The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

Charles Edward Hooker, of Jackson.
Miss. is returned TO Congress as the
Representative of the Seventh Congress
sional district. Mr.. Hooker begins a third
period of service in Congress, having twice
withdrawn from political life, and having
twice been drawn into 1t again. He began
his work as a Representative in the Ma
tional Congress in 1875, and served until
1852. when he found 1t advisable TO decline
the nomination. II 1886 his friends came
to him again, and he was elected, serving
until 1892 Then with three candidates in
the field he decided TO drop out of the con-
test and left the victory to Patrick Henry
Mr.. Hooker came back to his old haunts
yesterday to look over the ground and
gather in the loose ends of the business
for the Seventh Congressional district of
Mississippi, which Patrick Henry is now
reiinquishing. While at Willard s yester-
day he said: Il can't say that II was any
personal desire which led me 10 take the
nomination again. They all assured me
that my acceptance of the candidacy was
about the only thing that would bring the
Democratic party of the State together, so
l felt obliged to accept In the early
spring | absolutely refused, but the State
Democratic organization managed to tan
gle itself up so completely and arouse so
much luminosity that there was a good
deal of fear that the Populist candidate
might win in my district. Everybody
knew me, so ! seemed to be the safest can
didate'
Mr.. Hooker thinks that the restrictions
upon the voter resulting from the recently
adopted registration rules in his State viii
result In publication Of politics On this
point he said: The negro in Mississippi
has really no interest in the outcome of an
! election. He is In politics simply to sell
MS vote The educational limitation sim
| ply eradicates the ilIiterate, vote-selIinl-
| class. The requirements are quite liberal
| Tor II Is necessary only that voter shall
| be able to read the constitution or under
| stand 1t when it is read to him
Justice Gray, of the Supreme Bench Is
supposed to be about to retire. So strong
has the rumor of his intended resigna-
| ton been that his successor has already
| been speculated upon, and there Is at
least ora candidate for the vacancy
named The man upon whom it is sup
| posed that the mantle will fall is VIII
| liam X Townsend. professor of law at
! Yale and a judge OF the United states
| Circuit Court. Mr.. Townsend is a man
! whose legal ability ana learning are not
/ to be questioned, and he has behind him
] the united Influence of the Yale faculty
/ and the Yale alumni who are strong
] enough TO be very influential in Wash
| ington.
But the hitch in the speculation con-
| corning the honor to be conferred upon
MIR. Townsend comes in the fact that IT
is BY no means certain Justice Gray has
any intention of resigHing. Justice Gray
is man whose powers of intellect cannot
by any means be said to be on the de-
| cline. He is, 1t is true. three years be
yond the age at which he could, by the
rule, retire from the bench. II Is also
argued that he wishes to remain long
enough merely TO assist in the decisions
on the Porto Rlcan cases and then re-
tire.
Justice Gray was asked yesterday what
truth there was in the report Of his in
tended retirement. Looking over his still
robust frame ana spreading his broad
shoulders, he asked:
do / look like a man who would need
to retire. or need to take advantage OF an
age limit"
While thus insinuating his denial of
the rumor, Justice Gray. when asked for
a more categorical statement declined to
talk.
There is nothing to say beyond what
| have said" was the only statement he
| would make. The friends of Justice Gray.
however are not inclined to believe that
he has any present intention Of resign
ing.
The purleus Of the Capitol since the ad-
journment of the House OF Represent
atives have not been entirely rid Of all
dangerous things. A spreading adder or
copperhead snake six feet three inches
in length was killed in the west grounds
just opposite the Botanic Gardens. Friday
| evening by a man named Stokes The
reptile was carried by him to the Capitol
buildir/ and given into the charge of
| Chief Engineer Taylor. 1t was viewed
yesterday by all the employees on the
House side of the building. Stokes in
| tends to call for the snake and take 1t to
| "A taxidermist to be stuffed. 1t is many
years since a snake of any kind was