The Columbus journal., 1910-08-17

sons and to inability to get Office compelled to
return home
There are plenty of evidences that former rep
resentatives who have chosen after having once
been defeated in the home district to stay away
from the native heath, are not altogether free
from the criticisms of the home people, and per-
haps there is no reason why they should be. When
a man who has spent his entire life among
tain people is weaned away from them by short
residence elsewhere, 1t seems that resentment
springs and few denials probably will come to the
statement that good many of the former Off
Gals who stay in Washington in preference TO go
ing home not without frequent intimations
that the people back in the district regard them in
some degree as deserters.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule
and IN the case OF senators and representatives
OF long service. who poor and perhaps too
old to renew the practise of the law, to take up
again their mercantile business where they dropped
it to serve their constituents there is excuse for
the acceptance of Office in Washington in order
that the way of old age may be smoothed.
Then again there are the cases of men who
have been in Washington SO long representing
their states, their districts. that Washington
has become their real home, and here they stay
after change of party administration has
moved them from representative Office.
OF the men who stayed in Washington because
the place was like ZONE, there should be men,
toned former Senator Stewart, Silver Stew
art of Nevada who died recently. He was a no.
te6 figure on the Washington streets all through
his congressional career, and through the few
years OF his retirement prior to his death. Stew
arts hair and beard were as white as the snow
on the top of the Nevada mountains, but until
within few hours of his death he apparent
ly as strong any tree that grows below the
mountain timber line.
Frequently the former senators and represent.
atives who live in Washington appear upon the
floor of congress. They have the right there to
appear because of their former services. There
is one marked and shining exception. however. to
this rule of occasional return to the chamber
where the legislative service was rendered. When
Senator Spooner of Wisconsin left congress in
1891. to be gone six years he declared that he
would never appear upon the floor OF the senate
while he out of Office nor would be go to the
capitol unless his professional business called him
to practise before the Supreme Court. Spooner
kept his word. He always had objected 10 the rule
which admitted former senators to the floor of the
senate He did not say So but he thought that in
some few cases the lobbying opportunity might be
too strong to be resisted by some of the senators
who were not above using their personal infu-
ence with their former colleagues on behalf OF
some specific legislation
In the spring Of 1907. John c. Spooner resigned
from the United States After the six years
of his absence from congress was ended he had
been returned again to the upper house, but in the
spring three years ago he resigned tC enter the
prictise of law Since the day that Senator Spoon
er left for this supposedly the last time. he has
not been seen in the senate Of the United States
nor has he been seen in the corridors of the cap
itol. He is in law practise in New York. and oc
casionalIy he comes to Washington. but unlike
many ether former representatives he shuns the
actual scene Of his legislative activities
Gen Charles Grosrenor OF Ohio. who was in
the house of representatives for years. and who
was considered one of its most picturesque char
acters. a man lively end energetic in debate and
appealing personal qualities. stays in the Buck