The Washington herald., 1909-04-10
WASHINGTON CHAT.
BY THE SPECTATOR.

Miss Cannon has been taking a rest
serves. for there IS no hostess in the
ofie.al set OF Washington more conscien-
tious, more indefstigabIe IN the perform
ance OF her duties. or more devoted 10
her friends. Her experience AZ the Cap
ital goes back TO her early girlhood.
when her father was first elected to the
Lower House. at which time they lived
az that historic old National HoreL In
deed, II is only since Uncle Joe" was
made Speaker that they have moved up
town and Joined the ranks % the enter
talners. but before that Miss Cannon.
who has been at the head OF her fathers
house since her mothers death. was just
as earnest and painstaking as she r. now.
gaining an experience IN the many years
Of her residence here that makes her
actually the dean Of the Official women
OF the Capital Miss Cannon IS a woman
10 whom the word sterling best applies
She has no fsds. no fsncies. no eccen-
Uicities. She is a finely educated. per
feetiy poised. earnest woman. who. be-
sides being thoroughly trained IN social
matters. Is an astute politician There
are many men 10 Congress who could
learn from her 10 their advantage. for
her knowledge IS profound her judgment
keen. and she is e diplomat. too. al
though she has not succeeded IN obtain
ing for her father the second place in the
Official code OF precedence he and his
predecessors have contended fora con-
tention based on the fact that the
Speaker. as the direct representative %
the people. should come Immediately
after the President
In all countries the heir apparent ranks
directly after the ruler whom he viii
sScceed. and. according 70 the present
law regarding the succession to the chief
once. the Cabinet. as well as the Vice
President. outrsnk the Speakers posi-
ton accorded 70 the former when the
avs OF succession was changed. but. not
withsJanding that change. the Speaker
stiE insists that he is entitled 10 the sec
end place in the nation. The Department
Of state. however. places the President
the Vice President, foreign ambassadors.
Secretary OF State. foreign ministers. the
Chief Justice, and the President pro TEN
OF the Senate before the Speaker. and the
only way out Of the difficulty IS the one
which Mr.. Reed and Mr. Henderson
10 refuse all invitations where be is not
regarded as the guest Of honor.
Speaking Of the physical tests FOR which
the naval officers now stationed IN wash
ington are 50 assiduOusly preparing. one
OF their number told the following story
at dinner the other night:
There is nothing Mr.. Jack Tar loves
so much as 10 get o. a horses back. and
the moment he reaches a port he Is apt
70 hire a Bucephalus and try a cante-.
Once upon q time the day after a
battle ship put into a certain port on the
Eastern coast a sailor. whose brogue be
tokened that he had come over from
Erin's green shores, applied to a locai
livery for riding horse.
What sort OF a horse do you want2'
asked the liveryman.
A riding horse. 70 be sure replied
Patrick. the sailorman
Yes said the proprietor. but what
sort Of horse do you want? What color.
for instance. do you fancy3 What gairZ
I have several riding horses here. and /
would prefer 20 pick out one that viii De
20 your liking.
90 II makes no difference 10 ne what
color he is. sure. or what gait he has.
announced the client. The only thing
that concerns me az all, al all, Is that he
is long enough. for there are eight OF rs
e-goin' 20 get upon the back OF him
Pedro EzeQuiel Rojas. who has been
appointed Venezuelan Minister 10 Wash
ington. is well known IN this country.
70 which he has made frequent trips,
living for months at a time IN New
York. Mr. Rojas is the first Minister ac-
credited 20 this Capital since the regime
OF Mr.. Andrade. the brother OF the Presi-
dent OF Venezuela, whose downfall was
brought about by Castro. After Mr.. An
drade's retirement his secretary. Mr.. Pu-
lido, was appointed charge da1aires. a
position he held until a year ago. when
he was summarily recalled for SOME al
legged misconduct By the autocrat who
now stands before the world as a man
without a country" Mr. Roias IS said
10 be one Of the cleverest diplOmatiSts N
Venezuela. and. besides. IS an accom-
plished and agreeable man. who viii do
much 20 heal the breach that has 50 long
existed between Venezuela and the United
States Cnhappily Mr. R0jas Is pre-
vented from Immediately taking I'D his
duties here by a serious illness which viii
delay his arrival until late ~ the spring
His secretary, SenOr Gl-Borgas. IS the
son OF a distinguished family OF Caracas
and belongs 10 the young progressive
party Of Venezuela.