Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-08

was not person VINO
Wv would INSPIRE confidence at
first sight. On the other
hand, the countenance. framed as 1t
was in black beard and thick in
its outlines; the great black derby
hat with its odd fat crown and its
wide brim resting almost on the
ears: the thick-set body encased In
an ordinary sack suit OF black ma
terial, all combined to make, up a
figure to startle rather than invite
confidence. s., u
Yet they crowded about him, did
those statesmen. by the dozen. They
wedged in toward him and they
showed and pushed. each other for
an opportunity to shake his hand.
He stood in the little vestibule lead
ing from the hall Of the house OF
representatives in the United States
capitol. evidently afraid to venture
across the threshold into the gaudy
looking chamber where the laws OF
the nation are made. But II he was
afraid to 60 in they were not afraid
to come out, and come they did,
As soon as the word went through
the chamber that he was there they
left of listening TO a speech and
made for the vestibule in twos,
threes and fours. In less than ten
minutes he was overwhelmed and
had to withdraw. He was blocking
M the corridor with statesmen he
drew about him by the force OF his
simple name.
Jim Hill.
He was called that in the days Of
his young manhood, when he work.
ed in an office as railroad clerk for
$40 a month; in the days when he
was in love with a girl who worked
as waitress in a st. Paul restaurant.
Jim Hill, clerk, without proper or
prospects, in those days.
James J. Hill now. II you please.
James ]. Hill, president Of the
Northern. Pacific railroad company,
millionaire so times over; most pow
erful magnate in the great north
west western partner of j. Pierpont
Morgan, who is ambitious to merge
the world at large into one vast
syndicate; yes. the same James j.
Hill who promoted the great
merger" which even the supreme
court of the United states couldn't
dissolve. a.
And now he is the husband of the
girl who worked in the resta urant.
too.
Some one told him out in St.
Paul that the congress of the Uni
ted States was about TO amend the
Interstate commerce laws so the
Interstate Commerce Commission
would have power to control his
merger" That is why he came to
congress. He wanted the move
ment stopped, so he came straight
to congress about IT,
In approaching the door of the
congressional chamber he nearly
ran over a boy who was darting
along the corridor with a message.
Look out, IRISH" cried the boy.
Look out yourself. Dutchy." re-
torted James ]. Hill. You'll get run
over in q minute"
Then ne smiled at the boy, who
poked out his tongue at the magnate
and fled on with his message.
The, policeman who guards the
door to the hall of representatives
wanted to show him the way to
the visitors gallery, as IL he were
an ordinary person in fact as we'll
as in appearance. But he wouldn't
go that way.
Il want to see Mr.. Heatwole. of
Minnesota, ne explained. in a deep
but pleasant voice..
You'll have to send in your card"
the policeman said.
He handed the magnate a blank
card In moment it was handed
back with the name James j. Hin''
scrawled on 1t. Even that did not
convey to the policeman the intelli-
gence that he was standing in the
presence Of the high and mighty of
the land, for both the officer and a
doorkeeper nearby asked him a
minute later. while he waited for
Heatwole to appear. to stand out
Of the way and let the congressman
pass in and out.
Then Heatwole came out. lie had
his hand extended before he came
within ten feet of the magnate. OF
course he was glad to sec James ].
Hill. They talked for a few seconds
together and then Heatwole went
back into the chamber. When he
came out again he had with him
william Alden Smith. of Michigan.
Snd Loren Fletcher, Of Minnesota