The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-12-17
TWO VETERANS
NOW in CONGRESS
One Is General Isaac Sherwood OF
Ohio-Is Veteran Of Forty-Five
Battles of the Civil War.
70 YEARS OF AGE BUT ACTIVE
Admirer of Fast Horses and Com
panions Are Never Willing To Ac-
cept Second Invitation To Ride.

From Congressman G.. H. Tavenner.
Washington, December 17-One OF
the most interesting figures in the
House of Representatives today is
General Isaac R. Sherwood, of Ohio.
He is a veteran of As battles OF the
Civil War and is the only Union Of
ficer left in the House. In fact,
there is only one other Grand Army
man in the House.
In spite of his IS years the hoary-
headed general is still as straight
and slim as a sapling, and his only
infirmity is a bothcrsOme deafness.
General Sherwood has always been a
sportsman in the best sense OF that
word, and be still retains his love of
outdoor life. For many years he was
editor of a journal devoted to news
about highbred horses.
This fall the general was laid up
for a while by a slight illness. The
doctor told him he was sound as q
nut and only needed a little. more
outdoor exercise to keep him fit. It
was then General Sherwood realized
that in the past year he has allowed
his congressional duties to conflne
him too closely. AS a consequence
he has brought back with him to
Washington this winter a team or
housekeeping racing horses that
have no match in the national capital.
The figure of the general flying over
the speedway behind these spirited
animals is becoming a familiar sight
in Washington. = .
The general is filled with as much
good-natured mischievousness as any
active boy. He knows that it is ra-
Their terrifying to anyone unaccus-
toned to horses to ride in a light gig
behind a pair that are stepping of
miles about every two minutes n
80 seconds. Yet he has taken to in
viting his colleagues one by n out
for rides each afternoon. 1t is sell
dom that the recipient of one of these
will accept another one.
Recently the veteran congressman
had as his guest a city member who
had never ridden behind a fast horse
before. The nags had been gradual
~ increasing their speed, and the
nervous member noticed that the
general had stopped talking and was
devoting al his attention to the
horses, speaking to them in a sooth-
ing way.
They're running away, aren't
they, general?" cried the frightened
passenger.
The General grinned. "No," he
called back. "They're not running
away, but I can't stop them"
The guest chung to the seat for the
two miles which it took General
Sherwood to get the animals under
control. Then, although they were
far from the street car, the guest
alighted and footed it home. -
General Sherwood is chairman Of
the Committee OF Invalid Pensions,
and as such was recently in the con-
gressional limelight when he introluc-
ed first omnibus pension bill Of the
63pd Congress. During the debate on
that bill many members Of both par
ties took accession to compliment Cen
eral Sherwood and his committee for
the Judgment and car used in
granting special pensions. One or
two members declared that special
pension bills are introduced and pass
ed merely to buy votes for Congress
meDt. This charge was holly re-
futed by some Of the leading men of
the House, and, in replying to the
same charge, Congressman Frank
Willis, who is mentioned as the pro-
bable next Republican candidatc for
governor of Ohio, paid high tribute
to his Democratic colleague, General
Sherwood. The general himself in
. his speech told of the policy of his
committee.
He said: "Now, this committee
propose, and l think | have the full
sympathy of every member of this
committee-to pension every deserv-
ing case. AS these old soldiers are
passing away at the rate of $4,000 a
year, and soon they will all be gone
we propose, so far as possible, to rem
der their last days on earth comfor-
table and pleasant"
Lake Not All Frozen