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

and finance manufacturing and other
concerns"
Tell me about Your experience during
the Spanlsh-American war"
Il have always loved the navy. as a
matter Of course. and many of my best
friends are in the service Naturally. I
joined the Massachusetts Naval brigade.
l was the commanding officer al the out
break Of the war with Spain. and had
been for six years. / hoped for a small
cruiser. but was assigned 20 protect the
Massachusetts, coast, and was given a
miscellaneous collection Of converted
tugs. ferry-boats. old yachts. and q mon
itor or two left over from the civil war.
for that purpose. Fortunately. the coast
didn require any aggressive operations. -
why did you go into politics."
How He Entered Politics.
"A party Of my neighbors called on me
and said it was my turn 10 act as alder
man. Newton is composed of n line or
villages few miles outside Of Boston and
contains about 1900 inhabitants. didn't
want 20 be an alderman. but il was nv
turn. you understand. and l consented 10
run, although the prospect was far from
being pleasing 10 myself I served for
three years. and then was elected MAYOR
twice Ny political stunt was done as I
supposed. However Congress was men
toned Sentimentally. the suggestion was
somewhat attractive. 4 great-ncle for
whom l was named served in the war Of
frvI,
afterward came for a term or two in
Congress. So I thought of Uncle John
and accepted the nomination. That was
in 1904. Ny plurality-Nr. Roosevelt had
run for President-was $500 In 1905. an
on-year' it was called. my plurality was
zoo votes less than in 1904 But I'm 1905
my plurality was greater by 5000 votes
than the total vote Of the candidates who
opposed me-"
Why did Speaker Cannon put YOU. a
banker and a broker, on the Agricultural
Committee during your second term In
Congress-"
When / first came to the House I
thought / should like to be a member Of
the Committee on Naval Affairs. never
talked TO Speaker Cannon about Il but
/ think I know how his mind worked.
This man. he said to himself. was edu-
Gated at Annapolis and would give the
navy everything it asks for. 1 guess III
put him somewhere else Logically
enough, ne made me a member of the
Committe on Banking and Currency. and
in that way got on the monetary COM
mission. Of which Senator Aldr-icb is
chairman.
Put on the Committee.
AT the beginning Of my second term
Speaker Cannon summoned mo 10 his
Office. The Department of Agriculture
he told me, had become an Inportant
part OF the government and with its
large staff of scientists was doing much
work of practical value to the whole
country. Still, it would be well. he said
TO have a business man on the commit
tee, and consequently he had decided to
appoint me. I replied that I had no
favors 70 ask; that the Speaker of the
House, in my opinion, should choose the
committees, and that I would serve
wherever sent"
And after but two terms in Congress
you were made chairman OF the Post
Office Committee, most unusual re-
sponsibiiity to be given new member
said
Yes; and, dare say, It was unusual.
Last spring, just before the close Of the
extraordinary session Of Congress to re-
wise the tariff, the Speaker asked me to
his room, where he talked to me about
various men. However, he said nothing