The Washington herald., 1913-11-18
With the Political Procession.
by y. d. q.

Joseph p. Tumulty. secretary to ths
President. came through the Willard
Way, all alone in leisurely fashion but
evidently looking for. some one worth
while.
But few in the after-dinner groups
recognised the smooth-faced citizen OF
Jersey and for once he met few that
he knew. Then' he stopped to greet a
local friend and citizen, Dean Capitalist.
OF Scranton and the United States, who
remarked q former residence In the
Hackensack region and fond recollections
OF Jersey d.ys Then others gave well
come to the modest young man who has
place at the right hand Of the Chief
Executive and several little conferences
OF the informal sort followed In the big,
open corridor.
7 The chief interest In all this IL that
Tumulty. as secretary to President, was
doing the unusual. No other secretary
has taken pains to mingie with the peo-
pie and get a few impressions at first
hand outside of the White House of.ces.
1t may be q playing Of politics but It
makes good impression and meets with
appreciation. Who can imagine Other
secretaries OF Presidents mingling WITH
hotel guests In easy fashion and frequent
with the Interrogation point when mat
ters of public interest are discussed.
There was nothing naughty or reserved
about ]. Addison Porter. George B. Col
telyou or Charles Dewey Hilles when
they were Presidential secretaries, but
they were never known to come alone to
taverns and talk things over with citizens
Of the republic in easy, graceful fashion.
It Is simply doing things a little diffsrent-
ly, and there is general commentator
Of it.
When Secretary Tumulty had met q
dozen or more friends, political or per-
sonal, the other night he explained that
he had really dropped in, hoping to see
Senator Hughes. of his own State, and
regretted that the Senator was not to be
found The Tumulty association with
Hughes in Jersey politics has been close
since the days OF the Hughes service in
the House and they have continued very
much interested in stitfening up the reg
ular Democratic organization at home
since both have reached higher ana more
powerful stations in politics.
The Indiana members Of Congress and
other Democrats from the State who
have F~"-' to connect with the present
administration gasped a little when they
read how Tom Taggart had refused
SSsOoSfpOO AOT I1OOeitT nOltl v.
OF course, they all knew the Taggart
were valuable, but hardly
dreamed Of the million mark or that
Taggart had the sentiment in his soul
that would decline SO great an offer.
The Hon. Tom explained that he wanted
his son to have and hold the property,
and, besides, he didn't need the money.
OF course. there was some regret that
Taggart did not wish his son to achieve
eminence. in other than the hotel bust
ness, but the father worked up from
humble beginnings and is proud OF It.
As a lad he began in the old railway
eating house at Xenia, Ohio, and learned
how to collect 10 cents for cents worth
Of sandwich with splendid courtesy and
winning smile. great many Ohio
statesmen who used to travel over the
Little Miami in other days are still dys-
peptic because of the Xenia sandwich
OF Taggart's dispensation long, long ago
Since those white-aproned days the Hon
Tom has been the organization head of
q great political party, a defeated candI-
date for Senator, and been even happy
all defeats He doesn't seem
to be consulted much by the present
Democratic administration doing business
in Washington, but please remember
there are two Democratic Senators In
official touch with things and thirteen
House members equally willing to claim
credit for the few Federal gifts this ad-
intends to give Indiana
Beg pardon. a Democratic Vice President
also is an Indiana voter serene and silent
about appointments.
Little New Hampshire had eight Con-
gressmen, as against two at present
writing.
Tho coming in OF new States after the
Mexican war and the remarkable in
crease in population caused a cutting
down of membership and another dozen
years will make another reduction i'm
perative even IL each member has to
look after $4,000 constituents every other
year and between times the long
desired regeneration OF Republicans
the State.
There is frequent remark that the
House of Representatives has too large
a membership and ought to be reduced
in size. Yet eighty years ago when the
population of the country was one-fifth
Of what 1t is today, some of the Eastern
and Southern States had more members
than they have today. Even Kentucky,
then a Comparatively new State, had
a dozen members as against eleven now,
on the pay roll. Maine had eight MEM
bers then and six now, while North