Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-19
GAMBLER AND MARK SMITH
MEET IN WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, June 14.-He was so
intensely Georgian in his appearance that
he could not have been more so had he
been labeled. In the first place. he was
smiling. That Is characteristic Of Geor-
CLANS. Again, he wore whiskers. Geor-
CLAN again, though this distinction might
have been proclaimed Kansanesque had II
been unaccompanied by those other dis
tinctions which Georgians alone possess.
He wore rundown collar and black
string necktie. None but Georgians wear
whiskers and a string necktie. Others
leave OF the necktie.
Being so intensely Georgian in appear
ance 1t was only natural that all Geor-
CLANS passing along the great marble
corridor should stop, stare at him a mo-
ment and then rush at him. It was only
natural. too. that they should grasp his
hand with hearty whole-souled grasp,
for he was their governor.
Allen d. Candler-twice governor, many
times representative In congress, once
secretary Of state, representative in the
state senate, representative In the state
legislature in fact occupant for one or
more terms of each Office of Importance
the state of Georgia can give. Here he
was standing In the corridor Of the ma
tional capitol, rotund figure, topped of
with a shock of snow white hair, but
about as hale and hearty as any figure
within the range of his vision. More
than a quarter OF a century in the public
service of his people had only marked
him with those lines which spell, when
interpreted, Honesty. integrity, good
will"
Presently, when the handshaking was
over. they made him go in on the floor
of the house. Former members Of con-
gress are allowed the privileges of the
floor.
why. good gracious mel ne exclaimed,
as he glanced about over the rows and
rows of mahogany desks What a
was here IN the 18th congress we had
none Of this finery. Green and gold now
Then IL was a rusty gray.
BLESS me, but yonders Mark Smith, Of
Arizonal Where's all the other boys?
never saw such a change in so short a
time"
In another minute Mark Smith, OF Ari-
sona, had him by the hand.
why. you old Democratic cotton
stalk" he cried What are you doing
back here? You quit us once TO take the
Job of governor"
YES" Governor Gambler retorted, 'T
wanted to be an honest politician"
But you got disappointed and had to
come back here" laughed Mark Smith. Of
Arizona.
Have you got your constituency admit
led into the union as a state YETI" asked
the governor. you were at it when I
left you"
mot vet" Smith sadly replied. "But
am nearer now than ever. After Is years
of hard work 1 can see Arizonas star
twinkiing on the dag at last"
How many Of the old timers are here
now7" the Georgian finally asked. 1t was
to ask this question and to verify the
answer with his own eyes that he walked
up the capitol steps.
Not many. You can count them on
your fingers. There's Jim Richardson, Of
Tennessee; Lanham, of Texas: Rice
Pierce, Of Tennessee; Rufe Lester, Of
Georgia; that's about all / can see now.
No. Yonder's Speaker Henderson. He
was here when you were. You remember
how we used to nag him."
In a very few minutes Governor Gambler
was surrounded by the "old timers" and
then began the story telling. It grew I'M
til the speakers gavel raped for order
and then II grew some more, but the last
growth was out in the cloak room where
their voices couldn't disturb the gentle
man who was trying to convince the
house of representatives that the anti
anarchy bill was a good thing.
Right here" explained Governor Can
dler before this very fireplace, only then
it was a log fire, I used TO swap yarns
with Cousins, of Pennsylvania. He's
gone, see, but 1 never will forget his
droll stories"
The governor had more than a dozen
invitations to lunch, and If he had at
tempted to put away all the refreshment
of another sort he was invited to put
away, he would have required the assist
ance OF the sergeant-at-arms to get out
of the building. But he didn't touch 1t.
He's a Georgian.
He spent the day at the capitol and
went to his room at the Metropolitan late
in the afternoon, weary but happy.