The Grit-advocate., 1900-04-13
LAWMAKERS NOTABLE FOR Pc
CULIARITIES. .
Jnteresting Pen Sketches of Aembsrs
Conspicuous for Ecoentricitiss Of One
Sort OF Another-Cy sullowsy's Ample
Rroportions-Princs of Good Fellows

COme 30 large DOOy tnat the average
Individuality is sunk in it. Only here
and there do members zpecially noted
for physical or moral traits stand egre-
stous, attracting attention by reason Of
eccentricity of one sort or another. Of
tan when their mental stature or ora
torical ability would not render them
conspicuous. writes a Washington cor
respondent
There 10 no man in the house who
pays more attention to his costume
than Joe Bailey Of Texas, the erst-
while Democratic leader, notwithstand-
ing the fact that he processes such .
lofty disregard of matters of the sort,
even refusing to attend receptions at
the white house because he would be
obliSea to wear dress suit His spe-
eial fad in dress is the picturesque,
which he deems preferable to the mere
H fashionable. and In this respect he ia
unrivaled by any other congressman.
The great expanse of shirt front and
hat with flaring brim are features of at
Stre carefully studied out for their ef-
fectiveness to the eye, particularly
from the point of view of the ladies', for
the fiery young statesman is emphati-
eally ladies' idol. In this latter re-
spect he is hardly matched by John
Wesley Gaines of Tennessee-he Of the
striking neckties and prematurely gray
head. Bailey wears his raven hair long
to help the half-piratical effect for
which he strives. 1t is fashion rare
1y seen in congress nowadays, though
formerly much affected by southern
members.
The biggest beard in the house is the
property of ICY" Sulloway of New
Hampshire. 1t is a cadaverous beard
Of iron-gray hue. But the most luxuri-
ant hair belongs to Lands of Indiana.
His Is leonine name. gray and very
straight; when its owner is in an ex-
cited mood it is tossed wildly On tho
other hand, If one looks for the baldest
member, one finds him in Hoffnecker of
Delaware, who has practically no hair
1t all. The biggest head belongs to
Sulloway again, as we'll as the largest
teet; but then, you see, he is very re-
markable person. being six inches over
six feet in height, so that his extremi-
ties are not out of proportion, nor his
beard extravagant. He is likewise the
biggest member.
The smallest man in the house Is
Sam Smith of Michigan. That state
has three representatives in congress
named Smith, but this is the only Sam.
He is only three inches above five feet
In height, and is thin, Weighing hardly
more than 100 pounds.
There is always some dispute as to
who is the best dressed man in the
house, but in the last two congresses,
Bennett of Brooklyn, who has been re-
Gently made secretary Of the senate,
was pretty generally acknowledged as
the proper holder of the title Now that
he has departed, the laurel wreath
may be safely placed upon the head Of
Harry Bingham of Philadelphia. Bing-
ham is swell" clear through, with
not bit of pinchbeck about him. AS
rule Philadelphia and New York send
the best-dressed men to congress-
When it is a question OF the worst
dressed member there is no doubt that
Frank M. Eddy of Minnesota takes the
premium; and yet it is probable that
no other man in congress spends more
money on his clothes than he does
II he gets a new suit, he buttons the
lowest button into the top buttonhole,
and inside Of 4S hours that SIS costume