The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-25
on. ElKER's COMMITTEES.

Some expressions worth noticing fit
ted across the faces Of the representa-
tives during the half hour consumed Ivy
DR.. Bowen in the announcing of his
committees yesterday morning. 1t was
momsntous time for political asplrants
and any am ,nnt of reading of newspa-
pers and writing of letters could not
iispel the atmosphere of suspense. Dr..
Bowen sung them oil rapidly and in a
calm voice, apparently unconscious that
they were falling on anxious ears.
There was stupendous and states.
manlike attempt to conceal expressions
Of satisfaction on the part of the men
whose names were read first on the
good COMMITTEES, but the stoical pose
did not altogether go. especially among
new members.
Among the hearts that beat anxiously
was the one belonging to Eiker, of DE.
catnr, who distinguished himself several
weeks ago by the pathetic query,
.'Whele am at?" DIR. Eiker VAS sure
lie would be made chairman of not less
than three good committees. He had
every reason to believe that, for was he
not one of the first lieutenants Of the
Cunmins camp and were not the
leaders of the opposition to be we'll
cared for? He was going to show the
honorable msmbers Of the house Of
representatives though that committee
chairmanships meant nothing to Eiker
of Decatur, he was used to bigger
things than that every day in the week.
Had he not once had all the politica
managers of Iowa chasing the country
after him? So because he was Eiker Of
Decatur and not somebody that wanted
10 be great instead of being that way
already, ne took out his pen and ink
and began his weekly letter home as
soon as DR.. Bowen rose TO make the
committee appointments. Ways and
lReans passed without him, judiciary
.waant by and still no developments in
the Eiker situation;i at the close OF
appropriations his fair name had not
resounded through the house chamber,
but over in the northwest corner he
continued the treatise he was engaged
upon, stopping only for an occasional
chew at bis pen. After railroads, mum.
icipal corporations, banks and almost
everything else had gone and it
seemed a sure thing that the gentle.
man from Decatur would not be too
busy 10 enjoy the city during the
session, the speaker reached the com.
mittee on public health and then the
little doctor sat up. This was his day
at last, so he looked meditatively at
/ the chandelier while he went on record
as the eleventh man on the committee
to looksA after the good health of the
public. 1t was a great plum but he
took it gracefully, for he had sus.
picion there was more to come. And
sure enough, Representative Eiker
from Decatur received tenth place on
county and township organizations
ninth on domestic manufactures, eleven.
tn on the State Universary, seventh on
pardons, tenth on woman's suffrage,
here he rubbed his head and for the
first time looked worried, and sixth on
the hospital for the insane-he remarked
afterwards he was sure no inference had
been intended by the speaker regard
ing the last.
mo / cannot accept your invitation
to dinner" remarked Representative
lliker as he walked proudly down the
great stairway Of the capitol, I'm,
friend Bowen has SO arranged it thai
! shall be entirely too busy to engage
in any social affairs whatsoever. Sorry
but business is business, especially witt
us statesmen, don't you know?''-De'
Moines News.