The Washington herald., 1908-04-06

Il I 4 alive SpaFkman was
Il 4 raised on a farm.
Is ~ That did not deter
y him from seeking
public preferment.
R8EVHzHlEogssgsg Educated in the
common schools Of Southern Florida, he
later read law under GOV. H. l. Mitchell
and was admitted 10 practice IN 1872 II
was not long before the public eye was
focused on the rising lawyer He was
elected States attorney for the Sixth ju-
dicial circuit. holding down that job for
nine years he was member of the Demo
cratic Congressional executive committee
for four years, serving as chairman for
two years. From 1892 70 1896 be was
chairman Of the Democratic State execu-
tive committee.
Representative sparlunan is member
of but one committee Of the House. that
of Rivers and HaTbors. Members Of Con-
gress from every district wherein flows
small stream have numerous bills for inn
provements to these streams. So the
Committee on Rivers and Harbors IS
usually busy considering these demands,
and the committeeman have plenty to do
Does he ever say anything. or does he
ever do anything" are common inquiries
heard every day in connection with the
names Of certain Senators ard Repre-
sentatives.
There are many men In the halls Of
Congress who are never heard ia debate;
many who never utter a word except TO
vote aye or mo. II does not follow
that such are Of no value to their con
stituents or to the country at large
It is not always those who speak the
loudest and most frequently that do the
greatest good. or work most conseien-
tiously.
All Senators and Representatives are
on one or more committees. It is In the
committee room that the man silent on
the floor is often the biggest factor in
advancing important measures. and Yields
great influence Ia shaping legislation.
The late Senator Matt quay was sei-
dom heard on the floor OF the Senate. He
was power In committee II was differ
ent with Senator German. The Maryland
boss He was a strong speaker and at
the same time his influence in committee
was tremendous
The slight. bashful. anf modest looking
Senator Crane doesn't say much Every
one recognizes IN him. nevertheless. a
great power in the councils OF his party
Taking the Senate as a whole. there
are few Senators who do not say some
thing. SOME time or other. over IN the
House, the silent ones are in the great
majority. Some are rot only silent in
debate but rarely express opinion in
committee.
These are the men who never say any /
thing. never do anything, except perhaps /
10 send out seeds 10 their constituents /
and introduce pension bills.
Some members who care to become IA /
nous and have some law bear their name 1
may succeed in their desire. Il is usually 1
the big fellows in either body who attain |
this distinction
Usually the Representative does not
care whether a statute bears his name /
or not. He simply trails along after the 4
big guns and say aye or no" when /
given the cue.
Representative John Hall stephens. of /
Texas. has done yeomau service for the I
bin on the House calendar providing for
the sale Of a lot Of pasture land in Okla I
homa.
If the bill IS ever reached in the course I
of human events there is a possibility OF 1
It's passage by both Houses Of Congress. /
Should il pass and become a law. the
tracts of land in the Kiowa, Comanche.
and Apache reservations. remaining un-
sold. viii be again offered for sale and
no price less than 81 per acre viii be con
sidered.
Before Offering the lands for sale. how
ever. the Secretary of the Interior. ac-
cordipg to the bill. is to allot Ito acres
OF land TO each child Of Indian parentage
born since June, 1906. whose father or
mother was a duly enrolled member of
any Of the tribes and entitled Go aIlot-
ment under the act passed at that time
Naturally, Senators Curtis and Owen
will give considerable attention to the
They always do scrutinze any I
measure of interest to their Indian breth-
ren.
Senator Stewart, the new. but old. Sen
ator from Vermont makes himself thor
Oughly al home in the Senate.
He is well known among his colleagues.
When he spots a Senator unknown TO
him. however. ne does not hesitate TO
himself, or TO have himself
He walks around the chamber. hands 4;
In his pockets, looking this way and that
way. When his interest and vision settle
upon some one he makes a Decline for
that person and gets busy al once
Senator Stewart has not been actively
engaged in either business or politics for
some time. He is well advised on ali
matters of Importance. and is a student !
If no mean proportion. u
For man eighty-three years old, he
S of unusually jovial disposition Il IS
'aid OF him that he can keep any com J
nany in good humor for any length Of
lime.
Senators Hepburn and Piles were hav-
ng a set-to over the Snake River dam
rhe Father Time" of the Senate didn't ]
seem 70 care a - for what was being
said. He was telling Senators Cullom :
md Clay something apparently very i,
funny.
Senator Ciay's classic features were
covered with grin and his "ha-ha could {
,e heard over the room. Even staid Sen Z
ltor Cullom's sides shook percepubly. J
IL
Aeepi eoeiilatiFS "oiiH ifs'iA0ii - q sbeahti ]
# repute. the high mogul of the tariff, q {
ihining light Of the Big Five, besides a !
ew other things of interest.
II is not often that Mr.. DalzeH's equa-
de temper is ruffied so that the petals of !
he red earnation that he wears stand
,ut in rage but sometimes, when his an
ger wells up in him he lets persons in
lis vicinity know why.
When mir. Dalzell brought in his famous S
rag rule aimed at the rebellion of John I