The Washington herald., 1908-04-27

I
III II perience in making
M Il laws was in the Ala
Z ~ bama State legisla-
q ture. where he served
geo,eco,7.1,,-/, ,,-,,, one term as chair
'''''A'-'''''''I 'E7'/V" man OF the judiciary
committee. For three years ne was
United states district attorney. and was
Presidential eleetor on the Democratic
Presidential tickets in 1858 and 1852. His
/ first offense in the House of Representa-
tives was in the Fifty-hfth Congress. His
course seemed 10 suit his constituents,
as he has received their suffrage ever
since For the Sixtieth Congress he had
no opposition, receiving every vote cast.
A great many of the voters didn't take
| the time 10 vote Why should they?
Judge Clayton had it cinched before cleo
| tiOn day
/ He was chosen chairman Of the Demo
cratic caucus at the beginning of this
/ session. His knowledge Of the law was
| recognized by the Speaker and John
Sharp Williams. and he was assigned 10
I the Committee on the judiciary, a COM
mittee that has been busy lately declar-
/ ing the purchase of forests in the APP
/ palachian and White mountains uncOn-
stitutioral He is also on the Committee
on War Claims.
Representative J. Adam Bede. or. as
he is familiarly called. "JaGam the Jok-
er," speaks at all times in a humorous
vein. No matter where, or what the oc-
casion, he gets his audience in q good
humor st the start Recently he was
toastmaster at banquet. Prior 20 his
introduction, letters from all the Repub-
/ lican candidates had been read. express
| ing regret at their necessary absence.
Each letter brought forth a burst Of ap-
plause. When J. Adam was introduced
he began. THE greatest men are not
always elected President; that is why I
am not a candidate II l had Seen,
would have gone away and written you
a letter. regretting my absence"
Later in the evening. In introducing
speaker from a Western State, where
/ landslides are common, he told Of a rail-
! road conductor who had brought his
train in much behind schedule time. The
/ conductor was summoned to appear be-
| fore an official TO give an explanation.
When asked why his train was so late. he
replied:
"One-half mile OF the scenery fell down
on the train. and we had to clear it
away"
Representative Ollie NJ James. Of Ken
lucky. he OF the beautiful neCktfes. has a
warm spot in his heart for Representative
Ben Johnson. who also comes from the
old Blue Grass Commonwealth.
Mr. James has been In Congress sew
eral years. while Mr.. Johnson is now
serving his first term. Notwithstand-
| ing this discrepancy in point of service,
/ these two Kentuckians should be close
| friends
Mr. Johnson has been in political life
/ for many years, although he has not been
/ in Congress long. Mr. James was also
! in the political life in Kentucky years
ago. in q much different position, how
ever from that then occupied by Mr.
/ Johnson
When Mr.. Johnson was speaker Of the
Kentucky legislature. years ago, 0Ir
! James. then just a boy was a page
/ When johnson come to Congress this
year, this fact was not overlooked and
therefore the two Kentuckians have quite
a kindly feeling for one another.
| You can usually tell the orators OF the
House Of Representatives by the manner
/ in which the members give attention 10
their efforts.
When John Sharp Williams. Bourke
| Cochran, John Dalzell, or other men who
are famous the country over as leaders,
begin speaking. the House resolves itself
at least momentarily, into a committee
Of silence.
| II the particular speaker does not prove
TO be saying something a little out Of
/ the ordinary. there is apt 10 be just a
little bit Of noise among the select COM
mittee, not so great, however, as that
which is sure to greet new man or one
who is known to be dry and uuinterest-
| ing. The latter is lucky, indeed. If he
can keep many members in the Chamber
especially II he has been given much
| time for his effort.
! But when one man In the House gets
/ up to speak there is usually more pro-
! found silence than is accorded even the
members OF the Big Five or the two
/ Democrats already alluded TO.
/ This is Representative Theodore Burton
]
about American waterways and their
needs than any man In the whole coun-
try, It is not frequently that Mr.. Bur
/ ton addresses TIE House. but when he
! does he gets big audience, and one that
/ Is appreciative to the utmost
/ On the occasion Of his speech for peace,
/ during the debate on the question Of four
| battleships. Mr. Burton spoke briefly. but
very much to the point. The House was
crowded all that day, but many times
| during othe- bursts Of oratory, II became
mere or less deserted. Mr.. Burton did
not lose a man. There wasn't a sound
all through the speech, except the sound
| of great applause.
| His reception that day-the silence
which greeted him-shows just how his
OratoTy and his opinions are regarded by
/ his felloW-members.