Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-02
CAPITALlNEWs AND GOSSIP
BY RALPH smith

WASHINGTON, c., March 80
The Hon. Jim Sherman (nobody ever
thinks of calling him James 81 is
about the most 81 comfortably informal
vice president we have ever had. de
doesn't seem to realize fully that he has
become an important functionary in TINS
government of ours, whose comings and
goings are matters of moment to the
people. One of these fine days he VIII
turn up missing unless he is careful,
and there1l be a great hullaballo about
the disappearance of the vice president
of the United States. .r.-I,s.
During the interim between his cleo
ton and his Inauguration, your corre-4
spondent passed a few remarks upon
the informallty Of Mr.. Sherman, then
vice president-elect He told Of how
Mr.. Sherman stood five minutes in a
driving rain. waiting to catch a car to
carry him to the capitol. 81. fN
Mr. Sherman is just the same today
as he was previous to his elevation to
the vice presidency. The other night
he had business at the union station
just about midnight-wanted to meet a
lrien- on an incoming train. Did she
go there in a coach and four, or in an
automobile, with footmen and hunkeys'
Not on your life. Mr.. Sherman used
the street car, and the conductor who
glance The policemen and station
employees who recognized his face wosl-
dered for a moment, but few or the
people in the big building knew who
he was. Mr.. Sherman himself was the
least conscious man in the whole build
ing. Indeed, ne Joined little group OF
curious peoples who were 'rubbering at
two Armenian women who seemed about
to open a bazaar.
ATr an
ed him to street car, and together
they rode up town.
Retained Fairbanks Secretaries
Mr. sherman has retained the secre-
tAries who served Vice President Fair
hanks. and the aforesaid secretaries
have been entertained by the doings OF
their new boss. Mr.. Fairbanks was
stir and formal and hesitated to DO
ANYTHING that would provoke merrimert'
or even comment, and the secretaries
had become accustomed to these haDi's.
However, they are fast becoming ac-
customed to Mr.. Sherman anu Jus
ways. =.
.NEr Vice President, have you ever met
Mr. Smith. of the Chicago ----? SAID
one of his secretaries in presenting an
old and dignifed newspaper man.
slo but I'm going TO in about three
seconds +" was Mr. Sherman's answer. he
had been reading when interrupted with
the question, and he continued reading
until he came to- convenient stop. Then
he cot up and acknowledged the introduce
ton.
Mr.. sherman does things like this not
once a day, but half dozen times day',
and everybody looks alike to him.
It is not affectation on Sherman's part
either. There are fewer frills about him
than any man in public life. His speech
is plain and direct. Although ne was
potent factor in the house of represen-
tatives during his long membership oil
that body, he used fewer words than any
leader in the hall. He spoke only. on rare
occasions He was the aggressive mem
Der of the legislative firm of Cannon
Sherman, Dalzell, Payne and company.
When the ruling coterie was criticised by
the minogity, Sherman could be depend
ed upon to tell the Democrats frankly
and plainly that the Republican majority
stood ready and willing to shoulder the
entire responsibility.