The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-03


represented In Congress from 1913 to 1853
by Andrew Johnson. The first personal
impression which one receives Of Walter
Preston is that of an avalanche Just
started down a mountain. Slow. passive
ponderous. with an eXpressiOnless face,
he moves along the corridors like an Il
resistable force. At times his face lights
up. but in its usual rep0se il is as emo
tionless as fate. His height slightly ex-
ceeds his width, and he is constructed on
the plan OF a granite bowlder He has
been in the Lower House twenty years
having first been elected 10 the Fifty
fifth Congress. and he is reelected "a
the Sixty-first- In the words Of the
epitaph on the editors tombstone. he Is
evidently there 10 stay" As a rule tn,
administration takes his advice as 70 the
distribution Of Federal patronage in his
State, and he has come TO be known as
the Republican dictator Of his state
II IS needless 20 say that he is eminentiy
practical in his methods, al insurgents
are not tolerated.
The late Gen. Ketcham, member Of the
House from one Of the New York dis
tricts up the river for years. is gone
to his reward. but the memory Of him
among HIS former colleagues will never
die. The old general was as deaf as a
split mackerel. and this was the cause
Of much tribulation among those doing
business with him. There was a sus-
picion abroad that he could more readily
hear that which he desired TO than that
which he preferred not 10 hear. but pos
sibly this IS an injustice. Be that as II
may, ne was q marvel at obtaining Of
fees Tor his constituents and had more
20 his credit among the departments than
any three members from his State. This
was previous TO the operation OF the
present civil service rules. and his meth
Cd was somewhat Ike unto this: Max
ing the rounds OF the departments in the
morning he would approach a chief OF
bureau and say Brother Jones. have
a constituent. a bright, capable young
man. whom ] wish You would place for
ne at once. OF course, I can depend on
your friendship. Why. general. was
the reply. II have dozens more now than
can find room or work for, and I can
not possibly do it, Thank you, Thank
your said the general. Il knew I could
depend on you 20 help me out. I viii tell
him 70 come around in the morning.
and with hearty slap on the shoulder
the old general anbied away. 1t was a
hopeless case. and the chief hustled 70
find some sinecUre for the fated arrival
One OF the present New York delegation.
Peter A Porter. Of the Niagara district.
is also as deaf as a legislator need be to
do business and he IS considerable Of a
hustler. He IL seen every day skipping
along the corridors, invariably alone. and
his knowing smile indicates that he i
overtakinE results Peters Congressional
career, however. is brief and meteOric.
He sprang into national fame in a dag
by defeating Jim" Wadsworth. FOR
years the political dictator II that dis
/ trict, but when IL came TO a denomination
last summer z new man wiped him out.
So Peter viii retire the 18th OF March. ard
the vicissitudes OF New York politics vii
tally one more.
Il is revealed 20 Senator Fulton. OF Ore
gon. that he viii probably Je reelected
by the legislature Of his State. regardless
Of the fact that the people have man
dated the legislature BY primary TO elect
Democratic Gov Chamberlain. The pres
ent administration doesn't Ike Fulton al
all, and its mighty influence IS being
thrown for Chamberlain. regardless.
Under the circumstances the expectation
here is that Fulton viii be down and out
the 9Th Of March, and that the IeCisia-
ture Of Oregon viii OBEY the unconstitu-
tionaI direction Of the primaries and seat
Chamberlain.