The Washington herald., 1909-02-16

prohibition move
RMYETETJgT WATSON ment. a movement
that has tagged
many other near-statesmen. and from that
moment his pathway was strewn with
uncertainty.
When the news Of his nomination
reached Congress last session James Eli
was the recipient OF many hsndshakes.
for the Republican whip Is a popular man.
even though Uncle Joe cracks the whip.
All wished him success. and he expected
70 SIT high up IN the governors chair
False hopes; he didn't get there. He
came back TO this session & wiser. but
rot a sadder man, not so as you could
notice il. His smile is there yet When
the electoral vote was counted. on Zebra
ary 10. Vice President Fairbanks eau
toned the assembled legislators against
any applause. All was quiet until the
vote Of the first Taft-sherman State was
announced
It was too much for James. He Just
had 10 applaud his namesake. sunny
jim and he banged together his hands
with q resounding crack. The Vice Presi-
dent easily discovered the lone distarber
and shot an icy stare al his felIow-Iudi-
anlan- Watson subsided. How can 7 be
an optimisr p says he. ~Am Hoosierdom
is against ne"
There IS a telephone page on the Senate
side OF the Capitol who is a confirmed
autograph fend. Whenever a person of
note comes within range Of HIS vision he
charges upon the victim and demands his
signature. This young man knows most
Of the notabies. but sometimes an IN
known gets by him. Recently he spied
distinguished looking gentleman stand
ing near the Vice Presidents room.
Going to another. page he inquired who
the man was. Don't you know that
man2 Why, that's the governor OF A.
rica." The autograph collector reflected
a moment He had never heard Of the
governor Of Africa. but since the Presi-
dent Rad selected that country for his
hunting stunt, the boy thought that such
a parsonage was possible. and bolted FOR
the man.
Il would Ike 10 have your autograph.
governor" showing up his book
Governor I'm no governor answered
the suspected gentleman.
Amt YOU the governor OF Afrtcar-'
No, I'm messenger in the State De
partment"
The laughter that greeted the euterpris-
ing young autograph securer put him wise
and he scampered away.
Senator Tiilman IS rather loud OF voice
and no matter where OF when he speaks.
its sure thing that every one near by
knows that he Sc there. A few 5avs
ago the Senator was going 70 the CAPT
tol. and passing the new Senate Office
building. friend remarked as 10 the ele-
gance OF The structure.
They don't get me in there said the
blunt South CaTolinian. It's 700 palstial
and savOrs too much OF RepubIlcanism.
Why. II was seen going in there, people
would say. there goes another one CT
those nalefacto- Republicans.
Il IS a rare occasion when no one can
be found 20 consume time in the House
OF Representatives, but Il does happen
once In a great while Last Saturday
Sunny Jim" Sherman had two OF three
hours 10 parcel out 20 members who
might wish 10 get rid Of their Overabun-
dance OF hot air. but strange 10 say. no
one could be found 10 accept his Eeuer-
oslty.
He offered tine to Foster. Of Vermont:
Longworth, Of Ohio. and several others. !
Finally, John Wesley Gaines, OF Ten
nessee managed 20 think Up something. 4
and he proceeded IN his characteristic I
way TO liven things up q little.
Senators having aspirations in the d. I
rection OF oratory had better keep their /
weather eve on that man Cummins. Sen I
ator from Iowa He has not had an op-
portunity 10 get of an article OF the real /
oratory sort in the United States Senate
as get. but when he does the young. old, J
and middle-aged Demosthenesss viii
wake UP.
The Senator has a strong. penetrating 1
voice his enuncistiOn is particularly 1
clear. and his English is OF the brand 4
that even Senator Lodge cannot take ex-
ception %. And his gestures-they are 4
ali right. When his audience spplauds too 4
ong he raises his right hand. a Ia RoOse-
velt. and stiffness reigns supreme. Sen
ator Cummins has been before the public 1
for a long time as a speaker. He recites 4
a story Of his first offense before a gath 4
ering of cid soldiers.
He had prepared his speech. bu1 in the Z
excitement OF the reception preceding the 4
banquet he left the manuscript in his /
overCOat pocket. When the time came I
Tor him 10 address the old vets he felt /
for his papers. They we're outside. He
was embarrassed. but started IN boldly
With:
Il am not a veteran OF the civil war.
Unfortunately. I was born too late 10
have shared with you the hardships OF
he strife. the sorrows Of defeat. and the
oys Of victory in that great battle waged /
Tor human kind"
There he stuck. Three times he rot
hat far. but the next sentence was not
Things began to look hazy
when a vet seated in the rear OF the
hall. IN a whisper loud enough to be
heard over the room. said:
IT'S a d pity he was ever born at
all.
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