The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-20

bill-at least a portion of them-although if they shouted glory hallelujah nobody seems to have heard them
 Henderson always had the knaek of retaining the good will and affection of the democrats in the house even when he was giving them his hardest blows. He would charge upon them front flank and rear. and then. in the wind up of his attack throw a few bouquets so gracefully that anger would quickly sub side. and then after the smoke had all cleaed away the genial Iowan would be seen over on the enemys side with his arm around the neck of a democratic leader, thus making public amusement for the floor and the galleries where the newspaper men sit, and showing that no harm was meant and that there had been a complete restoration of the en- tente cordiale.
 The rollicking camaraderic of Colonel Henderson's nature was shown a few years ago when democratic congress that had been voted for ineffeiency and unpopularity came to a close An in- pulsive occupant of the press gallery stepped to the front row of benches. waved an imaginary baton and com menced to sing the Doxology. Instantly some of the members on the floor joined in, and MT. Henderson. stepping in the area in front of the speakers rostrum, converted his cane into baton and be- came the joint leader with the newspaper man of a chorus that was joined in by everybody upstairs and down. Some members thought the incident unseemly and beneath the dignity of those respon- sible for it, although congress had closed for good. But if MT. Henderson. ever had any regrets for his part in the perform ance he has never expressed them.
 MT. Henderson's jovial nature and gen. uine love of his fellow man has also found expression in his partiality for lit- tie dinners and card parties, and gather ings where the feast of reason and the flow of soul were not hampered by the conventionalists of official and fashion able life. When he was first talked of as a speakership candidate much was said of his musical proclivities and his love of singing Scotch songs. He was much addicted to this form of amusement, it is true, but 1t must be admitted even by his best friends that the chief quality of his voice is power. He Is a great success in leading a chorus in He's a Jolly Good Fellow or "Auld Lang Syne," but was never known to draw tears to the eyes of his hearers with rendering of Annie Laurie'' or Bonnie Dundee" Those songs are in Colonel Henderson's repertoire, of course, but as sung by him they don't draw tears. The only occasions on which he makes his auditors cry are those when he stands on the stump in the Hawkeye state and conjures up vis- ions of the glorious days when he and his soldier constituents fought, bled and died for the flag of the free Colonel Henderson is the soldiers friend Ss5 days In the year, and his speeches in the house of representatives on the subject of pensions and the general treatment of the veteran by the government are but feeble limitations to the outbursts which rouse his martial constituents in Iowa to the fervor of patriotism and crisis of weeping. He is always eloquent, but at times moro than eloquent
 Like the majority of his predecessors. Speaker Henderson is poor man. Not since Blaine's time has a speaker of the house of representatives been social factor in the life of the capital beyond what has naturally grown out of his merits as an individual.
 The Henderson family Is very attrac- tive one and among the most popular in Washington. It is said of MT. Henderson that his wife makes more friends for him than he makes for himself. The elder daughter was Q popular belle in Washington society until her marriage to s. c. Peaslee of South Dakota. The younger daughter is a social favorite in Washington and greatly resembles her mother. The son Is a student at the Pennsylvania military academy at Ches- ter.
 The home of the Hendersons in Du- buque is one of the most charming in that delightful Iowa town. While the family are in Washington during the session of congress they always manage to spend a portion of each year at Du- buque. MT. Henderson himself is inca f"StNeSN " NOuiiuo IeCelNeu m the CIVIL war from taking an active part in so- ciety, and for this reasons the quiet evenings at home are numerous.
 Personally, Speaker Henderson Is A jolly, good-natured, rollicking sort of man, who is the life of stag dinners and has heart beneath his vest that beats in sympathy with his fellow-men. His viens are full of red American blood, and he recognizes no distinctions of rank. He is hail fellow well met with eyery- body, and this fact gave a wrong im- pression at the start to those who were ignorant of his true character. vet eran official said the othef day that in all his long life in Washington he had never known a session when the capitol was so free of lobbists, male and female. The conditions are not favorable to their business, and this perhaps is the hest tribute that can be paid to David B. Hen derson's brief career as speaker of the national house of representatives.
 fact which rendered MT. Henderson thoroughly acceptable to Presidential as- pirations is that he can never be Presi- dent of the United States. He is a na- tive of Scotland his parents emigratine to this country when he was years of | age An alien by birth, this fact, bv | constitutional provision, bars him from the Presidency. He was the first alien who has ever held the office of speaker.