The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-05-29
HOTEL LOBBY CHAT.
An Interesting Feature of Life in
Washington.
Great Men of the Nation Passing in
Review before Hotel Freauent-
ers-Commcnts by the Cos
sips of the Town.
Especial Washington letter.

TN EVERY considerable community
there is hotel, and within its pre-
cincts are often gathered the lead
nag men of the entire city of county,
each of them having striking indi-
viduality which it might be difficult
10 depict During the sessions OF the
eotgress one may find almost every
evening a number of gentlemen of ma
tional reputation gathered together In
any one of our many hotels ana WIN
them also are commingled the EN-
ployes of the executive departments,
from the humblest to the highest Of
Acials.
Last evening, while convcrsing with
one of the auditors for the treasury
department in hotel lobby, the sec
retary of the treasury approached,
but was obliged to stop and converse
with half a dozen men of eminence be-
fore reaching those whom he desired
10 see. This man, whose presence in
any other city would attract the at
teution of all, walked about leisurely
here. among other great men, just as
he might do in hotel at the capital
of his state, where he once ruled as
governor.
Senator Hanna, of Ohio, and Senator
platt. of New York, two of the most
falked-of men in the political world
during many years, came into the
lobby and spent half an hour quietly
conversing with other senator's and
representatives, just as some of your
friends at home would do.
Speaker Henderson, the man who
controls all national legislation by his
masterful position, came into the hotel
smiling as usual, shaking hands with
everybody who greeted him, and lean
ing heavily on his cane as he walked
10 the elevator and went upstairs to
keep an engagement with senator
who awaited his coming. There came
also Senator Penrose, of Pennsylvania,
the youngest and handsomest man in
the great legislative body, and closely
following him came the redoubtable
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
Abe man who indulged in fisticuffs on
ihe floor of the senate.
Every evening one may see a similar
panorama of grea, men passing in re-
view, and visitors to Washington arc
entertained by friends who point out
she individuals in the passing show,
snd tell of their characteristics. To
n visitor from Iowa, the writer said:
"Your idea of Senator Tillman is en-
sirely wrong. He is not a quarrel
seeker at all. He is an honest man, a
ruggedly honest man; and his soul re-
volts at some of the procedures of
our government which everybody
knows are lamentably wrong. Then,
again, he is very bitter partisan, and
unfairly tries to make party advantage
out of some wrongs which are only to
DE righted by non-partisan methods.
But he is honest to the core, and as
lacking in polish as a piece of slippery
slln. There are men who will take
polish; but Tillman is not one of
thein.'
Senator Mason, of Illinois, entered
ahe hotel lobby accompanied by Repre-
sentative Hemenway, of Indiana, and
4pretty picture they made; Memenway
six feet tall and slender, Mason five
feet short and round as Santa Claus,
mud just as jolly.
Then came Senator Mcmillan, of
Michigan, accompanied by Mr.. Bah