News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-01-21

Lincoln, Hayes and Mckinley unless
we count Washington, the elder Adams
and jefferson, who all served i'll the
Continental congress. Neither Taylor,
Grant, CleGeland nor Roosevelt served
in either branch of congress. J. Q.
Adams served Y years in the house
after he was president, and Andrew
johnson served a small portion of the
full senatorial term to which he had
been elected after he was president.
The following presidents had served
in both houses prior to reaching the
magistracy of the republic: Jackson,
Harrison, Tyler, Pierce, Buchanan and
Johnson. To this list must be added
Monroe, if service in a Continental con-
gress counts.
1t may be seriously doubted whether
the easy road to the presidency lies
through service in either branch of
congress or in both branches. The
congressional services of Washington,
Monroe, Jackson, Van Buren,, Harrison
pere, Pierce and Hayes had precious
little to do with their reaching the
White House. All the great leaders in
the two houses of congress have har-
bored the presidential bee, and most of
them have descended to their graves
full of chagrin and bitter thoughts.
OF course, the ambitions of Clay, Web
Eter and Calhoun are always harped
upon, but there are Others-COrwin,
Cass, Douglas, Seward Blaine, Conk-
ling and host of other choice spirits.
What the explanation of this may be
it is not possible to state. Perhaps the
fact that veteran senators and repre-
sentatives have too much record is the
chief stumbling block in their pathway.
Which Ran?
1t goes without saying that the aver
age commercial tourist is a rafting
good story teller. Once while lectur-
ing in Louisiana | ran across one of
these modern knights of the road at a
restaurant in New Orleans. He asked
me if | had ever heard much of Cen
eral Wash Jones of Texas and then
proceeded as follows: Wash was a
great character in his own way, pos
sessed of considerable capacity and
many oddities. The latter he cultivat-
ed for effect. When Ireland was run
ming as the regular Democratic nomi-
nee for governor, Wash tackled him as
an Independent candidate. AS story
teller on the stump Ireland was a sue
cess, at which game no living man
could beat Wash Jones. They held
joint discussions all over the state.
Ireland began to tell anecdotes at
Wash'S expense which the latter re-
turned in such profusion that Ireland
grew weary of it and proposed to Wash
that they should both quit telling anec-
dotes. Wash agreed. The next time
they discussed the political issues it
was Wash's time to lead off, and he
began by stating the history of this
war of anecdotes and the agreement
between himself and Ireland. He then
added:
"Fellow citizens, l fully intend here
after to live up to that agreement, but
| reserve to myself the right to tell
one-just one-here today. Once upon
time there was a great buck with
spreading antlers which was monarch
of all he surveyed in large pasture.
He chased everybody that went
through his domain, making it decided
ly lively for all intruders into his baili-
wick. One hot day man who was in
great hurry was very DESTROYS of GO
ing catawampus through the bucks
province in order to save time; but,
knowing the vicious nature of the
brute, he carefully and cautiously rec
onnoitered before venturing in. He
saw the buck lying down on the edge
of the pasture about half mile dis
tant and concluded that he might pass
through, thereby making a short cut,
without attracting the attention Of his
buckship, but he was sadly mistaken,
for when he was about half through
the pasture the buck came at him red
eyed, and he ran for a big oak, intend
ing to take refuge in its spreading
branches. The buck, however, was too
quick for him and was upon him be-
fore he could climb the tree. The buck