The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04
JOB CLNNON'S NV HOUSE,.
SPEAKER 70 he BREAKS AN OLD
WARRINGTON PRECEDENT.

SPEAKER 70 he BREAKS AN OLD
WARRINGTON PRECEDENT.
First Holder Of the 0nlce since Maine
70 Have . House q Eils Own - WIN
He Alse Go Int eosiety9 - on.
cial Entertaining 10 washington.
WARRINGTON. Oct. s.-Uncle Joe Cannon,
Speaker to be Of the House Of Representa-
tives In the Fifty eighth Congress, which
will probably meet In extraordinary SEES
sion on Nov. Q. has grown tired Of WASH
/ ington boarding houses and hotels. and has
leased handsome house on Vermont
avenue for his private residence. This
may not be q very important announce
ment, but II IL most interesting one.
In the first place. 1t breaks long estab-
lished precedent, for no Speaker since
james @. Blaine's time has had house Of
his own, except Samuel J. Randall Of Penn
sylvania, and his was such modest little
dwelling on . side street Of Capitol Hill,
the entirely Questionable quarter Of the
city. that IL doesn't count. None Of RAN
dall's family ever took advantage Of his
Official station to climb. socially Or other
wise. The family was unknown 10 the gay
world Of Warrington. Aftsr the son,
sYoung SAM came out for sound money
In tho campaign Of lsoe, Mckinley ap-
| pointed him to Federal onlcs in Phila-
delphia.
Kerr. Keifer. Carlisle, Crisp, Rssd and
Henderson ill lived at hotels al the time
they held tho ONCE Of Speaker. An but
Crisp lived uptown, but hs remained
true to tho old Southern headquarters
down ON Pennsylvania avenue. near the
railroad station. That district was good
enough for him when { humble private,
he said, and 20 It continued to be good
enough for him until he died.
The Speaksrship does not necessarily
entail social obligations, but II the Speaker
has . family they generally like to enjoy
the social donors made possible to them
Carlisle bad no family with him except an
unmarried con, who cared nothing for
society. Crisp was similarly situated, and
Reeds wife and only daughter, while much
sought after In Warrington, cared very
little for general society and kept pretty
close to their own circle Of friends.
| Reed himself, with all his love Of work
and devotion to duty, liked nothing better
than to mingle daily and nightly with tho
fashionable world, and he was the star guest
wherever he went. Above all things he
loved brilliant conversation, where he
could bring bis clever tongue into play,
and he was frequent and welcome guest
in many q drawing room whose hostess
| would invite no other guests when Reed
| was expected.
| Contrary to general opinion, the Speaker
ship carries with 1t no obligations to en-
terrain. and this statement is proved by the
fact that Reed, popular as he was. went
all through his career az the most distin-
| guished Speaker the House ever had, with
the possible exception Of Blaine. without
90 much - cracking watermelon. For
many years until he was elected Speaker
he lived at the Hamilton, a sort OF large
boarding house ct Fourteenth and X streets,
! overlooking Franklin Park. 1t is q COM
Portable but entirely unfashionable place,
where Senator Frye has made his homo
for many years, and where he still lives.
although he is Acting Vice-President Of
the United States. Nelson Dingley also
lived at the Hamilton, and died there.
| When made Speaker, Reed moved to the
Shoreham, more accessible and more mod
ern, but he had suite Of small rooms, not
so large indeed as those he occupied
at the Hamilton. He never-at least.
hardly ever--gave dinner parties, although
he was as eagerly sought for a.. a dinner
guest as any man in Washington. The
Reeds gave no evening receptions, and
Mrs and Miss Reed only occasionally kept
their afternoon at home.
| It was always thought In Warrington
that Reed was too poor to entertain, but
! since his death It has como to be believed
that at least as strong . reason was the
fact that he didn't want to.
! The Hendersons lived at La Normsndis,
where Mr.. Cannon has also resided for SOW
eral years since he graduated uptown from
the National and the old Willard, where he
lived for 80 many years. Mr.. Henderson
is reputed to be a poor man, and probably
he is. His wife and daughters have their
weekly day at home In the parlors Of the
hotel, where they receive as many as can
get in Of that great Washington army that
60 about from house to house in the
late hours Of the afternoons during the
social season. looking for glass Of punch
and a cracker, but they give no entertain
ments that cost money.
Entertaining on the part Of Congressman
and high Government officials In Washing
ton, below the rank Of Cabinet officers, II
largely optional Reeds case and that Of the
Hendersons are good illustrations.
The members Of the Cabinet, Of course,
are expected to do certain amount Of
entertaining. and should have home suit
able to do it in. Each might give Cabinet
dinner In his turn during the social season
The only man In recent years brave enough
to violate this unwritten law was Attorney
General Garland in the first Cleveland
Cabinet, who persistently refused to wear
q clawhammer coat or take part In social
| functions Of any sort.
Senator Frye, President Of the Senate.
and Acting vice-President, 10 a widower
still In mourning, but when his wife was
living they did not entertain. Mrs Frye
had her days at home at the Hamilton, but
they gave no dinners, although the, went
to many. The Dingleys lived likewise.
There are scores Of distinguished public