable of
realization and when they are not. He I'M
derstands the political wisdom of biding
his time and making use of instruments at
his hand for the accomplishment of that
which he knows can be done
His name has been known nationally for
nearly quarter of a century, and yet he
is young man. He comes from a long
lived race, and some of his ancestors acted
important parts in the early history of the
il
was the first Secretary of the Navy, and
there is no reason why he should not mold
place in public life for at least a quarter
OF century more. Physically and inteilec-
tuaily he is a thoroughbred. Straight as IN
arrow, trim of figure, graceful in hearing
his outward presence attracts the eye and
Is quite In keeping with his habit of mind
His brain is muscular, like his body, and is
as hnely trained. His mind works with the
certainty of a machine.
Knows How to Fight
Lodge is a born fighter. If he had come
from another walk of life and had entered
the prize ring he would have been the
champion. In whatever circumstances he
might have been placed he would have
risen above the surface. He knows what it
is to be beaten, but he does not know what
1t means to stay beat A blow aimed at
him is always the prelude to another blow
aimed in return. Everything he has won in
pubic life, in literature or in any way has
been won at the expense of hard knocks
which have helped to strengthen his power
of endurance.
There is nothing of the mugWump in his
makeup. He is Il genuine partisan. He
understands motives and how to play upon
them. He knows how to stand by his
friends and his friends know how to stand
by him. He is not afraid Of making enc
m.es-he has plenty of them-and they are
not long left in the dark as to what kind
of treatment they will get from him.
He is distinctiveiy a New England type.
What he might have been had he been
born in some other region may be an in
teresting conjecture; but it is hardly worth
while. 1t is enough to know that he fills
the measure of his surroundings. He is
peculiarly adapted to his environment.
Powers n Speaker.
Before a Massachusetts, audience, espe-
cially before Boston audience he is an
effective orator. He catches the atmo-
sphere in a way which would be impossible
to one Of another heritage. On the stump,
in conventions in times of great excite
ment, his speech is kindling and uplifting
to a degree which may seem strange to
those who know him only In the not alto
gether sympathetic atmosphere of the Sem
ate He understands the art of leading the
Imagination of his hearers a continual
chase, while punctuating his talk with cpl
gram and local allusion.
He is an intense American. He has conf
dence in the future of his own country and
in the capacity of the American people to
cope with any problem that may come
along. He believes that the United States
is the greatest country on earth and that
there is nothing too big for the American
people to aspire to. He has theories, but
he is not theorist when he finds his theo-
ries clashing hopelessly with facts. He has
virility tempered by sentiment No man in
public life has more familiar acquaint-
ance with books, and no man In public life
is less under the influence of merely book
ish ideas.
He is ambitious. So is every man who
ever did anything worth the while.