Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
CHOICE SEATS FOR THE
OLDEST MEMBERS
Continued From Page ~

ment. In fact he comes as near TO
being a professional postmaster as any
one else In the world. for he served in
this capacity continuously from 1861
by appointment from Abraham Lin
coin down to the first election of Grow
er Cleveland When Cleveland gave
way to Harrison, Sperry again return
ed to the postoffice, and left again
when Cleveland succeeded Harrison.
Congressman Sperry has been IA years
in the house.
Because Sperry was Republican 1t
was determined to this year extend
the annual congressional courtesy also
to the Oldest member in point of years
on the Democrat side, and Leonidas It.
Livingston Of Covington, Ga, found
himself entitled to the plum. Con-
gresham Livingston will be II years
old on the third day of April. He is a
Democrat by birth, inheritance, envir-
onment, education, inspiration and SER
vice. He has been in congress IS
years.
The next qualification after years Of
life Is years in service. This brought
two more congressman into to class
Of the chosen few who enjoyed the
privilege Of drawing their seats with
out waiting for the lottery. This hit
Henry H. Bingham Of Philadelphia,
Pa, on the Republican side, and Gen.
Isaac r. Sherwood of Toledo, O., on
| the Democrat side.
Bingham is known as 1.-THE Father
of the House." He is general by
right Of deeds performed on battle
| fields Of the rebellion He has been
sitting in Republican national conven-
| tions almost continuously since 1872.
He has already seen 80 years of SER
vice in the lower house of representa-
| tives and is CT years Of age.
Sherwood, too, is general by right
of service rendered. He, too fought
title of being the Oldest member Of the
minority in point Of service, not from
| the number of continuous years
through which he has occupied a seat
in congress. but from the fact that he
first sat in the Fifty-third congress
Of 1872. After that session he was out
of the house until the sixtieth con-
gress, when he returned for another
| term.
Gen. Joseph Warren Kefer of
Springfield, Ohio, is included in the
congressional courtesy, because Of the
fact that he is the only former speaker
of the body now sitting on it's floor.
| General Keifer was speaker of the
forty-seventh house from 1881 to 1888
He is a grand old man--73 years OF
| age, DuC STURDY as an OAK, anu one Oh
| the Republican leaders Of the present
session.
But five other members of the house
We're among these select few who
picked their seats ahead of the com
mon throng. Congressman Serene
| Payne of New York, Republican floor
leader, and Congressman Champ Clark
of Missouri Democratic floor leader
both shared in the courtesy, more
from necessity than otherwise, since
the house recognizes that floor lead
ers must be prominently placed. Con
gresham James A. Tawney of Min
nesota, by virtue of his position as
chairman Of the committee on appro-
priation; Judge De Almond of Mis-
souri,, by virtue of his leadership
among the Democratic representatives
land Congressman Talbot of Maryland
by virtue Of his advanced years, were
the only others who were favored.
A great diversity of choice existed
among these men, who had the frs
selection of seats In the big arena
Some hustled for the front row, while
the majority selected places in the cen
ter of the house and little farthe
back.