The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-26

hend OF the Republican membership. Two
ycnrs later Cannon WAS restored 10 his
seat in the ifotise and Mr. Reed was
elected Speaker.
Cannon WAS confronted With the pros
poet OF going to tue foot OF the Republican
membership on the Appropriations Com
rnittec. without suggestion from any
body Henderson offered to give up his
place at the head OF the majofity on the
committee To Cannon and fcrmit Speaker
Reed to. name the latter as chairman.
The recollection OF this generous act
helped Henderson in his race for Speaker
later.
Henderson was appointed chairman OF
the Judiciary Committee. That committee
had To pass upon the question raised by
General Joe Wheeler as TO his right 10
retain his seat in Congress while holding
u commission in the United states army
during the Spanish American War.
After the committee liad given full con-
sideration to the question and reached
Il conclusions. Henderson sent for General
Wheeler and addressed him In this dra-
matte way: Y
Joe Wheeler If had met YOU in the
South during the Civil War would have
esteemed 1t n duty and n pleasure TO
shoot you, for you We're q traitor to your
Country and deserved to be shot, but nov
y
than can express to be compelled under
the Federal Constitution to decide against
your right to hold n seat IN Congress
while fighting for your country
Hendersonis frankness was one of his
most engaging qualities AT a dinner IN
Washington some years ago one of the
speakers remarked on the tact shown
by some public men in remembering
names and faces james G. Blaine was
cited as n shining example.
This brought Henderson to his feet.
All politicians are fakirs IL, that re
gard" exclaimed Henderson. and MI
Blaine was the biggest fakir Of all"
He then proceeded TO relate an expert
ence he had with Mr.. Blaine while he
was secretary of the Republican Ma
tion Congressional Committee in 1892
Both men were stopping Mt Wormley's
Hotel, in Washington, where the com,
mttce had headquarters. One day Blainc
passed Henderson and eyed him sharply.
The next day when the two met Mr.
Blaine greeted Henderson effusively,
called him by name. and showed re-
markably familiar knowledge with the
Iowa Scotchman and his political work.
Henderson suspected that Mr.. Blaine
,ha dbeen making inquiries to learn about
him for political reasons.
At dinner that evening he summoned
the head waiter and Questioned him
On that point
The walter replied that Mr.. Blaine had
asked him EIendersons name, where he
lived. and what he was doing ut the
hotel. and had remarked that Henderson
was q finc young man.
Henderson insisted that this incident eX-
planned Mir. Blaine'S remarkable tact In
The matter of remembering names and
'aces, and that IL the doings of most politi-
slams were analyzed ii would be found
that they came by the same quality in the
tame manner that Mr. Blaine did.
few weeks before Colonel Henderson's
retirement from public life he told at a
dinner in Washington the story of the
beginning of his public life. 1t was the
gfatitude towarn, q , friends of quarter of
i've.
AN, elderly. gentleman had long repre-
sented the Third District of Iowa and
was about to- be retired and was one
Of many ambitious candidates for the Re-
publican nomination., he said. There
lived IN Manchester; Iowa, a young man
called Cal Clark who organized Hender-
son clubs OF young men all over the dis
.rict.
He explained in public speeches ana
IN pamphlets the superior right of the
Union soldier to recognition and he laid
particular stress on the fact that | had
s syn anu mad peen manned for life in
me cause of my country. When / sue
ceeded IN being nominated l gave public
credit 10 that young man for the effective
out which j would never have been a
representative in Congress or Speaker
Cal Clark moved away from Iowa, but
twenty years afterward when | aspired
came out q me Rocky M oiafs and and
SO that for second time he placed me
under those everlasting obligations of
I sst Which edo can m never Se be fully com
cal is here al this banquet tonight. l
need not tell You how much love nIm,
ed him ffherd he sts Ny N.Y. old i,iS ah pddohhp eip
i tpisnd Of 2ng ag9 pna OF recent Years
d. Clark, aioWNominsj'
:, In the stormy days OF the House of
of the resolutions pretiptatng the war
with Spain, Colonel Henderson prevented
!, general rlot En- the floor Partisan feel
tative Br,iihm, Or PaiinsvWania and Bar
lett, of Georgia, became involved in dis
pute, and the lie WAS exchanged.
Members began throwing copies of the
heads and to strike out right and left With
Their nsts, and one excited SOusherner
drew. a knife. There was a great rush OF
members into the space, directly in front
time being seemed transformed into u
Suddenly Henderson came hopping down
the aisle on his crutch, and leaning HIM
self against the desk, he waved his crutch
IN the air and his voice rang out in a
Speaker Reed.
Members. of the House of Representa-
tives. he shouted. you forget whereeyou
are: Back to your seats!'
ne command was effective. Members
and in few minutes Hendersons crutch
had completely restored order where tne
gayel of Speaker Reed had apparently
Colonel Henderson had pleasant voice
when II was employed in pubic speaking,
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