The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-12
WASHINGTON CHAT.



Is not TO be permitted 10 retire TO the \
solitude OF private life He has been /
requested to join with former Senator
Hemenway in the work OF governmental
economy put on foot by a recent Senate /
resolution directing the Committee on /
Appropriations to inquire into and report 1
upon departmental expenditures The |
Senator's familiarity with public land and /
agricultural questions, as a result OF long /
service on committees dealing with these /
and allied subjects, peculiarly fits him
for the important task. while Senator |
Hemenway's service on the Appropria- /
tons Committee makes him equally val
liable as an investigator. Senator Cal /
linger IS chairman OF the subcommittee /
having the work Ia charge.
Mr.. Hansbrough made his debut as a
legislator at the Capital twenty years
ago, when North Dakota joined the sis
terhOod OF States and weathered the po- |
llucal storms peculiar TO his section OF
the country until Illness and the COM
bined opposition OF capital and discomfort
forced his retirement on March 4. but he
takes such a cheerful, philosophical. and
optimistic view OF the situation that one
is inclined TO the belief that his horoscope
shows promise Of more honors IN the
future
My three elections 10 the Senate.
said the Senator the other day. were
secured IN the thick OF local strife aEd
personal contention OF unbelievable in
teEsity. Looking back on these contests /
/ feel that the prize. honorable and great
though II be, was scarcely worth the SUI
preme EFFORT necessary TO secure It. This
may be regarded as a selfish retrospect.
but from the standpoint OF nerve en-
durance and personal sacrifice am sure
IL Is justified I do not intend 10 permit
the uncomfortable incidents OF the long
struggle 70 cloud my remaining years Of
existence I prefer TO see the success and
happiness OF those who opposed me.
Every one who enters public life. whether
he attains the goal by fair or py foul
means. needs the support Of his fellow
men The average politician is not innate
~ bad. but he is often the unwilling
creature OF circumstances strangely dis
semlnated.
Mr. Hansbrough's successor IS Martin
y. johnson. Of Petersburg. who was born
IN Wisconsin. OF Norwegian parentage.
some sixty years ago His parents re-
moved 10 Iowa IN the year OF his birth.
and he was educated theresat the State
University, where he later served term
in each branch OF the legislature. In
1SS2 Mr.. Johnson removed 10 Dakota and
took up government land. on which he
sdn lives. He was a member OF the con-
sttutions convention OF North Dakota in
1859, chairman OF the first Republican
State convention. and succeeded Senator
Hansbrough IN the House IN the Fifty
second Congress. and was reelected to
the Fifty-third. Fifty-fourth. and Fifty
fifth Congresses. He is hardly remem-
bered here, however. despite his eight
years residence as a member OF the
Lower House, for he was one OF the
quiet. persistent workers. a member Of
the Silent Club HIS voice was rarely
heard IN the chamber. but he served his
constituency. which IS mostly made Up
OF Scandinavians. satisfactorily. and they
have shown their confidence IN him by
sending him TO the Senate.
Thomas F. Pendel. who died last
Wednesday morning. was the most IA
miliar figure 20 the public. at least OF
the entire stan at the White House.
where he had served as usher contin-
uOusly for forty-flve years. and under
twelve Presidents. Some years ago he
set his experiences there down in a book
entitled -'Thirty-SiK Years in the White
House." which IS clearly and quantity
written. He has nothing but good 10
say OF all the Presidents with whom he
came into such intimate contact, and II
he preferred one 10 another. IL is not
shown IN his "reminiscences. but OF the
confidence reposed IN him by these va
rious Executives he shows himself 10
have been very proud.
He writes: 4 think President John
son placed a good deal OF confidence in
me. When a vote was taken IN the Dis
trict OF Columbia 10 see II the citizens
were IN favor OF the cOlOred men voting,
some one went 10 the President and told
him OF Il. He was told that I was enc
among very limited number who voted
for the acknowledgements OF the negro.
This was a falseh0Od. 7 did not vote
at all on that question. The man who
carried this falsehOod 20 the President
was told by him. when he had finished
his tale. Mr. Pendel is q man VINO always
attends 10 his bushes. That settled the
question with this tale-bearer"
With pardonabie pride in the incident
Mr. Pendel recounts:
a young lady, a personal friend OF the
President, on one occasion dined and
spent the evening at the White House
with the family. About $50 o'clock IN
the evening Mr.. Johnson sent for me TO
come up into the library. The young
lady was there with the rest Of the
family. He asked me TO see the young
lady safely home n his carriage, which
was waiting az the door. I did so, and
afterward returned n the PRESIDENT
carriage to the White House"
Nellie Grant has always been such an
/ interesting personality 10 the people Of
Washington. who knew her from girlhood
up. that Mr.. Pendels account Of her IS
not without interest
Miss Nellie Grant was a charming
young lady OF q most pleasant DISPOSE
tion-yery pleasant and very quiet. Al
ways. when she would be going TO q
dinner party, a ball. or a dance, was AZ
| hand with her wraps 10 put them on for
her. was very fond OF her. and she was
always very polite and kind to me"
Mr.. Pendel pays less attention 70 Mr.
Arthur than 10 any OF the other Presi-
dents, Wnlcn IS strange, WheE II Is re-
membered that with the employees az the
White House this President was the kind
est and most genial OF men. but his social
connections evidently overpowered the
humble usher. who had been accustomed
to plain. blunt men" His account Of
how Mr.. Arthur decided on the improve
ments at the White House is interesting.
for they were a subject OF much discus
sion at that time. and the usual cry Of
extravaganza" was echoed through the
halls Of Congress apropos OF them.
One day. before the President had
moved Up 10 the White House, he came.