The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-21
MOODY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
A HARD FIGHTER, A CLOSE STU
DENT AND A PRACTICAL MAN.

ment Is Respected ON the Floor OF
the House-How He Once Opposed
His own Party and Helped Seat a
Democrat.
Washington, May 1S.-Among the young
er members of the House of Representa-
tives there is none who gives promise of
greater permanent usefulness that Will
lam H. Moody of Massachusetts. This is
really Mr.. Moody's second term in Con
gress. He was first elected 10 fill out a
few months of the unexpired term of Gen.
Cogswen, one of the best men who ever
sat in the House, but had little opportu-
nifty then to do much more than look
around and get his bearings. which he did
10 very good purpose. Mr.. Moody was
first chosen in his own right to the Fifty
fifth Congress and down in the Essex dis
trict they now say that he can stay in
Congress just as long as he likes.
Three is nothing sensational or super
fetal about Moody He is as hard a
working and as thorough going man as
there is in public life to-day. The quail
tiles which have won his present success
and which promise to bring him still
greater successes are frmness, conscien-
tiousness and sincere devotion to duty.
He always inspires confidence and that is
something which must be of the utmost
value 10 any man who maps out for him
self a political career. There have been
other members of the House in the last
few years who by single successful
strokes have gained for themselves a
greater temporary reputation and who.
perhaps, by the nature of the circum-
inc Oh Il ,,-
have attracted wider attention away from
Washington. But no one of these com
pares with Moody when it comes to in
fuence in the House and no one of them
has taken a place among the real lead
ers of Congress in matters of legislation
within so short time.
MOOdy's Beginnings in Washington
When Moody first came TO Washington
he set out with the definite purpose of
making himself thoroughly familiar with
Ihe methods of legislation, and for months
devoted himself solely to this task He
deliberately resisted the temptation, al
ways strong with new members to force
himself upon the attention of the House
by plunging into debate aud making hit
with a maiden speech. He had confidence
in himself and knew that he could safely
wait and trust TO time and to his native
abilities to gain the influence and reputa-
zion he was after. He waited until he
ventured 10 demand the attention OF he
House he got il and in such a way, too
that thereafter every word of his carr ed
weight. He impressed himself upon his
associates as a sound lawyer with a train
ed mind whose honesty of purpose could
never be questioned.
Mr.. Moody has alMys been placed on
hard working committees. His first as
slgnment was to the Elections Committee
and his first reputation was made by his
exhibition of independence in UNFOLDING
the claim of the Democratic claimant in a
contested case. He had TO break with his
Republican associates on the committee in
this, but so completely had he mastered the
details of the case aad the law that he
carried his point against the majority of
his own party. He was afterwards assign
ed to the Appropriation Committee which
is the most important committee OF the
House. Appropriation bills always have
the right Of way and members of the COM
mittee are constantly in evidence from the
necessities of their position. CART Id,
Randall and Cannon are some of the men
whose congressional careers were indent.-
fed with their work on appropriations and
opportunities for reputation are just as
great now as every they were.
To handle an appropriation bill on the
floor, TO secure its passage by the House
fl the shape il comes from the committee
snd TO carry the original form so far as
possible TO the point of enactment into law
In spite of the changes suggested by the
senate, afford the very best test of par
hamentary ability.
The member who does all these things
must have a thorough knowledge of his
subject, must be effective in debate, and
above all must understand men and be
resourceful in parliamentary expedients
Moody has shown all these qualities and
Ias won signal victories on the floor
When he was a member of the Postal
GOU1rni geiOn 10 1aVft cd
Ecientiously to studying all the conditions
of the postal service as to every other
question he had undertaken to master
He Is member now of the Committee
on Insular Affairs which is to be hersaf-
ter one of the great committee of law
yers.
Keeps Bachelors Hall.
Moody is a bachelor He has always had
bachelor apartments in Washington and
through one congressional session he and
Representative Gillette hired a house to-
gether and kept bachelors hall He is
member of the Metropolitan ub ana such
time as he spends in the club is about all
the social relaxation he allows himself
or cares for.
AT home in Ma ssachusetts he ranks high
as lawyer and during the long rscesses
OF Congress he devotes himself to his
profession, although there is never time
when he is not studying legislative prob
lens and trying 20 fit himself more thor
oughly for his public duties During one
long recess he carried home all the books
he could find on parliamentary usage and
when he came back for the next session
he was so thoroughly grounded in that
most difficult and complicated branch that
only two or three men in Congress, and
those veterans, who have seen many
years OF service, can compare with him
IN parliamentary lore
Moody is short and stocky with a fine
head set on broad pair Of shoulders
ana he looks the fighter that he is. No
one can see him without recognizing the
man Of bull dog tenacity who is not afraid
OF tackling any situation which he may
be thrown up against. He was graduated
at Harvard four years before Gov. Roose-
Welt but unlike some of the other Har-
yard graduates who have come forward
IN public life has never devoted himself
especially to pure literature and there is
little of the atmosr here Of books about
him. He is hard head d and practical. un-
hampered with illusions. but in spite of