The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-27
OLD RIVALS IN CONGRESS

Every Congress has its fierce rivals and
its boon friends-Its Blaine and Conklin,
its Damon and PythIas. The enmity that
existed between Blaine and Conkling.
their savage attacks on each other, and
their keen rapier-Ike thrusts in debate.
win ungsr long ia the memory Of the
older generation.
The House of Representatives to-day
has its Blaine and Conkllng in the per-
sons Of Gen. Isaac r. Sherwood and Gen.
J. Warren Keifer. both Of Ohio. between
whom q lifelong feud has existed.
This year, as never before, Congress
has realized that the two white-haired
and whlte-bearded Buckeye members are
rivals for everything life holds dear to
them. Colleagues. for a long time aware
of an antipathy between the two aged
men, have this year observed the rl-~lry
has grown to the point Of personal ens.,.
If Gen. Sherwood makes a speech Keifer
must reply to it. If Keifer introduces a
bin. Sherwood the next day draws up one
exactly ike it. They vie with each other
.as veterans of a bloody war, and as
heroes of more than a score Of blttle
political campaigns.
Rivals in Army.
The rivalry started in the army. After
the war closed both got into politics.
Friendly contest was manifested between
the two venerable statesmen in that field
Both came to Congress. Gen. Keifer. a
Republican, glares when his Democratic
colleague scores q point for the opposi-
ton. Sherwood bristles up angry Ike a
schoolboy when Keifer accompIshes
something for his side
Those who know both Representatives
Sherwood and Keifer intimately cannot
ascribe the reason for the rivalry. They
remark that 1t is strange their records are
so nearly alike. There is only five months
difference in their ages. Gen. Sherwood
was born in Duchess County, \. Y. Au-
gust 3. 1885. Kelfer first saw the light of
day in Clark County. Ohio, the following
January. Both attended Antioch College
in Ohio. The two as young men, went to
war within three days of each other
Sherwood answered President Lincolns
call for volunteers the day after 1t was
issued. Keifer enlisted on the fourth day.
Both went TO the front and for a year saw
hard fighting in the border line warfare.
In 1862 both were given regiments OF their
own. Here again the same mysterious in
fuence that seems to have worked over
hotb a that 7fr-a- NO econ
Fought side by side.
Gen. Keifer was commissioned colonel
OF the 10th Ohio Regiment September II, !
1852 Nineteen days later Sherwood took
command of the 1l1th Regiment. Natur-
ally the two regiments. so closely related
by number and organized within three
weeks of each other, went to the front
side by side. In the two years. 1S62-64,
the two men were rivals as commanders
of the two regiments. In 1861 both were
promoted. On September S Sherwood be
Gang colonel A little more than two
months later Keifer was breveted briga-
der general. Six weeks elapsed and Col
Sherwood became brigadier general also. j
The two generals each fought in many
battles. Gen. Keifer's record Is twenty
eight Sherwood was In no less than
forty-five engagements
All this might not have been fate. but
It certainly seemed so when the next
chapter was added 20 the strange analogy
of their lives. Both were wounded In bat
tie. Gen. Keifer was severely wounded
on one. occasion. and three times sub
jected TO slight injuries. Gen. Sherwood,