The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-24
By JAMES b. MORROW.


liucally. outside OF the string OF villages
called Newton, he was an anonymous
personality-an unseen unit in the great
aggregate OF the American electorate.
Now, John wingate Weeks is one OF
the actual and practical leaders in the
House Of Representatives. Il cannot
make a speech" he said 10 me. Il can
do little more than give facts and fig
ures. I arouse no enthusiasm and aps
plause never follows any OF my state
ished from this particular case. analytic
ally considered.
superficial opinion Of John Wingate
Weeks would put him in the catalogue
OF legislative wonders or accidents. An
other shallow view would classify him
among Speaker Cannon's favorites Sc
rious judgment. however. ascribes his
phenomenal rise in Congress to the dreary
and hackneyed doctrine OF work-prac-
ticed with vigorous and alert intelligence
to a quick adaptability. or skill in self
adjustment, and TO genius for manag-
ing men not so wise as himself Mean
while, It is true, Speaker Cannon has
been his intellectual and administrative
friend and patron.
Gets Important Position.
driving man OF business. an I'M
sentimental character. without imagina-
tion or talent in the matter OF language"
as he remarked 10 me, talking in candor
Of his own limitations. just as IL he were
criticising some one else. Weeks caught
the watchful eye OF Cannon. and Can
non, needless Of the laws OF service.
raised him to a chieftaincy in the House.
AS a further testimony 10 Weeks. no
envy was aroused His legislative faith
ers and grandfathers said nothing, no
matter what they thought
Platitudes and generalities. whether
they glitter or not. are the cheap and
easy products OF the intellect. II the
mind has anything to do with such rub
blsh. Given a gift for words a member
Of Congress can platitudinize and general
lie for days at time without searching
for a single fact or looking into a single
book. 1t is a common phrase IN Wash
ington that Senator This OF Representa-
tive That obtained the floor. started
his mouth to going. and then went about
his usual business" which ordinarily
includes a nap in his private office
frugal luncheon I'm the restaurant, which
costs him something. and a prolonged
soaking in the free bathroom. Coming
right down TO ii, competition is never 50
uncertain or difficult as il is represented.
Still. the indolent will always grumble at
their want Of luck. and those who achieve
VIII always exaggerate. -
Enjoys His Work.
7 am simply normal man." Mr
Weeks observed TO me, just as imper-
sonally as II he had been talking about
astronomy or tax on incomes. u have
no aptitude for anything. One kind Of
work Is as satisfactory az another.
like TO work. I suppose. No doubt I
should enjoy life We're to devote myself
20 travel or to other forms of self
entertainment. When Congress adjourns
I go home, and am al my desk the
morning after get there"
In what way, If I may ask the ques-
ton. do you account for your remarkable
prominence in Congress after so short an
apprenticeship in public Ife?" I asked
II am not egotistical enough TO at
tempt an explanation" Mr.. Weeks re-
piled Eliminating myself from our con-
versation. let me observe that the man
in Congress who is accurately informed
about some one particular subject will
invariably obtain an audience fact
learned very early during my life in
Washington. a measure was up further
20 regulate hazing at the Annapolis
Academy. 4 colleague from Massachu-
sets urged me 10 say something with
respect to the bill. reminding me that
could thus introduce myself to the House
on matter with which I was reasonably
familiar. You may not have so good a
chance he assured me. IN the next five
years
Gave Exact knowledge.
II saw the Speaker with some feeling OF
reluctance and no promised me the floor
for few minutes. When I arose TO make
my first speech. the members were IN
their usual state Of disorder coming
and going, and talking among themselves.
or busily writing. Mr. Speaker I said
I was graduated from the Naval Acad-
envy at Annapolis To my great en-
barrassment, the House was silent IN an
instant. The noise of conversation ceased.
Members who had been moving about
stood still Here they thought To them
selves, as 7 now understand II, IS a
man who ought to know what he Is talk
ing about. At all events. we shall listen
for any information that he NAV have 10
give us Since then" MI. Weeks went
on to say, Il have found that exact
knowledge will invariably get an eager
hearing in the House Of Representatives. "
Although he left the navy twenty-seven
years ago. while a midshipman. Mr.
Weeks has the square shoulders and the
martial bearing OF a line officer afloat
A six-footer. he weighs $50 pounds. but
he walks briskly and has none Of the
customary bulges or vast surfaces OF
corpulency
AS a cadet ut Annapolis. he could slowly
put up a 112-pound dumbbell with his
right hand, and then kneeling with one
leg. could lift an S7-pound dumbben with
his left hand and slowly put II above
his head. Thus he would have 1919 pounds.
or the equivalent OF a barrel Of flour In
the air. which. as a further test OF his
strength. he could lower TO his shoulders
and raise again. arm-high BY the
methods Of modern measurement, he
would have been one Of the most powerful
men in the United States. Still a giant
in strength. asked him the character of
his usual exercises. Automobile riding q"
he said with smile. and bridge whist"
Blur. but personally attractive. direct
but courteous. he cherishes no delusioDs