The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

"a LUZ u uduuSUule silver ClSuI
box, and the valuable souvenir is now
being manufactured. Upon the lid of
the receptacle are these words: (Which
we pledge ourselves to promote" And
thereby hangs an interesting story.
After the st. Louis convention of
1896 Senator Chandler offered to give
800 to the man who wrote in the BIZ
metallic plank of the national platform
Of that year the words just quoted.
Everybody knows that Senator Chan
dler Is a bimetallist of the most devot-
ed type, and he welcomed the pledge Of
the party to promote bimetallism as a
promise Of the realization of his ideas.
Well. after he had made his offer there
were numerous candidates for the
award. Among others Mr.. D. X. Wat
son, then a member of congress from
Ohio, claimed the honor, and Mr.. Chan
11er entered into a long and serious cor
fespondence with him on the subject.
Finally, however. Senator Lodge Of
Massachusetts appeared as the author
Of the phrase. and his claim was sub
stantiated by the original documents
which were produced by Senator For.
aker, the chairman of the committee or
resolutions. Upon a telegraph blanlr
in Senator Lodges own handwriting
dler had laid so much stress.
Convinced as to the authorship, Sen,
ator Chandler promptly sent his check
for 500 to Senator Lodge. This was
only 3 short while ago. Mr.. Lodge
at once returned the check. saying that
he had not regarded. the offer as seri-
ous. Mr.. Chandler, however, insisted
that he acted in good faith, and then
Mr.. Lodge, returning the check a sec
ond time, replied that If Mr.. Chandler
wanted to give him a souvenir of the
convention and its bimetallic utterance
he would be pleased to accept it.
Thereupon MI. Chandler had the silver
cigar box prepared. 1t is composed Of
sixteen parts silver to one part of gold,
is handsomely designed and appropri-
ately inscribed. Its presentation is to
be quite an event.
Everybody Ought to Know Him.
One Of the correspondents of a New
York paper had a funny experience the
other night. Into his office walked a
congressman and the 'atter's secre-
tary.
II want to introduce my secretary;
Mr.. Johnson" said the representative.
The correspondent acknowledged the
introduction and shook hands.
"You see" said the congressman, 81
thought it would be a good idea for
yor to know my secretary. You may
want to write some pieces about me.
and he can give you all the facts.
Don't hesitate to call upon him at any
time. ] would like you to print my
name lust as often as you can, SO that
my constituents may know that am
busy looking after them"
And after more words to the same
effect the congressman and his secre-
tary withdrew. The joke of the matter
was that the correspondent had never
seer the representative before. did not
know his name and hasn't to this day
the slightest idea who called upon him.
The congressman simply took it for
granted that a man who had been
elected from New York must be
known to all the world.
The Colonel Took Pie.
One of the campaign stories that Is
floating through the senate cloakroom
relates to Senator Fairbanks Of Indi-
ana and Governor Shaw OF Iowa. Ac-
cording to the story. these two Repub-
lican orators were stamping Kentucky.
After a successful meeting the Ken
lucky colonel who had the two Repub-
lcan statesmen in charge invited them
into the hotel barroom for some re-
freshment.
"What'll you have?" he asked Sena-
tor Fairbanks.
"a little cold apollinaris," vas the
reply.
"And vouy'' said the host to Govern
II think ! will have a glass of but
termilk."
The barkeeper turned to the Ken
tuckian. What shall l give you. colo
nel?" he asked.
The Kentucky gentleman heaved a
long sigh. Under the circumstances"
he said. 81 think you can give me a
piece of pie"
Callers Must Fix Up.
When he pushes through the old
time double doors from the corridor to
the committee on appropriations. there
IL no prouder man these days under
the white dome than Uncle Joe" Can
non. the chairman. A scene almost pa
latial is spread before him. There Is
nice clean furniture all around him
and a new carpet on the floor. On Ell
Their side there oDen swinging portals
Of mahogany and glass that lead to
coy consultation rooms, long needed.
81 tell you, boys, said Mr.. Cannon
the other day when somebody joked
him about his improved quarters. you
must put bears grease on your hair
and some scent on your handkerchief
before you enter"