The Washington herald., 1914-04-01
Statesmen, Real and Near.
BY FRED c. KELLY.

CHAIRMAN or the COMMITTEES on Interstate
Commerce that viii have much to do
with the job Of harrassing the trusts at
this session of Congress- got most Of his
EDUCATION on a wagon.
In his boyhood Adamson spent much Of
his time hauling cotton and. other COM
modities to market from the farm. where
he was brought up. down In Georgia
Every time he went to town, as he did
once or twice a week. he bought book
and read II on the way back, while the
books he read in that way were of every
kind and variety Once he bought Pill
grim's Progress, thinking 1t was detect
i've story. But ne read II through.
Occasionally in his speeches in the
House Adamson quotes Dickens or Scott.
And every time he does so his recollec-
tion has to traipse clear back to those
days when he read while trundling over
the Georgia highways. For he has had
no time to read them since.
Adamson's experiences with the public
schools were not fraught with as much
been. Every year. when he was in the
midst Of so-called vulgar fractions. he
was obliged to Iuit school and help out
on the farm. by the time he returned
to school he had allowed the details of
vulgar fractions to slip his mind, and it
was necessary TO begin the battle with
them all over again. Even to this day
Adamson is not certain whether he ever
learned how to handle vulgar fractions or
not.
One time -Ndamson found himself ac-
cused of some heinous Offense at school, /
such as placing a garter snake in the |
teachers desk drawer. 1t must have |
been an unjust accusation because they !
held trial, in which the teacher acted !
as judge and jury. and Adamson was al !
lowed to go free for lack OF evidence
In high glee Adamson went home to |
tell his parents of his good fortune in !
demonstrating MS innocence and of the |
simple triumph of right and justice over /
those who had sought to wrong him.
'Uh huh.' grunted Adamson's father. |
You fooled .he teacher. hey? i reckon
you packed he witness box. i don't /
know a thing about the incident you /
mention. but just from my acquaintance
with you Id say you we're guilty. You !
may fool your teacher. but you can't
fool me. ! sentence you to three weeks
work in the brickyard."
And the sentence was carried out.
Secretary of War Garrison came back
from New York the other day telling ,
of an awful experience. He had been 4
Obliged to go somewhere on a surface
car. He boarded the car that had been
recommended TO him. paid his fare, and
was just getting seated, when the con-
ductOr came around for another nickel
This is the end of the line" the con-
ductor explained. We turn around here
and 20 back. so it's another fare"
Why didn't you tell me?" asked Gar
rison. You must have known 1 wouldn't
wish TO pay fare to ride just one block"
Mister" Garrison says the conductor
replied. isn't IL worth a nickel to know
just where a car goes?''
That reminded Garrison Of another
street car adventure. In the days when
are now, he was in New York trying to
travel from one point to another. He
gave the cOnduCtor-driver a 81 bill to
change. The man went up front and
made no move t. return.
What about my change" asked Gar
rison.
Haven't enough change" answered the
man.
Then give me back my bill." coaxed
Garrison.
Can't do that" said the man. but If
you'll stick on till We get to the barn
you can have this horse
Once when was boy We had some
Informal little boxing contests" remarked
Frank Park. Of Georgia,
shortly after he entered Congress. 7 had
never fought before according to rules
but this time We had a referee and If We
hit any blows not approved by the rules
Il counted for the other fellow ] was
so ratified for fear OF violating the rules
that didn't succeed in landing any
blows at all and the other chap nearly
knocked my head OF several times be-
fore he had finished with me. Here in
Congress | feel a good deal the same
way. ] don't seem able to figure out this
law. I'm afraid to speak
est / unintentionally hit below the belt"
In the days when Amos Batchelder was
sporting editor and George BIeistein own
.r OF one of the Buffalo papers, Batch
,lder was frequently besieged by visitors
who dropped in to chat about all kinds
II matters pertaining to the world of !
iport- Most sporting editors have that
experience and Batchelder took it as n
natter OF course, but there was one man
Who came 10 the Office so often that it
vas difficult to get any work done. The
'isitor was so polite and affable that
3atchclder greatly disliked TO hurt his
ceilings. but one day he made up his
mind that something would have to be
lone.
by the way" he began. don't you
work. any place."
Il make a blum at it, laughed the
'isitor.
What's your job?" inquired Batch
lder.
My main job" replied BIeistein, is I
'eng the owner of this paper"
Copyright. 1914 by Frrd g. Kelly. All nights
reSeUed-