The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-09

Two years elapsed and he graduated
from law school and began the prae-
tiee of his profession. Finally he was
overtaken by a nomination for Con-
gress, and was elected in 1896, and has
been an influential but not effusive
member of the House ever since. He
represents the district that reveled in
the services of the well-known Benja-
min A. Enloe for years. Enloe was
the exact opposite of our bricklayer.
lie was ever on his feet stirring the
House with the wand of inquiry on
every occasion. He drove OVER the
roads of legislation with a sprinkler
hlled with nitric acid. and used it with
characteristic reclknessness. At one
time he held up all pension legislation
over three months, on the ground that
the House was persistently refusing to
consider what was known as the
Southern claims bill. The residents OF
the Eighth district evidently relish the
change, for they have already elected
Sims for three terms, and will prob
ably confer the honor upon him
fourth time.
BY the by, here is a distinguished
gentleman on the other side of the
House whose career is equally as in
teresting. He is of medium hight, has
long, black hair, a clean-shaven face,
a ruddy complexion, and a mouthful
of white teeth. Thirty years ago he
was a newsboy in the streets of Grand
Rapids, Mich. To-day he is chairman
of the Committee on Pacific Railroads,
place once filled by Luclus @. G.
Lamar, James w. Throckmorton and
Robert M. McLane. Lamar was after
ward Secretary of the Interior and a
justice of the Supreme Court, Thock-
morton, Governor of Texas, and Nc
Lane, minister to France. If the Grand
Rapids newsboy advances proportion
ately, he may either grace the cabi-
net of future Republican administra-
ton, become Governor of Michigan, or
go as ambassador to the Court of St.
James. Certain is it that he has had
a career worthy the study of the as
piring boys of America. When a boy
he was known among his fellows as
Billy Smith. To-day his colleagues ad-
dress him as the Hon. William Alden
Smith. While selling newspapers he
was promised an appointment as a
page in the Michigan Legislature if he
would appear in Lansing at a certain
hour. With a few newspapers under
| his arm he boarded a railroad train
and was thrice elected because unable
to pay his fare. His persistence was
| nnaily rewarded. The conduc tor lis
tened to his story, and passed him to
Lansing. Just twelve years afterward
Mr. Smith was general counsel of the
same railroad company. When thirty
four years old he was elected to Con-
| gress from the Grand Rapids district
and has remained here since that time
He has taken a prominent part in leg
islation; and wields much influence. AS
a member of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, he is in outspoken sympathy
with the patriots in the Transvaal. Mr.
Smith Is one of the champions of the
letter-carriers in the House, and is ever
on the qui vive where the interests OF
his district are at stake. He was an
intimate friend of President Mckinley
and had a long interview with him
after his return from Cuba just before
the declaration of war with Spain.
Come back TO the Democratic side
of the House, Stephen NJ. Sparkman
of Florida, has just secured recogni-
ton, and is addressing the chair. He
is clean-shaven, has a head built like