The times., 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 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withdrawn from political life, and having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 Representative in the Ma
tional Congress in 1875 and served until
1882. when he found it advisable 10 decline
the nomination. In 1886 his friends came
to him again, and he was elected, serving
until 1892. Then with three candidates in
the field ne decided 10 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
relinquishing. While at Wilard's yester-
day he said: Il can't say that il was any
personal desire which led me TO 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 10 accept In the early
spring | absolutely refused but the State
Democratic organization managed to tam
gle Itself up 50 completely and arouse 50
much aniInosity 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 thls
point he said: The negro in Mississippi
( has really no interest in the outcome Of an
! election. He is in politics simply 10 sell
his vote. The educational limitation sim
! ply eradicates the lliterate vOte-selliuc
/ class. The requirements are quite liberal
! for i Is necessary only that a voter shah
! 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. Sc strong
has the rumor of his intended resgna-
| tion been that his successor has already
! been speculated upon. and there is at
| least or, candidate for the vacancy
| named. The man upon whom it is SUD-
| posed that the mantle will fall is VII
/ liam X. Townsend, professor of law at
! Yale and judge of the United States
Circuit Court Mr. Townsend is man
| whose legal ability and 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
J enough TO be very influential in Wash
! ington.
! But the hitch in the speculation CON
! ceIning 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 resigning Justice Gray
is man whose powers Of intellect cannot
by any means be said to be on the de-
cline. He is, il is true three years be
yOnd the age at which he could, by the
rule retire from the bench. 1t 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
%rUth there was in the report Of his in
te2ded retirement Looking over his still
robest frame ana spreading his broad
! shoulders. he asked:
DO f<look like man who would need
! to retire, or need to take advantage Of an
1 age limit?".
While thug insinuating his denial of
! the rumor, JusliCe Gray, when asked for
a more categorical statement, declined to
talk.
There is nothing.to say beyond what I
! have said" was the only statement he
would make The friefsss Of Justice Gray,
| however are not inclined to believe that
! he has any present intention OF resign
ing
The purlieus Of the Capitol since the ad-
journment of the House OF represent
| atiVes have not been entirely rit. of all
dangerous things. A spreading adGer or
! copperhead snake six feeet 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
buildirf and given into the charge Of
| Chief Engineer Taylor. 1t 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
taxidermist to be stuffed. 1t Is many
years since snake of any kind was