The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-25


The average run of souvenir hunt
ers has little conscience when 1t comes
to carrying away small article which
belongs to the government, and which
they figure Uncle Sam may readily
spare, considering the amount of taxes
he, the souvenir hunter, has paid in
the past. Chinaware and pieces of cut
lcry from the Senate restaurant, there
fore, will be especially prizsd by those
who want to take something back rs
memento of Washington tour.
1t behooyes Senate restaurant wait
ers to be on the alert. Not that those
who drop in upon the Senate restaurant
are bad folks, but simply because 1t
Is human to gather souvenirs, and the
cords United States Senate" are quite
tempting when engraved upon a spoon,
butter knife, or some other article
required by solons and just plain WIS.,
itors when they eat.
"Good morning, DEAN" said Represen-
tative Taylor of Ohio, as he shook hands
with Nicholas Longworth just before the
House got down to business the other
day.
Dean what? I'll bite" cordially detort-
ed Mr.. Longworth.
"why, dean of the Ohio delegation"
explained Mr.. Taylor. do you think I'm
trying to spring a minstrel joker
well, then. what are your" queried
Mr.. Longworth, apparently eager for In
formation.
"If we included only the members of
my first session here. the Fifty-ninth
Congress, I suppose I would be the dele
CATION" modestly explained the Column
bus representative.
A brief retrospective glance over the
roll was INDUCED in by the two men,
bers, neither of them yet arrived at
middle age. and Mr.. Taylor's statement
found confirmation. Representative
IDongworth is the dean of the republican
delegation. and Mr.. Taylor Is the only
other Ohio member, republican or demo-
cratic, of the Fffty-ninth Congress elect
Ell six years ago who will be a member
OF the next Congress.
Uncle Lion" Livingston feels pretty
sore over his rundown in the primaries,
and doesn't hesitate to say so. He says
he remained on his job ranking deni-
ocrat on the appropriations committee
and In the meantime his opponent was
making a house-to-house canvass in the
district, with the result that when Uncle
Lon did go home there was nothing
to 1t but defeat. Representative Living
ston has been In Washington for 20 years.
and has made himself popular with his
COlleStSuc5. Tie hilOWS IL lHlHS UT LWO
about the ways OF the legislators, and for
that reason his democratics friends want
him to remain here. He is a candidate
for either the clerkship or sergeant-at-
arms of the next House, with a prefer
ence for the latter.
Even II Judson Harmon, governor of
Ohio. is looked upon as eager for a White
House residence in washington later on,
icff xnyift
the first time he came for official duties.
That was during the administration OF
President Cleveland. who apparently
discovered Harmon az q good man
for Attorney General.
Harmon himself had not dreamed of
any appointment; in fact, did not wish
for one. He was becoming rich as a law
yer Of Cincinnati. and had really de-
cided to keep out Of politics. One morn
ing he arrived at his office in the st.
Paul buildings Cincinnati. and found a
marked personal" envelope on his desk
an envelope that looked little different
than any he had recently received. Also
the handwriting was unfamiliar; OF a fine
copper plate script sort, and he wondered
as he opened 1t who could have sent
It. Harmon read the letter four times
looked out the window six times; failed
to open any other of the many letters on
his deck; put on his hat and said he
would not be back that day, and went
home to show the letter to his wife. That
letter was from Grover Cleveland, Presi-
ident of the United States, asking my
dear Judge Harmon to become Attorney
General in the cabinet The invitation
was In words very complimentary, and
the Judge went over each word with his
wife with the result that they decided
to accept. 1t was turning point in the
Harmon career, and from that day on
he has been figure in democratic affairs.
That President Cleveland letter is treas
ured in the Harmon household as a me-
mento of a dear friend. who was also
President, and who knows but that same
letter may have started the recipient to-
ward a White House career?