Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-07
COUNCIL BLUFFS CONGRESS.
MAN HEARTILY coNGRATu.
LATED BY COLLEAGUES.
HIS MOB QUELLING FEAT
Story Of His Work With Angry citl-
zens of Council Bluffs Precedes Him
to Washington-BirdsalI Seems Con-
tent With Present Position.
[BY H. J. MAHIN.l
Washington Bureau Of the Courier.
Maehinnfnn n e Ian &

washington Bureau OF the Courier.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 6.
Congressman Walter l. Smith of
Council Bluffs, found himself hero
when he appeared at the capitol yes
terday. Everybody had read about
his gallant action in quelling the mob
groes at Council Bluffs and Judge
Smith got many clap on the back
and warm handshake from his col
leagues in the house when they greet
ed him and commended him for what
he had done.
This is what the Washington Post
had to say about it in its paragraph
column:
"Just when he thought his fences
looked good to him, Representative
Walter l. Smith of Iowa, hears that
the voters of Council Bluffs want him
to leave congress and stay at home for
the purpose of thwarting any mobs
that may try to get busy"
Congratulations Were Sincere.
Some members joked Judge Smith
of course for his appearance in the
role, of mob queller" but on every
side there were sincere congratula-
tions for his action. It is regarded
as splendid object lesson that one of
the representatives of the people
should see and grasp the opportunity
of upholding the majesty of the law
and discouraging the hasty work of a
mob even though the objects of the
mob's violence are guilty of a crime al
most beyond punishment, as was the
case at Council Bluffs.
Judge Smith took his honors easily
and persistently insisted that most of
the reports regarding his part in the
AFFAIR had been exaggerated.
\ Stories to the effect that Repre-
sentative Birdsall of Dubuque might
resign his newly acquired seat in con-
| gress to accept the appointment as
ljndge the northern district of Iowa
If the conference decided to settle on
him as a dark horse, has revived the
discussion just how much there is in
being congressman anyhow except
political ambition.
There is no doubt that Judge Bird
sail would better himself financially
and cihch his future prospects by ac-
cepting the judgeship" said one of the
latter's friends in the house today. "As
ltfar as living here is concerned it is
true that a man with a family can not
live within his income if he goes about
at all. For myself and wife, board
costs 5000 and $500 a month at the ay.
erage hotels and $500 at the big ones.
There is also an additional expense for
children and for entertaining and
there is also the cost of keeping up the
establishment at home, even if it is
| closed. Besides this, there are char.
table calls at home that consume lots
of money to say nothing about the
hundreds of other calls on a politi.
clans pocket book. If a man takes
house here it is even more expensive
and it is safe to say that few congress.
men get through the year on their
government pay"
This congressman went on to say
that the calls for political contribu-
tions alone would amount to from $500
to $1,000 a year, depending whether
he lived in a city or in the country.
Judge Birdsall who has his family
with him in Washington, has taken q
very nice house just few blocks
southwest of the capitol, and laughing.
ingly answered to this talk that he
thought he would get through the year
all right, and possibly have few dol.
lars left.
Speaking of the campaign contribu.
tions recalls the fact that in some sec
tions Iowa is regarded as somewhat of
a, wonder for the record the republican
committee of that state made in the
campaign last fall. When the cam
paign was all over with, all the com.
pleteness of it's victory, each and ev.
] erY person who had subscribed 4. III