The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-04-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
Tspeelal cOrrespondenee.l

Especial Correspondenee.l
In the death Of Senator william
James Bryan Of Florida the senat,
has suffered It's eighth loss within
q year. The first death was that Of
Senator Russell A. Alger OF Michigan,
tors from Alabama, the Damon and
Pythias OF that body, Morgan and Pet
tus, both Of whom had passed the age
Of eighty years, suddenly went to their
graves In the recess Of congress pre-
ceding the present session. Senator
Mallory Of Florida was the next to 60.
diving in the Christmas recess OF this
session. His death was followed only
a few weeks ago by the unexpected de-
mise Of Senator Latimer OF South
CAROLINA. who succumbed comparative
" early in life to q combination Of
stomach trouble and an operation for
appendicitis, which was found to have
been unnecessary. Then Senator Red
field Proctor Of Vermont passed away.
TO be soon followed by Senator William
Pinkney Whyte OF Maryland
Senate Has It's Supsrstitions-
washlngtonians hold fast to certain
well defined Superstitions regarding
deaths in the senate. Thus 1t was that
when Senator W. ]. Bryan, the youth
ful successor Of Mallory, took his seat
and the two new senators from Okla
homa had been sworn In and George
Peabody wetmore was finally chosen
to succeed himself, thereby completing
q full membership Of the senate for the
first time in many years, the veterans
Of the senate chamber began to whis-
per among themselves, who viii be
the first TO die:"
That there Is a tradition OF the SEN
ate that a full senate means an early
death Of a senator can be readily con-
Hrmed by the curious, but it would not
be an easy matter to find out when and
where this grewsome tradition arose.
Senator Latimer, who died soon after
this tradition began to be whispered
about, was one Of the men in the SEN
ate whose deaths were the least ex-
pected.
Deaths tH Congress
There Is another common superSd-
ton about deaths In congress which
usually veriies itself. and that Is that
not fewer than three members Of each
congress die before their terms ex-
pire. Already this number has been
exceeded In the Sixtieth congress. al
though the Sixtieth congress Is now
only four months old Technically
Senators Morgan and Pettus should
Be added 10 the list because they were.
until they died. entitled to sit In q
special session Of the Sixtieth con-
Gress, which really began its exist
ence March last As no special ses-
sion was held. however, although the
members draw their salaries from
March 4 the congress has sat only
since the first Monday In last Decem-
Der. Il
President RoossVslt's Portrait.
For some time past President RoOse-
welt has slipped away from his many
duties az the White House to give half
an hours sitting for q three-Guarter
length portrait. which Is being painted
hy P. A LaSzlo. 4 noted Hungarian
artist who has an international repu-
tAtion and who has painted portraits
Of many Of the crowned heads Of Eu-
rope. Among the monarchs he paint
ed was the late King Carlos Of PoC-
t1gal. 1t was the last portrait for
which King Carlos sat and was paint
ed two years ago In Paris.
Dir. LaSLlo's commission TO paint tie
president was undertaken at the re-
quest Of Captain Arthur Lee Of Eng
land. who was formerly secretary OF
the British embassy In Washington
Captain Lee served with President
Roosevelt In Cuba. and the portrait
which Mr.. Laszlo Is engaged on win
depict Colonel Roosevelt In rough
rider uniform. with whip and gloves IN
hand
Invited 10 EirOmsa's coaVOation.
About six years ago President Roose-
Welt wSs made an honorary member
e The BrOtheFhood OF Locomotive Fire
men when be attended the annual con- I
%entioa Of that cSganization In Chat |
tAnooga- Nearly every year since he |
has been invited 70 attend the conven-
lions An Invitation was extended |
him the other day By ]. J. Hanrahan.
grand master Of The organization. who I
said that the annual convention win
- held this year IN September IN Co
lumb1S o. The president repeated |
what be has 50 often said % Others-l
that he viii not accept any more n
Vi1RtieoS this year.
Ts AarlS SoIdisrS eraSOs-
Representative Porter Of New YORK. |
at tie request & the Niagara Frontier |
LAndmarkS association. has intrOduce6 I
q In providing for the erection Of /
q monument to the o6csrs and e.
nstse men who fen at TIE sieEe Of
1ort Erie IN IS14 II = proposed %
0e<t tie moaument at FOrt Erie. q
Canadian sOR. and the question Il
Whistler tie Unlted States could Do
ia There h no precedent IN eua-
gress for such q procedure, but Il -
Ao1ght nkely that tn consent q the
C1nadfAn Eovenmeaf eoald Be- securIi