Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
| DEMOCRATIC HABITS
Senator Bailey Answers Charge
of Extravaganza.
TROUBLE DOWN IN TEXAS
Declares He Alone Rides in Street
Cars.
STATESMEN WALK TO CAPITOL
Great Men who>vie With Texan in
Patronizing Sidewalks and
Electric Cars.
'TATEsMEN WALK TO CAPITOL

after session of Congress in this city are
many good many things that go on here
without comment. and which appear to be
all right at the time In their environment,
take on a different look when the states
man goes back home. and sometimes he 1s
tempted to Justify himself, even If he has
to resort to exaggeration. Not the least of
these is the manner of life and the expendi-
lures of the man who may have been known
at home as pursuing life with modesty and
economy. and who is heard from as indulg-
ing in extravagances the contemplation of
which makes his old friends wide-eyed with
wonder.
A case of this kind has come from the far
away state of Texas. There Senator Bailey.
of democratic turn Of mind, has been
charged with riding to the Capitol from his
hotel in an elegant carriage behind pair
of high-steppers. When this report reached
Texas. in the midst of hot and interesting
campaign. the constituents of the Texas
senator were Mortified Mr.. Bailey. who Is
never lost for a method of defending him
self. and whose silver tongue has held
many a town meeting spellbound. as 1t has
held the Senate when he has expounded the
Constitution. was equal to the occasion.
Il am the only senator who always rides
to the Capitol in a street car" the talented
senator Is reported to have declared at
large meeting of his constituents, who look
upon democracy as intimately connected
with street cars and things Of the every
day sort.
How to Gain Applause.
The declaration was corker, for the mo-
ment at least. There was a round OF vocif-
erous applause. The serious men who had
driven to the meeting from the surrounding
country and the sons of toll shook their
heads In approval. Their senator and ex-
ponent of democracy had exemplifed his
fowery language in the interest OF the peo-
pie by an example that could not be equaled
by many of those who had ridden to the
meeting on playful mustangs or had come
in their traps. Democracy was safe 1t
would have continued to be safe had not
the declaration Of the senator leaked
out beyond the confines of the community
in which 1t was made. 1t was pubilsheo,
and other senators and representatives VINO
were also exponents of democracy seemed TO
have their democracy impeached by the
sweeping manner in which Mr.. Bailey had
defended himself. If he had remained con-
tent with saying that he rode to the Capitol
in a street car it would have been well:
That would have left loophole, and would
ever have been a suggestion for. others to
say they did the same thing. But he had
crossed the line of safety by declaring that
he was the only one who regularly and con-
sistently adopted that method Of getting to
the legislative halls. He eliminated every
one else from the possibility OF making the
same claim without contrad1cting the dls-
tinRuished Texan. So there has arisen a
protest and in other sections where de-
mocracy fiourishes men are contending that
they, too. ride in the democratic street car
or travel by the still more democratic
method. on foot.
All this has led to a discussion Of just
how senators and representatives actually
go to the Capitol from their hotels and resi-
denceS. The fact is. the statesman who
travels through the streets of this city in
fine carriage and behind spanking team of
high-steppers or in a dashing automobile IL
a rare exception. The street cars and the
sidewalks accommodate most OF them. ana
even the men who are known as the pos
SCISSORS Of millions of wealth and the own
era Of fine stables at home as rule forego
the use of their eauipages while attending
sessions Of Congress.
Exceptions to the Rule.
There are some exceptions. of course. to
this rule. One of the men who In recent
years attracted attention by the beauty OF
his horses and the fineness of his carriages
was the late Senator Mcmillan who for
many years was chairman Of the Senate
committee ON the District of Columbia. and
who did so much to promate the beautif1ca-
ton Of the city. snow storm was always
sure to bring out the senator's beautiful
sleighs.
Senator Elkins of West Virginia has in re-
cent years abandoned his horses in going to
the Capitol and has used an automobile,
which he not only enjoys himself. but which
he uses to pick up his congressional friends
on his way to the Capitol. and to carry them
home when he leaves the Senate. He has
sharp eye for his friends on the sidewalk,
and when he meets them they have to take
a seat beside him. So generally is he on
the alert for them that he seldom rides
alone. Last winter he had habit OF going
down 18th street past the Colonial Hotel,
where Senator Tillman lived up to the time
the hosiery was vacated to be put into
readiness for improvements. If the south
Carolinian's constituents ever learned OF MS
aristocratic practice Of riding to the Capitol
in an automobile they have not taken any
action to discipline him for it. But then
some men can do what others never are per-
mitted to do. But to think Of the people
advocate Tillman. who Is proud to be called
a. farmer and a tiller Of the soil, riding IN
the automobile of the great railroad mag
nate and landed proprietor, Elkins, seems
an incongruity too astonishing to be be-
lieved.
Devotees Of the Automobiles.
Another devotee of the automobile in this
city was Senator William A. Clark OF
Montana The copper magnate was known
as having the most expensive automobile
that was ever used here. 1t was an $1,000
machine that he purchased in France. the
duplicate of which was purchased by King
Edward VII. He rode Ill over France III
speed of seventy or eighty miles an hour
and to be of about 1OO-horsepower 1t got
the senator and his chauffeur into trouble
more than once and they were many times
chased by bicycle policemen when suspected
of exceeding the speed limit, and on a
couple of occasions arrests were made, SO
that the police court judge had to try the
case. The senator was troubled so much
that he finally rode very seldom, and then
with instructions to his chauffeur to be sure
and keep out Of the hands of the police.
Representative Joseph Croker Sibley Is
another statesman given to the ownership
of fine automobiles, who also delights In
giving his friends rides Speaker Cannon
was often seen with him. and other men,
bers of the House of Representatives were
frequently his guests on their way to and
from the Capitol
Representative John Dalzell often rode
behind blooded horses, and In his automo-
bile as well. Without exception his teams
were of kind to defy criticism among the
horsemen. They were high steppers. His
automobile was always of late pattern
and gave indication of his tendency to have
the best of whatever was going.
Senator Murray Crane enjoyed his auto
mobile not only in riding back and forth
to his work, on Capitol Hill. but also in
taking long rides about the city during the
evening.
Depew's Runabout.
Senator Depew had until the latter part
t,te <iv,,o hora con veptonts rim hout In