Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-30
g0T BAD AS PAINTED
henderson Keen'v Cognizant OF
His Dignity.
,lDES TO THE SPEAKERS CHARACTER

8 jolly GOOD Fellow Wheh vi Outy
lis hard Worker but Fond of a
Good story-Some Family History
Which Makes Interesting Reading.
Washington, D. G. Sept. 25.
The action OF Speaker Henderson
of Iowa, has put the position of
speaker in the light and people are
surprised to find how little they know |
about the methods employed by the
one holding this important office. Mr. |
Henderson has often been criticised |
for the rigid manner in which he
handles things. Persons whom he was
compelled to disappoint in their de-
sires dubbed him car" etc. But this
he hardly deserved. 1t is true that he
was always cognizant of the impor-
lance of his position and endeavored
to clothe it with much dignity. AS a
member of the house he was always
very approachable man and mingled
freely with newspaper men and others
but when he was elected speaker, he
had an idea that any any Of his utter
ances given publicity, might appear
as an effort to influence legislation
: In fact | heard correspondent re-
mark that 1T was easier to see Pres
ident Roosevelt than Sneaker Hen
derson."
Mr.. Henderson thought that as
speaker of the house he occupied a
position second to only Mr. Roosevelt
in the national government and he
required the respect for the office
more than for the man.
Three years ago Mr.. Henderson re-
turned to Washington from Atlantic
City where he had been laboring with
his colleagues on the house committee
engaged in drafting the gold standard
bill 1t was at this time that he out
lined in a conversation the attitude
which he proposed to assume as
speaker of the house, briefly as fol-
lows: ut has been my ambition" he
said, "to round out my congressional
career by serving term or two as
presiding officer of the house. | have
no desire to reign as car, or to I'M
dertake to control and direct legisla.
tion in the house. If | am elected |
expect to preside over the house in as
fair and impartial manner as posi-
BILE" The origin of the impression
that Mr.. Henderson was dictator
comes from the lack of a proper under
standing of his methods. The rules
prepared by Speaker Reed are now
used in congress and complaint against
them is nothing new in the house The
complaints come up at each congress
and yet the rules are always re-adopt-
ed and the speaker again reinvested
with his great power. The rule most
4 complained of is that comforting upon
the speaker the sole right to recognize
any one on the floor who wish to call
up bills. Should the speaker desire TO
recognize member he does so and if
not the member might shout himself
hcarse and wave his arms frantically
in the G;r AT:C rs far as he was con-
cerned the speaker would be blind and
deaf In fact Mr.. Hendersons meth
DDS are an improvement on Mr. Reeds
With the latter the members used to
leave their seats and rush down the
aisle to a point directly in front of the
speaker where they tried to get rec
ognition. Speaker Henderson makes
them rise at their seats and there he
recognizes them according to pro-
gram previously arranged.
Because of his many and important
duties the speaker is a hard worker
He rises early and by nine o'clock is
always seated at his Office desk. He
is rapid worker and cuts out every
thing but business when he is at it.
When he enters his office he finds
there his secretary, Julian Richards
his clerk, L. ]. McNeely. and his ste
nographer. Mr. Richards calls up the
mn in rh h.
that have been assigned to him Mr.
McNeely presents the speakers pri
vate correspondence and the stenogra
pher takes what dictation is necessa
ry so that all these matters are clean
ed up by 1920 o'clock. At II oclocl
he is at his Office in the capitol ant
from II to - receives official visitors
In addition to his Office at his hote
and at the capitol, the speaker has an
other downstairs in the hous
just underneath his official room. Thi
is the only private place he has ant
here he lunches and receives such Wis
itors with matters of special import
ance as he sees fit
Socially the speaker is a great ia
vorite. From 5 o'clock on during tn
evening the speaker is not speaker blu
David B. Henderson, member of cor
gress from Iowa, fond of good stor
ready to laugh at a good joke and t
sing good song. No speaker sine
Mr.. Blaine has been so fond of socia
diversions as Mr. Henderson, so Wash
ingtonians say. He rarely ever spend
an evening alone and his social life
divided between his own persona
friends and his official circle and 81
cial world which he is thrown into b
virtue of his position. In official 81
ciety the speaker is cordial but stand
considerably on the dignity of his pt
sition. The speaker is especially d.
voted to Scotch song, his liking fo
this being inherited from his Scotc
ancestry, and being the possessor of
good voice. an ear for music, and
retentive memory he often leads
the chorus and always participates
it when the opportunity is afforde
-, 1,.s 20, :.