The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
IspecIaI Correspondence.l ]

Then the venerable and beloved Sena-
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 go,
dying In the Christmas recess of this
session. His death was followed only
a few weeks ago by the unexpected de-
mise of Senator I.atimer of South
Carolina, who succumbed comparative
" early in life to a 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 he soon followed by Senator William
Pinkney Whyte Of Maryland.
Senate Has Its Superstitions.
Washingtonians hold fast to certain
we'll defined superstitions regarding
doaths in the senate. Thus it was that
when Senator w. J. Bryan, the youth
full successor of Mallory, took his seat
aud 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
flrst time In many years, the veterans
Of the senate chamber began to whis-
per among themselves, who Will be
the first to die"
That there is a tradition Of the SEN
ate that a full senate means an early
death Of u senator can be readily CON
1rmed 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 In Congress.
There is another common supersti-
ton about deaths in congress which
usually verlties itself and that Is that
not fewer than three members of each
congress die before their terms ex-
Dire. Already this number has been
exceeded in the Sixtieth congress, al
though the SiXtieth congress Is now
only four months old. Technically
Senators Morgan aud Pettus should
be added to the list because they were,
until they died. entitled to sit in
SDecial session of the SiXtieth con-
Kress, 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-
ber.
President Roosevelt's Portrait.
For some time past President RoOSe-
welt lMs slipped away from his many
duties at the White House to give half
an hours sitting for three-quarter
length portrait. which Is being painted
by r. A. LaSzlO u 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 Por-
tugal. 1t was the last portrait for
which King Carlos sat and was paint
ed two years ago in Paris.
MIR. I.aSZlO's commission to paint the
president was undertaken ut 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 will
depict Colonel Roosevelt in rough
rider uniform, with whip and gloves in
hand.
Invited to Firemsn's Convention.
About six years ago President Roose
velt was made an honorary member
Of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men when he attended the annual con-
vsntion of that organization in Chat
tanOOga. Nearly every year since he
has been invited to attend the conven-
tons. An invitation was extended
him the other day by J. J. Hanrahan,
grand master Of the organization, who
said that the annual convention will
be held this year in September in Co
lumbus. o. The president repeated
what he has so often said to others
that he will not accept any more in
vitatiOns this year.
To Mark Soldiers Graves.
Representative Porter of New York,
at the request of the Niagara Frontier
Landmarks association. has introduced
bill providing for the erection of
u monument to the officers and en-
listed men who fell at the siege of
Fort Erie IN 1914. 1t is proposed TO
erect the monument ut Fort Erie. on
Canadian soil. and the question Is
whether the United States could do
this There Is no precedent in con
EreSs for such procedure. but it is
Thought likely that the consent Of the
Canadian government could he secur-
cd for the erection Of the monument.
Loeb Holds SecretariaI Record.
Secretary Loeb remarked to one Of
his visitors recently that he had been
ip the fottice OF secretary to the preSi-
dent longer than any one of his prede-
EsssOrs. Secretary CortelyOu served
under two presidents, but he did not
become secretary to MFR. Mckinley un-
oil 1900. and he resigned the Office In
1908 to become secretary of commerce
and labor His term Of Office was
therefore less than three years, the
date Of his appointment in the cabinet
being Feb. IS. 1903. 1t was on the
same day that Mr.. Loeb was sworn in
as secretary to the president. although
be had been In the White House Offices
since September, 1901, us assistant Sec
retaFy. Nearly all the other presidents
secretaries have served four years or
Hasa hut Mr. TOoh nQSSpd the Ave wear