The Washington herald., 1911-07-30

Washington asked.
II get two books on gardening and
four or five Of the latest novels from the
Congressional Library every week. read
fiction to draw my mind away from Sc
rious work. Any kind Of a story will
answer my purpose. I like tales
of adventure. especially battles with
pirates and smugglers. A good deal of
modern fiction is hideously bad. not in
morals, but in construction. Much of 1t
is inane. The publishers, however. must
know what the reading public wants"
Absorbs n Newspaper Twice q Day.
What other literature do you read?'
Government reports, because they
concern the business in which I am en-
gagged. / get one newspaper in the morn.
ing and one in the evening, and absorb
their contents by means of the headlines.
1 read the debates of Congress while
on the way to the Capitol in the morn-
ing"
How did you spend your time last
night?' I asked
Mrs. Mann and ate dinner away
from home" and look OF mild surprise
went with the answer. "On our return
Then I took up a new book on garden
ing but finding it of little value, put
It aside and read fiction until u o'clock"
"Reverting 20 things pertaining to the
earth,' I said, did you ever sell fruit
trees from your fathers Illinois nur-
srry?'
mo: but I packed a good many for
shipping. I never peddled anything. not
even books"
Did you study mental arithmetic at
SCHOOL,"
There was a puzzled glance, and then
Mr.. Mann linked the fingers of his hands
behind his head and seemed to wait for
further developments. 'Old boys like
yourself" 1 continued, were early
trained to do sums in their minds. Such
exercises, II was argued, made them
quick and accurate. am only trying
to account for your intellectual nimble-
ness while on your feet in the House
or while sitting at your desk listening
for some one TO blunder in his dis
course"
Come to think of IT, Mr.. Mann re-
piled. II did study mental arithmetic. 1t
is taught no more, as 1 have heard. It
ought to be-" -
You were graduated from the Univer-
sity Of Illinois and from Union College
of Law in Chicago I said. Did you
ever hear the wolf at the door after you
began to practice?"
while I was reading law in Chicago
a person who was getting out reports
OF the decisions of the United States
courts asked the head of the school to
recommend a student who was qualified
to he his assistant. Therefore, I went
to see him. He mentioned salary and
other matters. Everything is satisfac-
tory I told him In sophomore egotism
and insolence, except yourself. I SHAH
have to look you up
why, yes; certainly the man STAN.
mered in amazement
Never Was Hungry or Ragged.
while he was getting his breath I
walked out. I learned that he had
respectable character and was financially
answerable in a court of law II the sum
Were not unreasonable. Consequently, I
permitted him to take me into his office
With the start thus obtained, I had no
difficulty in breaking the ground of nv
profession. I may subtract from my
popularity as a public man by saying
1t. but I was never hungry, nor was
ever a human calamity or freak in my
dress"
How did you get mixed up with poll
tfcs?'
Mixed is not a becoming word. 1t
sounds like mortar or medicine. I took
up politics for three reasons-because 1t
was natural for me to do so; because
I was mindful of my duty as citizen,
and because desired to make acquaint-
ances. I am willing to swear before a
notary that I had no thought of holding
public office, but that is what everybody
says and I'll take no offense II you dis
believe 1t. did business in Chicago, but
lived at Hyde Park. which was then
a separate village. There was some
wrangling over the nomination Of a man
for the board Of education. Deacon Bis
bee said he could suggest a name that
would he acceptable to all interests. He
mentioned me and was chosen"
Launched by deacon" interrupted,
''you had and still have a solemn re-
sponsibility."
$50 have always thought. Time ran
on and I was elected trustee Of Hyde
Park. There were three Republicans,
three Democrats, and a president. The
president averred that he would appoint
all the village officers, chief among
whom was the corporation counsel, at a
salary of 5000. We averred that he
would not; he was tramping down prece-
dent and all that But he continued to
say that he would. Looking up the law,
I perceived that he had the power to
carry out his threat.
A Fighting Leader In the Council.
by my advice. the Republican trus-
tees declined to meet with the Demo-
Gratis. IF you are physically present.
I said. long before Thomas B. Reed
made his famous ruling In the national
House OF Representatives, you can be
counted even IL you refuse to vote A
quorum being impossible. no meetings
were held. The president then sent for
me- He promised a division Of the
honors and emoluments. In fact, he
agreed to make me corporation coun-
sci. As the office would not disturb my
practice, did not decline to meet his
advances. A year later.
Hyde Park was annexed to Chicago and
was elected an alderman from the new
ward. From the city coun-
Gil, I came to Congress, running In 1896
on the same Chicago ticket with William
Nothing was said about II during the
A. t..t ~rh.o 10 Mana