El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-02

returns to his office upstairs, to find
a stack Of newspapers and letters on
his desk. The newspapers have pre-
viously been gone over and marked
with blue lead pencil by Mr.. Hatcher,
10 call attention to whatever may seem
TO be worth While for his chief to read.
AS for the mail, it represents what
Mr.. BassfOrd has decided TO be impor-
tant enough to demand Mr. Clarks
personal attention Ordinarily about
200 letters a day reach the speakers
died by the private secretary Mr..
Clark's orders are, however, that ev-
cry communication from an old friend
or supporter must be referred to him
Some Of the correspondence received
IS very odd. For instance, not long
ago q tribe of Indians sent petition
to the speaker with about IS sigma
lures. Opposite each signature was
the thumb print of the signer in what
looked like blood, but which was re-
ally pOkeberry juice
Recently a woman sent in a bulky
ledger, closely written Oh both sides
Of every page, the contents of which
Mt Clark was requested to read to
the house. 1t comprised instructions
about the management Of the affairs
OF the nation in every imaginable de-
tail. For one thing, the writer recon-
mended a process whereby snow could
be utilized an a large scale as food
for the army, being, as she declared,
highly nutritious. All that was neces-
sary was to dry it, which could easily
be accomplished without melting, il
her method were adopted.
The woman said that she had eight
more volumes similar in character,
which she would send along. But Mr..
Clark returned the first one to her by
express, marked -'cOllect'-the result
being that the balance Of this new edi-
ton OF sibylline books has failed to
make its appearance.
After reading his letters, the speak
lint 1fa17 rrTrf
Gates with a room Immediately below,
thereby summoning a young man, his
stenographer. The latter is too young
to be one Of the old guard" but his
Clarks political supporters. Rapidly
and tersely the speaker dictates let
Leers for half an hour or so, by which
time congressman, arriving at the cap
itol, begin to drop in to shake hands
and consult him about one thing or
another.
At one minute before u o'clock an
electric signal bell rings, responding
to the push Of button at the speak
er's desk on the floor of the house.
No matter what IS going on, Mr.. Clark
gets up and starts, even though he
breaks off in the middle of q spoken
sentence 1t takes him less than a
minute TO reach the desk, and at the
stroke Of noon he brings the gavel
down hard, saying in a clear and re-
sonant voice, The house viii come to
order"
Then he adds: The chaplain will
lead in prayer Ordinarily the words
would be, will offer prayer" but Mr..
Clark was brought up in the Campbell
tie church, and in that religious de-
nomination the pastor is not the faith
er Of his flock, but the leader thereof
1t IS dull work at the speakers desk
usually. When the house goes into
committee Of the whole, Mr.. Clark es-
capes. II this does not happen. he will
often catch the eye Of member and
beckOn him to the chair, to act as
speaker pro TEN. Then he goes back
to his office, where there is plenty for
him to do. Commonly there viii be
from 80 to 100 people wanting to see
him during the afternoon Nobody
is excluded. Up to date only one per-
son has been shut out-an ugly
drunk"
The speaker is looked upon as one Of
the sights" of Washington. Sight
seeing tourists, 100 or more in a par
ty, arrive on rubberneck wagons TO
pay him a visit On such occasions
he comes out into the ante-room and
shakes hands all around. Sometimes
he makes a brief speech He likes to
talk to college boys; Tor ne himself
was honor man in two colleges, and
at Bethany. W. Va, he established
high-water mark OF scholarship never
since touched. One thing he always
tells the boys is to get the habit OF
voting. and to take an interest in pub
lie afafirs
"Three IIirds Of Drinks"
At two o'clock he goes downstairs 10
the house restaurant to lunch, usually
accompanied by his son. who comes
nearly every day to the capitol for that
purpose. Often as not the two par
take Of their meal in the room set
aside for such common folks as c1pitol
employees and newspaper men, The
speaker takes apple pie milk. coffee.
and a glass of water-three kinds OF
drinks and one kind OF eats" as his
private secretary says Ten minutes
suffice for the banquet
At six o'clock Mr.. Clark starts for
home At seven he dimes. and in the
evening he STAYS at home II he can
People are always trying to get him
to attend banquets and other festivi-
ties, but he would rather enjoy an