Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-14
PASSING Of GDSHkAN
QUAINT SAYINGS OF THE REPRE-.
SENTATIVE FROM WASHING.
TON STATE.
FORMER IOWA RESIDENT
WITTiEsT OF coMGREssMEN
Never n Less For Rspiy-41ls First
spssoh on River and harhor Bill
filjAd tho House With Roars-Rose
From Watsr BOY to High Place.


Francis w. Cushman, representative
In congress from Tacoma, Wash, who
recently died in New York, attained
two distinctions while in congress.
One he claimed az his right by nature,
that he, was the homeliest man there,
ana the second he was accorded unan-
anously. that he was the withest.
There had long been the claim that
Frank Marion Eddy of Minnesota was
the homeliest man in the hall. Walk
ing down the aisle one day, Cushman
claimed the speakers attention and
after spread eagle speech that might
have prefaced any subject he turned
toward Eddy and said: "Iook us over
compare this face with that point
ing to Eddy and tell me am 1 not the
homeIierY
Having succeeded to the seat made
vacant by James Hamilton Lewis, the
members were anxious to see what
"Jim HAMS successor was like.
They saw six feet Of dangling, slim
manhood. a sober, gloomy exterior,
with clothing hanging limp and Ill
fitting.
They gazed at him for moment
and then, bursting into laugh, some
one said, "Great heavens. do they
raise anything but freaks in Washing
tonY' 10 which Cushman replied
drawlingly, "Well, we try to keep
~
try, sir.'
When the river and harbor bill was
being discussed and most OF the MEM
bers had hidden themselves In the
cloakrooms Cushnnan arose to speak.
No one paid much attention for
awhile. Suddenly some listener awoke
the house with roar of laughter.
Five minutes later the seats were filed
With listeners to one of the wittiest
speeches ever delivered there.
J. Adam Bede, who had reputation
for humor, was once followed in one
Of his wittiest speeches by Cushman,
who said:
"Aftef listening to MI. Bede's speech
I am forced to the conclusion that my
Icaks subscribed to the same almanac
that his did"
After secretary Hitchcock resigned
from the interior department Cushman
made speech in which he said,
when the news Of Mr.. Hitchcock's
nstirement was sent out there was not
4 dry throat west Of the Mississippi"
Telling of his going to congress he
aeid. II crept noiselessly into the hall,
oppressed By the vast gobs Of states
nlenship lnsw wers to be found on
every AaAd-osescieus Of my own un-
Northinsss e1eept as to the matter OF
depulchFltude, where knew I was
supreme"
Now. and then Cushman essayed to
day the methods Of the house. On
one occasion he said, "a man who In
troduces bill here puts his manhood
IN his pocket and goes trotting down
the aisle.to the speakers room-or the
bill dies"
Serene Payne, who, then as now,
was chairman Of the committee on
Ways and means, came in for special
Afubbing at Cushman's hands in that
speech. - did General Charles n.
0rosvenor Of Ohio and John Dalzell,
the speakers Republican colleagues on
the committee On rules. 1t was in
that speech that Mr.. Cushman gave
his famous explanation Of why he was
% thin.
II have behind me an honest but In
furhted constituency" he said, "half
. .ntllton worthy; honest patriotic peo-
pie, who are demanding, and rightfully,
that I secure certain needed legisla- I
ton for them. Thattis the pressure on
ne from the rear. Then, in this house,
whenever I trysto secure consideration
Of the matters In which my people are
Interested runyup against the stone
wall that surrounds the speaker and
The committee on rules. That is the
pressure In front. And I tell you
frankly. that between the two I have
become thinner than Cancelled post
age stamp. That is what is the mat
ter Withsme."
One Of Cushman's first speeches
madea hit in the house. In lamenting
the panic Of 1893 he said that his con-
ehtuents were SO, Impoverished by the
hard times that they had to live, on
clams washed ashore until their stom-
achs rose and fell with the tide,
Here are few Of Cushman's cpl
grams:
"A great many Of ont citizens seem
10 b possessed Of the desire to live
Observation-Disclosures plan-too many. live
swiftly too few properly"
"There are too many Of us Amer
teams who would rather ride In
laortgased automobile. run with Dor
FowedF gasoline. than walk In the path
e&Shonoeable obscurity."
-: Eass career O. C;;:::.sziau was typicaiiy
American and as typicaily western.
~ was born In Iowa in 1867, got
yslage schooling. and, with all his
earthly posgeslons in small sized
handkerchief, he tied the corners loose.
y across the top and made for the
boQn8ess west He landed in Wash
lngton ana became water boy for
railroad. Next he was section hand.
then a laborer, later cowboy in Wy
onaing, cook in a lumber. camp,
lauberman, q sawmtll hand and later
farmer.
1cr ave years, when times were,
hArdesttauG fees .fewest and smallest,
~ was . lawyer In Tacoma.
FOR A SANE FOURTH OF JULY.