Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-12
A NEW CONGRESSMAN
Business Hours: $40 am till $50 pm. 81
NOT so GREAT IN WASHINGTON
AS IN OWN DISTRICT.
Neglect, RebuM add Mild Hazing
Which He Undsrgees Before Reach
ing His rPssser Status.
From Harper's Weekly.

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From Harper's Weekly.
1 was elected By a comfortable majority.
I am not proud man por vain man, but
1 must confess that when first began to
be addressed as -"cengressman" had
sensation about the head that very much
resembled an enlargement of the Uranium.
I became at once the leading man In my
own town. Everybody instinctively deferred
to me. All Of the letters that I received
were addressed to the "Hon. John Smith
Smith is not my name. but it will answer
all purposes In the narrative that am
about to tell.
I went to Washington on the eve Of the
opening Of Congress, and was treated to
rude awakening. At home everybody re-
garded me as man of Importance. At the
national capital no one thought 1t worth
his while to pay any attention to me. Inc
tension beneath the leather of my hat dis
appeared, and the proud feeling evaporated
into thin air.
1 reached the door of the House of Rep
resentatives and was about to step in when
the doorkeeper took me by the arm and
said:
Pardon me, but you can't go in there.
You'll have to go up in the gallery"
'Why?" inquired.
Because this Is for members only"
II am a member" l said, with some in
dignation in my voice
We'll" was the reply, "then you will
have to be identified"
Identified.
The chief clerk of the House came out
and identified me- and the doorkeeper, apol-
ogizing for his skepticism, admitted me.
After that had no trouble in getting into
the House. But 1 must say that I felt
rather cheap and ruffled over the incident.
1t really looked as If did not have the APP
pearance OF congressman. felt rather
lonesome for some days-the feeling is diff
cult to describe, but 1t was more like good
old-fashioned inconsistencies than anything
1 can think of at present.
One morning a measure that affected
for consideration, and Jumped to my feet
and called:
.Mr,. Speaker, Mr.. Speaker
But the Speaker paid no attention to me
whatever. Instead, he looked on the other
side of the House, and pointing to a man
who was not claiming recognition at all,
said:
Mr.. Brown has the floor"
Once again 1 attempted to get recognition,
but was ignored in the same manner. The
third time l arose. and then some wag in
the seat behind me called out in stentorian
tones:
Mr.. Speaker, rise to question of infor-
nation.
A Hazer.
Although this man was Immediately back
of me, the Speaker recognized him at once,
and turning to me for the first time, said:
will the gentleman yield to a question of
information?'' IT. V
II will said, surprised but curious.
Then, Mr. Speaker, said the man be-
hind me, II desire to ask if the gentleman
is 4 member of this body?"
The roars of laughter that greeted this
sally completely demoralized me and made
1T impossible to continue my remarks. 1t
was a long while after that before / at
tempted to address the chair again.
Before had been In Washington a week
l found 1t necessary to obtain an audience
with the Postmaster General. There were
were quite number of men in my dis
trict clamoring for fourth-rate postmaster
ships, and l had along list of applications
General IL he had half an hour to spare in
order to go over these lists. He smiled as
You are askingia good deal OF time. You
remind ME Of an Incident that occurred
when General Arthur was, President The
postmaster General at that time dropped in
on the President and asked him if he could
have a half hour OF his time. The Presi-
dent replied: g = 34p 5@
:" Half an hour? WHY, my dear fellow,
dynasties have been overturned in three
minutes. You will have to cut your re-
marks short 1-lsse ss'' FL
Now my dear congressman" he said.
turning to me, THE force of this little anec-
dote lies in its application. don't want to
hurry you, but you will have to get through
IN five minutes, for / have number of
very important engagements that 1 must
keep" re =
l solved the problem by leaving the names
or tie applicants with him and promising
TO call some other day to learn his decision
After leaving the Post Office Department
l ,stroiled over to the State Department, and
When l reached the entrance met a gentle
man of medium height, neatly dressed
carrying a leather portfolio Addressing
him, said: =.
Courtesy at State Department.
Pardon me, but could you direct me to
the Office of the Secretary of State?'
Certainly he replied; ''if you lust con-
tinue down this corridor you will find the
place you are seeking"
1 did so; but before going into the room
of one of the assistant secretaries I said
to the usher:
who is that courteous gentleman who
directed me down this hallway?''
He looked through his glasses at the dis
appearing figure and said:
why, that is John Hay, the Secretary of
State.''
And so it was 1t dawned on me all of
q sudden that the prime minister of the
traits. l was very much impressed that
time, as l have been ever since, at the
extreme courtesy of all the State Depart
ment officials. That is more than can be
said for some of the men who are In
public life in Washington. / was in one
of the other departments not many DAYS
after this, and was trying to impress the
head of certain bureau with the merits
of one of my office-seeking constituents.
This man." / said, us especially fitted
for the position to which I have recon-
mended him. He Is an expert and under
stands his business thoroughly. He is a
graduate OF the University Of Iowa"
The bureau chief looked at me quietly
for moment, and then smile began to
lurk about the corners of his mouth. He
leaned over and said in a soft tone,
freighted with sarcasm:
''Is there university in Iowa?'
What was the use OF trying to talk BUSH
ness with a man of that kind? My friend
did not get the appantment, and 1 am
afraid he never will, -