The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-06
SIDELIGHTS ALONG
WASHINGTON BYWAYS

WASHINGTON. j. G. May TT was
reminded Of the days when WAS
youngster.'' remarked Representative
James A. Tawney. chairman of the
House who voteu Tor rne tarifr bill. He
lie the only member of the House from
that State who Is standing by Uncle
joe tothe last ditch In the fight being
made against him by the insurgents,
He had just returned to Washington
from a ten days visit to his district
and he had been asked about the con-
ditions at home.
To understand Mr.. Tawney's remark
IL must be remembers that before he
began to study law he was black
| smith,
THE anvil chorus Is certainly work
ing overtime In Minnesota SO far Ms
regulars are concerned added Mr..
Tawney ut Is a good thing / was
brought up to stand the hard knocks OF
this world, and some OF the other boys
In the House will wish that they could
WELD the hammer before they get
through with the next Congressional
cam paign."
Mr.. Tawney Is one OF the most prom
inent members OF the House who has
literally fought his way from the bot
tom to the top of the political ladder.
When he was fifteen years old he had
to quit school to become an apprentice
In his fathers blacksmith shop; Later
he learned the trade OF inachinist, ana
he followed the trades of blacksmith
and machinist until 1881. At that
time Tawney decided that he would
of law at the earliest possible opportu-
rity After working In n blaeksmttn
shop all day he would study lafv until
/ late at night.
entered the law school OF the I-niversi-
ty OF Wisconsin. He practically abau-
dored .he practice of law in 1890 to
enter politics, he being elected to the
Minnesota Legislature in that year. He
has been member Of the House since
the Fifty third Congress. and II his dis
trtct goes against him his departure
from public life will be regretted by
every member of the House. by whom
he is held In the highest esteem.
Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson.
the hero of the Merrmac. is not the on
~ member of the House who was grad
uated from the Annapolis Naval Acad-
envy. Representative John ". Weeks,
OF Massachusetts, chairman of the
House Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads. would to-day be well on
the road to the rank OF rear admiral
had II not been for an ambition to ma ke
his way in the business world.
MIR. Weeks was graduated from the
naval academy In 1881 and served two
years at sea as "a midshipman. He re-
signed from the navy to enter bust
ness in Boston. and to-day he Is re-
garded as one OF the wealthy men OF
+ tns ttpuSf- although As rs hht VI ttie
last men to give any inttmatfon that
he has an unusually large portion OF
this worlds goods,
Mr. Weeks naval training proved
beneficial to the naval militia of Mas
saehusetts. He was commander of that
organization for six years, and when
] the Spanish war broke out he served
as lieutenant In the volunteer navy.
commanding the second division of the
auxiliary navy,
Mr. Weeks said a mem Der of the
Massachusetts delegation. has the dis
friction aud homer to serve what tS
perhaps without doubt the wealthiest
! col gressicnal district In the United
! states. In his district Is the city OF
BrcckIine, which Ia the wealthiast city,
per caS,ita in the world. millionaire in
/ I3rookiine are az common politicians
! in Washington. You can not turn
around In that city without humping
into a banker, broker ar millionaire