The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
TRIBULATIONs OF sON-IN-LAw.
sundry Reflections Upon the Career
of Hon. Nicholas LOngwOrth.

Sundry Reflections Upon the Career
of Hon. Nicholas LOngwOrth.
From the Boston Transcript
The Hon. Nicholas Longworth, member
OF Congress from Cincinnati. must feel
that the position OF son-in-iaw to the
President of the United States, while not
one having an official status under the
Constitution, possesses peculiar obllga-
tons and also some liabilities. Before
he became a son-in-law he had a great
political leader, to whom. complacently
and happily, he yielded an obedient ser
vice. He also had relatives. with whom
he enjoyed more than the usual degree
Of comradeship. II is a devoted uncle
and aunt who will leave important az
fairs Of state. civil and ecclesisstic, to
cross the ocean to attend ones wedding
II is an unusual political leader to whom
one feels disposed 20 pay a formal tribute
on the floor Of Congress, as Mr.. Long
worth did during his first term to George
B. Cox, the Republican boss of cincin-
natl What has since happened?
Mr. LongWorth became member Of
Secretary Tafrs personally conducted
which four marriages have already re-
suited, including the recent claspinz Of
the hand Of a daughter Of Vermont Puri-
tanism with the famous New York poll
tician to whom Mr. Richard Croker has
just paid so enthusiastic a left-handed
compliment. This famous expedition, as
it seems, unmade friendships at a rapid
rate, scattering to the winds the alliances
Of the past, as Il constructed new ones
for LIES journey. But the stamp Of Sec
rotary Taft was over II all. It was his
party; his benediction fell upon all its
happy alliances And IL Is politically i'm
possible 10 be a follower Of Taft and Of
Cox, both citizens Of Cincinnati. No man
in public life ever delivered to a boss Of
his own party more telling blow than
that which Mr.. Taft administered to the
man who had for so long ruled Cincin-
natl Mr.. Longworth necessarily chose
new political alliances; his political career
has since that trip been upon new basis,
and il remains TO be seen how he will
come out. for reform politics have never
had an especially firm footing in Gin
cinnati
The break between Mrs. storer. who is
Mr. LOngwOrth's aunt. and the President.
who is Mr.. Longworth's father-in-law.
.
is reported 10 be IN hearty sympathy with
/ her sister-in-law, must be embarrassing.
Nor did Mr.. LOngworth's complications
on this score begin with his marriage.
The announcement OF his engagement
signalized HIS identification with new pO-
litical interests. At q Tantalus Club din
ner in Washington. many months before
the White House wedding, a Congressional
/ associate Of Mr.. Longworth' s-a Republi-
/ Can-whO had been called upon 10 speak
arose with the purpose OF criticising the
/ President severely because OF a certain
removal from Office. But Just as his first
I grandIloquent sentence was assuming rhe-
/ torical rounding-Ovt, his eye caught sight
/ of Mr.. Longworth. The result that ad
/ dressing him, instead Of the audience
/ there was a sudden and wholly different
/ turn 10 the sentence. making It stand
complete as follows: In these days oil
strenuous administration and spectacular
4 civil service REFORM don't think mUcf
/ Of your father-in-law."
/ OF course everybody laughed at the keer
/ perception OF coming alliances to which
/ a not too fanatlcal devotion to temper
/ ance principles had made the orator alive
/ but il was typical OF the new embar
easements that were coming upon Mr.
/ Longvorth. He was expected 10 defend
! civil service reform" and strenuous ad
ministration." and all those thiRgs tina
went with the Roosevelt stamp. More
/ over. that very relationship deprives hin
/ to-day OF the Office which ne ought q
/ hold Mr.. Longworth should be in th'
7 diplomatic serviCe-fOr IL he is qualified
by abilities and fortune. His Congress
/ sional committee service, the subject OF
/ his most important bill. and his persona
travels have all pointed in this direction
He ought 20 be our ambassador to Japan
I But the President doubtless hesitates Z
make the appointment because it woul,
I look Ike nepotism, and SO Mr.. Longworti
/ suffers from being son-in-law, withou
/ any Of those promotions in political liz
which should go with it, or at least no
/ be discouraged by IL MI. LongwoTtl
/ under a new administration viii be a new
man. II will open q new chapter in hi
/ life.