Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-31
Stories About wen KNOWN FoIk,.

stories ABOUT Wei Known folks.
Hon. BILLY" Mason, whose term as
United States senator from Chicago
expired in 1903, made strenuous at
tempt for reelection, but the political
cards we're stacked against him. Two
prominent Illinois Republicans were
in the race against him. One day a
friend mite Mason, whose width almost
equals his height, and asked as to the
truth of a report that he intended to
retire from the contest.
"0ut in Chicago one day." answer
ed Mason, there arose a discussion
as to which was the more courteous,
Senator Cullom or myself. A Cullom
champion, as sort of clincher, relat.
ed that he had on one occasion seen
Senator Collum get up in street CAL
and give his seat to an old Irish
wash woman. Huh, that's nothing,
ayowed defender Of mine, I've seen
Billy Mason get up and give his seat
to two women"
Il am forbidden by the constitution
Mason explained, from giving my
seat to both the eminent gentlemen
who are after it, and as l don't like
to show Partially, l guess I'll hold
on as long as l can"
In the early days of the Republic
an executive session of the United
States Senate was a solemn and sac
red thing, and publication of its Sc
crets would almost have constituted
high treason. Of late years, as all
know, proceedings Of executive ses.
sions appear in full in next mornings
newspapers.
One day last winter Senator Carter,
of Montana, met Senator Culberson Of
Texas, the minority leader, in the ele
vator. Senator Carter had not attend
ed the previous days session.
what did they do after the doors
wer closed yesterday" he asked Sen.
ator Culberson.
The Texan looked quizzically at the
man from Montana. "Pd really like
to tell you, Carter" he said, i" but
some Of you senators are so leaky
that l doubt If I'd better. Besides, y
he added, II haven't had time yet
to read my paper"
Senator Culberson Is one of the
most dignified men in public life. 1t
was once said of Champ Clark that
he always was afraid Culberson woul'
fall over backwards he was so very
straight. Senator Culberson is also
a baseball fan, and at a base ball
game even senatorial dignity may be
caught off its guard.
TheTexas senator spends a great
deal of his time in Washington in
the summer and seldom misses an op
portunity to see a ball game. He al.
ways roots for the Washington team,
Not long ago the ninth inning found
the score tied. Washington was at
the bat. There was man on third
and the score was tied. The man at
bat hunted out little grounder and
the man on third started for home.
The second baseman fielded the ball
and threw it home to catch the run.
ner. The runner slid and 1t was a
close play.
Hes out" shouted "Silk" 0'Lough
lin, who was umpiring the game.
Rotten! Rotten" yelled Senator
Culberson, "Why don't they mob him.
1t looked for a minute like the dis
tinguished Texas senator would be
the leader of riot, but friends quiet
him and he seemed much abashed.
He kept very quiet during the ex
ira innings that had to be played.
1t may not be generally known that
James Whitcomb Riley, the poet, was
at one time assign ainterp, and a goot
one, it is said. His place of business
was at Peru, Indiana, and his part
ner was w. J. Ethel, later for many
years an employee of the United
States senate.
Riley forsook paints and oils for
the painting of word pictures, but Mr.
Ethel could never get over his fond
ness for brush and colors. One Of
his duties in the Senate was to put
out the weather map. On clustering
winter days the senators used to
| find the mans borders decorated will