South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-19
STATESMEN, REAL
AND NEAR.
BY FRED G. KELLY.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.--when it
comes to on-hand hospitality, no
member OF congress can compare
with Rep. J. W. Ragsdale. Of South
Carolina.
With Ragsdale hospitality is not
only a trait, but a mania. He dis
likes TO see the sun set on a day that
has not seen him buy some person or
group OF persons costly meal. If
the meal was followed by a box party
ar some good theater, then Ragsdale
feels that the day perhaps was not
spent in vain.
DO not get the impression, either.
that Ragsdale's generosity is limited
only TO a few intimate friends. He
has cOnsecrated his life to making
himself agreeable. and IL matters not
10 him whether he spends his money
on associate or stranger. other states
men may pass income tax and tariff
measures TO try TO equalize the lot Of
suffering humanity. Ragsdale gets
right at the heart of the trouble by
less roundabout means. His instru-
ments of relief are his check book. his
knowledge of Where to Dine Well,
and his large. high-priced touring car.
BY these simple and practical means
Ragsdale confidently expects to
brighten the horizon for countless
scores of people from the humblest
cabinet officer down and up.
The average person on being intro
duced to a stranger says:
pleased TO meet you. Pleasant
weather we're having" or some such
bleak generality as that.
Ragsdale has a different formula
When he is introduced his opening re-
marks are something like this:
Happy to make your acquaintance
and may / not have the pleasure OF
your company at dinner tonight. Aft
er dinner we might go to the theater.
The dinner will be just a simple lit
tie affair of nine courses, so wear
what you have on
You can judge for yourself If Rags
dale's system doesn't have more of
tendency to place ample mortar be-
tween the bricks of the foundation Of
further acquaintance. There is abso-
lutely nothing at all of the crab or
the recluse in the mans makeup.
And the beauty of it is that Rags
dale doesn't stop to find out your
Bradstreet rating, ancestry, or pOlit-
ical affiliations. The only qualifica-
ton necessary is that one look like
reasonably good company.
Aside from all the good cheer
Ragsdale is spreading among states
men whose lives heretofore were
nothing. comparatively speaking. but
woe and DISSOLUTION, the man is also
going to smash the indoor and out
door records formerly held by former
Rep. Mckinley, the Millionaire
electric railway magnate from Illi-
nois, who used TO be regarded as the
greatest entertainer ever in congress.
Mckinley was known as the hu-
man Christmas tree. But he confined
his operations largely to persons he
knew, and his generosities were tight
wadish crudities compared with
Ragsdale's. II Mckinley was the hu-
man Christmas tree, il is not too
much to hope that Ragsdals will gain
recognition as the human Horn of
Plenty.
Next TO the thought Of some con-
genial group of people going hungry,
nothing will arouse Ragsdale TO ac-
ton quicker than the sight of cab
met officer proceeding along the
street afOot instead of in an automo-
bile. His large, luXuriantly equipped
touring car is always at the disposal
of the cabinet member who desires to
go from one place TO another.
Just the other day. Ragsdale was
driving down Pennsylvania av in his
big car carrying a cargo of persons
he was about to buy a meal at one Of
the most expensive hotels in town. As
the party alighted, Ragsdale CHANGED
to look down street and noticed the
figure OF Secy Wilson, Of the depart
ment of labor, going quietly on his
way from Some Place TO Some Place
Else. 1t was too much for Rags
dale
Men" he said to his dinner party
you wait right here a minute and
I'll be back. I cannot simply cannot.
stand by and see a cabinet officer
walk"
So he babe his chauffeur dash down
the avenue and overtake Wilson.
step right in here" said Ragsdale
TO Wilson, as he got out and mo-
tened to a seat in the richly appoint
ed car. My chauffeur will take you
wherever you wish to CO."
Now Wilson always walks because
he likes TO walk. and Graves the exer-
else. There is nothing he cares less
about than riding in an automobile,
hut the spontaneous hospitality of this
we'll dressed. well-favored stranger
was so captivating that he did not
have the heart TO refuse.
Whenever cabinet officer wishes
to keep to the side streets or else
keep a weather eye out for Rags
dale.
One afternoon Ragsdale sat in his
office with friend from South Caro-
| lima wondering what he could do 10
| add to the pleasure OF the friend S
/ first visit to the national capital. He
went 60 the telephone. called a GER
| tain number. and asked Champ Clark
! when he might be going home
/ Champ was starting in about a min
/ ute.
| III send my car over for YOU"
! said RagSdale.
Champ has always declined 10 ride
| in the car provided for the speaker
| Of the house by a previous congress
! but ne could not refuse the kindness
| OF the magnanimOus and thoroughly
| charming Ragsdale.
I'm sending a friend out in my
car" said Ragsdale 10 the man from