South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-10
STATESMEN, REAL
AND NEAR.
BY FRED G. KELLY.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-One may
point to Sen. James A. O'Gorman as
a striking example of what may hap
pen to a man who falls in with wrong
doing associates.
When he first came TO the United
States Sen. O'Gorman was an apostle
of brevity. He had high ideals re-
garding the terseness Of talk and the
abridgement of palaver. Whereas all
the rest OF the senators were IN the
habit of getting up and talking on
indefinitely with only slight impetus.
O'Gorman made up his mind that, in
asmuch as the story OF the creation
was told in a couple of hundred
words, he could always say all that
was necessary on a subject in five
minutes. That was the limit he set
for himself.
During the first few months after
his arrival here O'Gorman stuck
manfully to his principles and not
once did he make a speech that ran
more than five minutes. They
put up cOmpactly IKE a bale Of hay.
He said about as much as some of
the rest, at that. Everybody was
commenting favorably on the O'Gor-
sessed the fOrtitude TO stay with the
good old ship Brevity he might have
weathered the storm OF garrulity in
good shape.
But O'GOrman sat back and heard
other senators speaking for hours and
devastating page after page in the
Congressional Record until gradually
he found the malevolent atmosphere
overpowering. The first thing he
knew he was making Commute
speeches. Then he talked on one
day for 80 minutes. Like any bad
habit, ii became less easy to resist
once he had broken over. and here of
late O'Gorman has been known to
get right up in the senate, boldly
and unashamed, and talk for more
than an hour and a half, all on one
subject. 1t is doubtful if he ever
will go back to the good old five
minute speeches that might have done
so much toward reforming senatorial
volubility. The loquacious associa-
tons have been too much for him.
For a long time Sens. Swanson and
Martin of Virginia have formed one
of the most conspicuous senatorial
friendships about the capitol. Wher-
ever you saw Martin, there also you
would see Swanson. Likewise, If you
saw Swanson it was a reasonable de-
duction that Martin was not far away.
But here Of late Sen. Swanson has
also become a great crony of Vice
Pres. Marshall and they often go to
lunch together, all by themselves,
leaving Martin to seek other play
The liveliest coterie of senatorial
cronies, though, consists of Mare
Smith of Arizona, Shively of Indiana,
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi,
and Fall of New Mexico. Whenever
that bunch gets together in a rear
office there is Immediately much
boisterous slapping of thighs and
laud, mysterious laughter.
Sen. Knute Nelson of Minnesota
was seized with a great desire a few
weeks ago TO run down to Old Point
Comfort and view certain scenes that
he had not beheld for just 90 years.
Nelson. a native of Norway. Joined a
Wisconsin regiment during the civil
war and was mustered into service
near Fortress Monroe. He was taken
from a transport vessel at Hampton
Roads, just in time, as il turned out.
TO a~oid being blown up with the
vessel. From there his company was
sent TO join Farragut at New Or
leans, and he was one of the soldiers
on Farragut's fleet that sailed up the
Mississippi past the forts, regardless
OF being greatly disturbed by shots,
fire RATS, and other annoyances on
the way.
Well after so years Nelson was
back near Hampton Roads reviewing
those stirring events of his youth.
While seated on the veranda at his
hotel, thinking il all over, he fell in
with former Admiral Soldering. They
-
of a half century previous, including
Farragut's feat, and Nelson remarked
that lie had been among those pres
ent.
Indeed. Which ship were you
ono" inquired former Admiral Sc
boring Nelson told him.
And said Soldering. so was l."
George F. Burba, secretary to the
governor of Ohio. made a trip 10 New
YORK recently, and while there made
the acquaintance of Charles Froh-
man. They had a long visit together
er. Frohman got Burba box seats for
all the Frohman theatrical attractions
in town.
after he had taken in all the
shows. Burba returned TO Frohman's
office 10 thank him.
Mr.. Frohman.' he began, you've
been extremely kind 10 me. and
want 10 not only 10 thank you but
in a measure to reciprocate for your
courtes:es You have given me the
alter passes. and now ! have just made
out and signed a pass for you. /
trust il will give you as much pleas
IRE as your passes gave me-"
And hc handed F'rohman a visit
Or's pass 10 the Ohio penitentiary
Charles r Marvin. the weather
-hief. strOlled into his home one Sat-
urday evening recently. greeted his