The Washington herald., 1910-04-10
Dr. JAMEs 3. MORROM.

MS eyes miles away on the misty e
forests of Maryland.
We had gone over his life, a slow trag-
edy of duh poverty and toll, and he
was looking back. the first time in long
while. and was stumbling at the philos-
Ophy of his fate
The very least I have obtained, he
went on TO say, my bread and butter
with the rest, has come only after hard
and doubtful fight against circumstances
leagued, it seemed to me. for my defeat
] am in Congress now, the fourth time,
by the narrow margin of twenty-five
votes. Had a single Republican in each
of the eighteen counties of the district
failed me, / would have lost my seat,
was twice elected judge, the first time
by plurality of two over the Democrat
ic candidate Then came dragging trial
OF the case With me, the simplest of
human experiences becomes difficult and
problematical. Sometimes / have wonder
ed if a life such as mine is really
worth the contest
Reward at Last.
Al his side, while he talked. were reams
Of congratulatory letters and hundreds of
complimentary kilograms from all over
the United States. "Cannonism is dying
at your brilliant and lberating thrust"
was the spirit of all that had been writ
ten or sent Bundles Of unopened news
papers, eloquent with leaders and big
heads, were in piles on the floor. along
the walls. The knob of the locked Office
door was often turned by men buTded-
ed with praise that was TO remain I'M
said. Ceaseless calls of the telephone beh
went unnoticed Except for my almost
forgotten presence. the insurgent chief
bold, tireiess and fierce. cheered through
out the nation a romantic ana daring
knight, in popular conception-was alone
with himself And at the memory of his
struggles, as child, youth and man, he
was asking if the joys and triumphs of
life are an offset TO its tribulations and
disappointments,
Financially he said, somewhat hu-
morously. concluding his brief retrospect.
Il have not been a success"
Whereat he opened drawer of his
desk took a "stogy" from round paste
board box. and lighted it with a borrowed
match
Structurally. Judge Norris is a strong
man. being deep-breasted, wide-shoui-
dered, and Of the average and compact
stature which denotes power, physically
and longevity. His head is broad and
well set upon his neck; his brown eyes
are uncommOnly wide apart: his chin IS
as square as wedge, and there is con-
siderable roar in his voice, both in the
low notes and when pitched in emphasis
Altogether, his face is OF an unusual
type, sad and mystic, as well as open and
pleasant A homespun man, in a short
dark coat, he is, IL l may judge, entirely
without political. personal, or intellec-
tual vanity. His constituents are agri-
Culturists No matter the length of his
stay in Washington. he will always relish
dinner with any farmer friend of
fried ham. boiled potatoes, weak coffee,
and pale apple pie, rather doughty on the
bottom.
Early an InSuFgent.
when and why did you become an in
surgent?" I asked him
My change from orthodoxy to hetero-
doxy was gradual" he answered Il
entered the House of Representatives six
years ago last December. on February
p following John Sharp Williams. the
Democratic leader, moved that We ad-
iourn over 10 the I'D as a mark of honor
10 George Washingtons birthday. Serene
+ Payne. the Republican leader, opposed
the motion When the clerk began to
call the roll I noticed that the Repub-
Leans were voting solidly with Payne
and the Democrats were solidly voting
with Williams. To me it seemed silly
TO draw party lines on such a trivial
question. As a matter of sentiment, l
sympathized with the motion of Williams,
and voted accordingly.
90 You have begun early 10 support the
Democrats a party colleague said to
me in the lobby Other Republicans
pleasantly censured me, but l saw that
they meant It and understood that had
seriously offended, in the minds of mar
low men. Afterward l closely watched
the proceedings of the House and OBJ
served that Republicans and Democrats
invariably followed their leaders when
the leaders, privately or publicly, let it
be known that they expected obedience.
l could readily see that on certain vitality
important political matters such action
might be necessary, but to carry leader
ship into petty details of no possible
consequence one way or the other was
manifestly ridiculous, Naturally, / re-
volted at such mental slavery. but 1 con-
tinued to keep step with my party.
Speakers Power Too Great.
The more I studied the rules, how
ever, the clearer became my conviction
that the power of the House of Repre-
sentatiycs was centered in one person,
and that Speaker Cannon. with the CO.
operation of the Senate. was practically
the lawmaker of the republic I was a
member of the Committee on Public
Buildings One day fellow-member
asked the chairman if the committee
would prepare a bill authorizing. the CON
struction of Federal buildings in different
parts of the country at that session of
Congress. The chairman replied that he
could not answer the question at the
time
' Haven't you seen the Speaker YETI |
another inquired.
e No. have not, the chairman said, |
rather humbly
In other words, Judge Norris re- |
marked, I'VE should erect needed public |
buildings. or not erect them, at the order |
of Joseph G. Cannon. member of Con- |
gress from the Danvile district of ILL |
nois. Acute insurgency. in my case. be- |
gan right there However, I didn't say |
over much. STILL l acted more and more |
independently. and more and more I lost |
the countenance of the regulars, as they |
were called. I ceased to be consulted or |
10 be informed as to what was going on. |