The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-06-20
A Trip to Washington.

the representatives from South Caro-
lima and their secretaries, among
them being Senators Tillman and
Smith and Congressman Legare, Le-
yer, Ellerbe, and Johnson. Unfortu-
nately we did not get to see Con-
gresham Byrnes, as he was absent
in New York with the banking and
currency committee, where they were
taking testimony in regard to the fl
nancial investigation now going on,
but his efficient secretary, Mr.. H. B.
Hare, was on hand, and showed us
many delightful courtesies. We are
also under many obligations to Mr..
J. B. Wingard, secretary to Con-
gresham Lever, and most delight
full gentleman, Mr.. Wyche, secretary
to Senator Tillman, and c. M. Gallo
way, Senator Smiths secretary, an
old friend who used to be news edi-
tor on the Columbia State. We also
spent a little time with p. H. Fike,
another first-class newspaper man
who gave up newspaper work to be-
come secretary to Congressman john
son. By the way, Fike will no doubt
be remembered by 1ot OF Bamberg
people, as he lived here for while
many years ago, succeeding the
writer as foreman of The Herald
when we left here in 1892 and went
to Orangeburg.
These are all most delightful fel-
lows, and really We do not see how
their bosses could get along without
them. If it be true that the secre-
taries do all the work for congress-
men and senators, then they come
mighty near filling the bill. But we
people down here needn't fool our
selves about it. Everybody works,
even the senators. In fact one has
little idea of the manifold duties of
a congressman or senator and their
secretaries. They have something to
do all the time, and the demands up
on their time and patience in connec-
ton with matters before the many
departments is enormous. There's
whole lot more to being congress-
man than attending the sessions of
the house and making speeches. In
fact, that is the smallest part.
We met several congressman and
their secretaries from other States,
and the trip was most pleasant one.
One South Carolinian who is one of
the most prominent men from this
State in Washington is P. H. McGow-
an, correspondent Of the Columbia
State. He has been in Washington
eight years, and is thoroughly in
touch with political life and happen
ings, and is one of the incest fellows
you ever met. =
Political sentiment in Washington
was very much divided among
the Democrats, in fact none of
them seemed to know exactly
where they are at. Possibly
Champ Clark has the larger fol-
lowing there because of his position
as speaker of the house, but in some
quarters it was thought that Wood
row Wilson would undoubtedly be
the nominee.
Roosevelt has few friends in Wash
ington, even in his own party, and
no one had a good word for him. In
fact, it seemed to be the general opin-
ion that President Taft would be the
nominee, and each day the news of
his gains in the contest for delegates
was received with delight.
It was a great pleasure to know
that our representatives and sena-
tors stand we'll and have much influ-
SuC0. S6udLOi L 11llAlau ID LII DSSSSt
health than for years. He looks
anything else than like dead man.
He is at his Office in the capitol build
ing every day promptly at eleven
O'Clock and attends to his duties just
the same as before his illness. How
ever, he doesn't make speeches now,
in fact he doesn't have to, but there
is no question that he is the most in
fluential Senator in Washington.
Senator Smith is right on the job and
making good, and he looks carefully
after the interests Of his constitu-
ents. Byrnes is making fine record,
Legare and Lever and Johnson and
Ellerbe stand we'll, and, truth to tell,
Lever and Legare can get almost any
thing they want up there. We real
lied as never before that it does not
pay to change congressman. Their
influence is measured in great part
by their length of service, and moth
ing is gained by electing a new man
r. djsn1aco one who has been there