The Washington herald., 1914-05-09

~ =, ., g.

| ANY one going anywhere and meeting
| Hon. Edward L. Hamilton. Of Michigan
going somewhere will understand why
he has continued a member Of Congress
for seventeen years without break. The
\ Hon.. Edward indicates when going some
| where that he 10 going after something
and Intends to get IT, Hence he often
seems In a hurry but Is really only very
much In earnest, Just as he has been In
nine Congressional campaigns In a Michi-
gan district which Ia 16yauy Republican,
| but demands attention. Possibly II has
| occurred occasionally to- the first citizen
Of Niles that this thing OF keeping In
Congress year after year will look good
| In a post-morten biography years hence,
| but is something of a strsin on the
! nervous system. especially as In Michigan
!, there seems little prospect of going
| higher. With william Alden Smith and
Charles Elroy Townsend indicating some
| thing more than willingness to continue
several terms In the Senate, the prospect
of Senatorial honors for veteran House
members like Hamilton Is not exactly
cheerful. He Ia familiar with Michigan
political history, and recalls the re-
luctance with which Republican Senator's
let go once they have been ecclimated
here In Washington.
Hamilton, Samuel w. Smith and
Joseph w. Fordney are the veteran Re-
publican members from Michigan, Smith
having came in with Hamilton. while
Fordney arrived two years later. Each
one. has been legal and Industrious
enough to deserve Senatorial honors.
but can see little hope of promotion.
All three are planning to come back
this year and have no reason to worry.
although Fordney has a slightly changed
district. requiring little extra atten-
ton. That does not worry Fordney much.
and he took advantage OF the lull in
war talk last week to give six days
to the new counties and get a grip on
new conditions He returns no less con.
fident than his veteran colleagues, Ham,
ilton and Smith.
There was just a suggestion in the
Hamilton district a few months back
that perhaps he was tired and would
not resent coming forward of some
loyal Republican anxious for a few terms
in Washington. II did not take long for
Hamilton to dispel such. Illusion, and
he promises to round out twenty years
in Congress without using an extra
franked envelope in promoting his cam
paign.
Both Hamilton and Smith are modest
men. and content themselves with less
than two lines each in the Congressional
Directory. Hamilton merely states that
he is a Republican of Niles. was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1884. elected to
the Fifty-fifth and each succeeding Con-
gres. Smith SAYS less, leaving out
any refence to his occupation.
The Hon. Frank f Guernsey. real Re-
publican. of the sort they grow in Maine.
recently enjoyed three weeks visit in +!
his district as a matter of good political
fVaI
worry about either denomination or cleo /
ton. He has had four elections to Con-
gress from a district noted for keeping !
its members long time at Washington.
IL they care to remain. and Guernsey, /
as young man, I'm robust health, |
promises to remain on the job some
time yet He is promised the diversion .
this year of a Progressive candidate. /
which he was spared in the 1872 cam
raign. but Is not worried or even per-
turbed
1t occurs to Guernsey that Progress
i've proposition the country over. Is
lapsing into state Of ''inncuous desue-
tude.' and he expects only a trifling
irritation up Bangor way.
Guernsey. like all statesmen from
Maine, is modest. and although Young
man. for some reason not explained |
leaves out reference To his age or the
size of his latest majority in the current |
edition OF the Congressional Directory
As Guernsey is forty-seven years old.
and had 1850 majority when last chosen.
there is hardly excuse except modesty
Tor leaving out figures of either sort.
He does not apprehend any falling of
OF the majority this year on account
of possible Progressive candidate. but
Instead expects an increase. thanks &c
some Democratic gyrations here in Wash
lngton that do not appeal to the
veomanry Of Maine. and especially the
Guernsey section Of the Pine Tree State
The Bangor district has kept remark
ably loyal to the Republican view of
things for fifty years, and has had some
eminent members OF Congress Han
nibal Hamlin, who was chosen Vice
President with Lincoln in 1860 and ought
10 have been chosen again in 1854 came
10 the Senate after his Vice Presidential
service and always registered from
Bangor Powers and Boutelle were emil
1ent members of the House from the
Guernsey district, Boutelle serving
wenty years and resigning in the midst
II term. The Bangor district has had
'ut three members since 1853, Boutelle,
Powers. and Guernsey. which indicates
he way they do things in Maine, and
what Guernsey can expect by righteous
lttention to business both in Washington
md at home.