The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-30
MARK TN AIN AND
CONGRESS MEET
Senators and Hu1aorist Lunched
and Lied Together, Z Says
Clemens.

Journal Special Service
Washington, Jan. 80. Mark Twain
and congress saw one another yester-
day Before they separated each knew
not shy at congress, but congress did
shy little at Mark Twain. ,
Mark Twain g hair was the first thing
that attracted the attention of congress.
From the floor and the other galleries
he looked like Chief Justice Fuller.
After watching his hair for time con
gress-at least the biggest part Of it,
the nate--decided to get better &C.
quainted, and ColoYel George J. NJ.
to come down and see the vice presi-
dent. Both Of them had heard of the
freshness of Mr.. Fairbanks. They went
into his room much as they would the
| refrigerating room of the beef trust
with collars turned up and their hands
in their pockets.
The vice president glided into the
room. Everybody, including Mr.. Fair
banks, tried to be cordial. The vice
president shook hands with Mr.. Harvey
first. Then he warmed up and gave
Mr.. Clemens hand little squeeze-the
kind of handshake that is known in
Indiana as the ice tongsO After
! shaking hands Mr.. Fairbanks looked at
Mr.. Clemens hair and looked as tho
he would like to know him better so
! that he might ask what is >the tonic
1 that he uses. Thinking it over, Mr..
Fairbanks carefully brushed four hairs
over his bald spot. The vice president
was just about to present his aAto-
graphed photo when other senators came
romping in and insisted that Mr.. Glenn
ems and Colonel Harvey take luncheon
| with them in the senate restaurant. $500
4 Lunched and Lied.
eve lunched and lied together Mr..
Clemens said in describing the luncheon.
|,"We would take bite Of pie and then
indulge in a few flights of the magma
ton. Oh, no; oh, oh, oh, no, the sena
at least none of them that saw, but of
myself and couldn It watch all Of them.
[ was really impressed by those sena-
tors.'
| Mr.. Clemens said he could not discuss
the debate intelligently, as he could
hear none Of it. Senator Tillman, who
was talking, will be much surprised at
this. He can generally be heard out in
the corridors.
"What were the flights of magma
tion9" said Mark Twain in answer to a
question. ooh, they were said to be
in open session, and nothing ever said
by senator in open session ever
amounts to much Had they been said
in executive session would have made
notes on my cuffs or have written them
ON the back Of an envelope, but before
obng to the s senate afaed that
tor, ever said anything in open session.
guess that's true. We had a most
delightful time, tho, and a good lunch
eon.'
- Saw Uncle. Joe. II
After being shown over the senate
part of, the building Mark Twain and
Colonel Harvey went over to the house
and were, shown nton<the speaker 8
room. i. >;sT1e s'I Azzss1 Sstss W
eve called enes, my old friend, the
. speaker" Mr.. Clemens 'saiid. II say
he is my old friend, Because / met him
on Saturday night. Any man who meets
another on Saturday night has q right
;; to refer to. him as an odd friend We
:, next to Speaker Cannon at the Gridirol
: club dinner; and I think if the dinne1
: had lasted half an hour longer I would
: have been calling him 'Joe,' and b,
$ would have referred to me as Sam
Members Of the house came in and there
were more flights Of imagination, bu
the speaker and stuck pretty close tt
1, Iue CIuIu, oACopI IL Lew 1uSCduceS, INT
speaker may have stretched a point o.
two"
Mr.. Clements held an informal re
ception on the house side. He wa
shaking hands with two men at time
and admits that he had the>time Of hi
life, next to his experiences at the Grid
iron dinner.
. ~ don't know, politics is a littl
"but I rather think I should like t
y be senator. The title adds such an al
I Of dignity. Then, when ] think it owe
} I think 1 would like to be a congress
man. A congressman appears to hav
) such happy, care-free existence. H
slaps the speaker on the back and says
Hello, Joe, how's things That g rea
) democracy, but whoever heard of
senator s1apping the vice president O
the back and. saying, Hello, Charley
how s things?' Why, he would nee
, either step ladder or have to stan
on top of a barrel