Evening journal., 1910-09-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Senator Plumb Kept
Posted on Kansas
BY @HoIland."

from 1877 until his death in Deem
Der, 1891, Preston b. Plumb was one
of the most interesting men to be
found I'm the national capital during
that period, and that was the time,
too, when John J. ingalls, was in the
heydey Of his national glory.
Senotor Plump was in striking con-
trast TO his distinguished colleague.
ingalls, was fine scholar. a student
of the classics, and one of the best
orators the Senate ever had. Plumb
was anything but brilliant speaker,
and he delivered his speeches so
rapidly that they were caught with
difficulty by the Senate stenographers.
ingalls, was fastidious in his dress
and his personal habits Plumb was
not at all particular about the style,
cut or condition OF his coat. Meeting
ingalls, on the street. and not know
ing who he was. you would at once
have set him down as a man of parts.
Meeting Plumb under like conditions,
you would have placed him as a plain
farmer.
Again, ingalls, was not especially
interested in political patronage. or
in any of the minor political duties
with which Senators are so often
burdened. In patronage and the de-
tails that its distribution brings,
Plumb was deeply interested, and in
this connection his intimate knowl-
edge of his own state was constantly
source of wonder to his colleagues,
and a good deal of a mystery. why"
said Senator Frye of Maine to me, in
the autumn of 1884, Senator Plumb
seems to know every man i'm tho state
Of Kansas either by name or sight.
And what's more, he has the entire
statistics, as we'll as the latest
thought, of the state at his tongues
end. How he does IL all can't quite
comprehend"
little later | had occasion to call
upon Senator Plumb one evening az
his rooms. When ! opened the door
and walked IN in response to a loud
and hearty summons to enter, | at
first saw no one. But had never be-
fore seen such a collection of news
papers and unbound documents as the
room contained, not even in the Office
of newspaper exchange editor. They
were scattered about everywhere: the
floor was literally carpeted with them,
and they were stacked up I'm the cor
ners and on shelves placed against
the walls. For few moments I
gazed about me I'm silent wonder.
Then. hearing a rustling In an alcove
OF the room as OF some one turning
over a newspaper, I walked thither
and discovered Senator Plumb all but
hidden behind an opened newspaper
and dashing through it at breakneck
speed. seemingly taking up an entire
column at single glance of the eye.
We'll, Senator" I said. in my sur
prise. this is somewhat unusual"
He smiled. This is where and how
l keep in touch with my state" he
said. ct have every newspaper pub
lished in Kansas. daily or weekly.
sent to me here. 7 read every one Of
them faithfully. 7 do not look at
The Associated Press reports or at
the reprint matter, but | read care
fully and fully the local news, and
am especially particular to scan the
columns contributed by what are
called tho country correspondents,
VINO ara never 80 happy as when they
are telling ali they know about every
body they know. Through them
have come to know about their neigh
bors just as much as they do them
selves.
81 also read the editorials very care
fully I am especially careful to read
the editorials of the Democratic
papers. In this way I am able TO
keep abreast of the latest twist in
Kansas thought just as from the
local news columns and the letters OF
the country correspondents ! learn of
the latest happenings to and views Of
John Smith and John Jones.
They say In the Senate, I believe,
that I know everything worth know
ing about Kansas. Well. try to learn
all about it that is worth knowing
and Il is only by taking and reading
thoroughly the papers of the state
that have been able to keep in touch
with it. its people and its prevailing
opinions. But it's a job II keeps me
busy evening after evening; it turns
my quarters into an old paper scraI
heap" And the junior senator from
the Sunfiower state looked ruefullS
at the mass of discarded papers hid
ing the carpet completely.
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
"A Story Of Old SAybrOOk Colony