The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-12
Elliott Woods, Superintendent
Of Capitol Grounds, At
tends to "Everything."
A STORY ON JUNGLE JOE"
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
RELATES HOW THE REPUBLI-
CAN WHEEL-HoRSE CHANGED
TO SETTLE IN DANVILLE, ILLS.
BY Ralph M. Whitesides.

turned toward the conventions and the
presidential campaign there was one
man in Washington who was busy
with other matters of import. He is
Elliott Woods, superintendent of the
capitol building and grounds He is
the busiest man in Washington during
the summer
innate, thirteen jobs, and he holds
four offices. When he is about to be-
gin his days work he figures out the
time he must allot to each of many du-
ties.
Let's see" he ruminatcs, where
will we start this morning."
Then he counts over his ten fingers,
assigning some bit of work to each
one and starts over again.
Mr.. Wood is in charge of the COM
pletion of the House office building
and the senate office building and he
belongs to all the commissions of the
last session of congress appointed to
look after the construction of monu-
ments and memorials.
One of his commission duties en-
braces drawing up plans Cor the Lin
coin memorial. He must also look
after plans for the new buildings of
justice, state, commerce and labor, and
finishing the pediment of the west
wing of the capitol.
An underground railway is to be in
stalled to operate between the capitol
and the lawmakers new offices.
Woods must look after this. He has
the deciding vote in what sort of a
contrivance shall be installed so that
members of the house, seated in their
offices, can take a receiver off the
hook and hear what is going on in
the house.
The grass on the capitol grounds
must be kept we'll trimmed Woods
employees must look after this, and
somebody must look after the en-
ployes. All improvements in the
capitol building also come under this
busy mans jurisdiction.
Woods has plenty of energy After
drinking a cup of coffee-he never
eats any breakfast-he jumps into his
automobile, makes a dash for the CAPT
toll building. and stops at one of his
offices. Here he listens to all COM
plants and all requests, and then rush
es to his den in the white house
From there he goes to his office in the
senate office building. then to the
house office building and finally to the
main office in the capitol building.
The rest Of the day is put in tryin5 3
to work and keep appointments at the
same time as well as TO attend meet.
ings to discuss different branches OF
ion Of his eagle eye. His automobile
is a great time saver, for it enables
him to rush to all parts of the city
If he drove horse instead, he would
kill the animal in a short time.
Woods is not satisfied with the
amount of work he has to do. AS a
relief, he rugged up wireless tele
graph apparatus on top of the hill and
he generally spends a little time there
every day. He sends jocose messag
es to battleships far out at sea and
catches messages intended for other
instruments than the one he is work
ing. After firing of this, the under
composes a little music. Elliott Wood
is six feet tall. He weighs as much
as man his height should weigh. He
never becomes tired.
Many stories have been told abou,
how Uncle Joe Cannon, speaker Of the
house, began his career. One Of the
favorite yarns in Washington is the
following:
Joe Cannon boarded a train some
where down east and travelled as fal
as his car fare lasted. When neai
Danville, ILL.,, the conductor asked fol
more money.
Haven't dime" replied Cannon.
Guess you'll have to get off then,
replied the conductor.
Just as we'll get OFF here as any
where else. I suppose" said Cannon.
That's how he came to alight nea;
the town of Danville. He went to a
boarding house and. after a display oil
logic, managed to run up fairly good
sized bill. At that time there was a
fight on to decide the county seat
Danville won out and Joe decided to
travel in that direction. He sought
his boarding house keeper.
Il owe you quite BILL" he said.
Don't know it any better than ]
do" replied the landlord.
Haven't a cent" said Cannon.
You look it," was the unsympathet.
ic reply.
Have some prospects over in Dan.
vile. I'll pay you when make
good"
"All right
Cant get to Danville, though
Haven't the fare. Lend me two dol
lars
Good money after bad" said the
landlord. We'll, your nerve deserves
it. Here's five dollars.
That's how Joe Cannon came to set
tie in Danville. The five dollar bill
was the basis for his success, both fl
nancially and politically.