The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-10
SEATS Of THE MIGHTY
Victor Murdoch Visits the
Halls of Congress.
Ven WITHOUT PROMINENCE
Wake Speeches but Fail to
Arouse Enthusiasm.
wen WITHOUT PROMINENCE

Victor MurdOck, the Eagles managing
editor, who left Wichita ten days ago for
Washington City and the east, writes as
follows OF congress:
Washington D. C., June THE best
dressed man 1 have seen in Washington
is the private secretary of a New Eng
land senator.
He had enough dignity about his clothes
70 stock a carload of offended queens.
He was enjoying his job. He was get
ting all the honey out Of il.
It is a way the New England conting-
ent in congress has.
In the elevator leading to the senate
the presence Of a single New England
senator frosts the mirrors near.
The other day a congressman from one
of the states along the Mississippi told
me he stopped Senator Highchin in the
corridor to ask him a question, and the
old man added a couple Of inches to his
chest measure and said:
Il never transact business in the cor
ridors, sir. You must come TO my com
mitteeroom'
The two men then walked through a
half-mile Of corridor and the Mississippi
congressman asked him some little ques-
ton that didn't quite exhaust two
breaths
The New England contingent and the
old south established the customs Of the
congress. The biggest item in these forms
IS seniority in service. A high-geared
idiot, if he will remain in congress long
enough, viii get better committees and
nave more influence on committees than
an intellectual sun-burst from anywhere,
IL said intellectual sun-burst has been
here but term
Having established this custom the DO
lidcal leaders Of the old states have been
elected and reelected year after year.
The mass Of people in New England
and in portions Of the old south have
long ago forgotten that the office Of Unit
ed States senator is elective. The sena-
tors Of these regions have only a slight
impression that there are terms in their
official life.
IN the west 1t is different. The west
ern senator when he is elected can see
ahead Of him a bright spot just six years
into the future. Until he gets up to it he
can never tell whether It is an alIegcr-
ical figure Of Triumph bearing him a
second term on a silver tray or a thir-
teen inch shell from the muzzle Of popular
moment the western man breaks into
these western halls. he is always wonder
Ing on just what portion Of his neck his
constituency win land at the next cleo
ton.
The western senator feels the import
ance Of his position he strokes the nan
o. his power Of place but he has his in
science Of office tied back in the darkest
I Z
whistle up
stood in what I think they call the
rounda Of the capitol a minute ago and
sew two groups Of people, sight-seers.
with whom 7 became acquainted by
eE2rco earlier in the day The first
group was from Maine They were nice.
decent, God-fearing American citizens.
Ghoy had been in the senate. awed in
th7 edulsent presence of thlr United
States senator's. They were now taking
in the capitol meelly and under the
glare Of uniformed guards who receive
rs high as 81 a day. They were timidly
glad they were there The other group
was from Nebraska. They were having a
good time. They were piloted By two of
the Nebraska congressional delegation
and the two members were treating the
visitors with the greatest kindness and
attention
The difference is this: The east has for
gotten the lyddite power of tn primary
fhe west hasn't The eastern senator
needs no ones vote. The western man
needs eyervones.
Giving both bodies Of congress a casual
glance and jumping at impressions YOU
you'd say that there is a good deal that IS
pleasing 10 any American who thinks his
own the greatest government on earth.
The extreme smallness of the senate sur
Trises You at first Your impression is
that most all the senator's are aged. At
any rate there is 50 much of silver on
head and in beard that the most Uromln-
ont figure on the floor is the ram-shacxle.
dark one OF Tillman. or course. your eve
seeks Hanna You find him with diff
Guilty Cor despite his well-known features.
he is merged into the whole group of
whitC-headed, white-bearded men and is
without the identity You would naturally
expect 20 see. It Is the same with Teller.
Although they look nothing alike YOU
have 10 take a second glance to dis
tnEuish him from CUll5m Of Illinois and
hal1-6oZen others You know how IN
i5enUdable people in a weU-powdered
taelcau are? Wei, that IS the United
States senate seen from the gallery. But
what pleases You about the senate is that
Il seems to have little that IS false about
IT, 1t works easily and without confusion.
Most of the actual transaction Of bus
mess is in tone Of voice a very little
hit louder than that used in ordinary con
versatlon.
What heard said was to the point.
with homaast and huncombe scissored off.
] had an Impression in watching the sen
ate shat its conduct was deli5erative.
careful and with a minimum Of leader
ship on either side
The body Is democratic and representa-