The Washington herald., 1914-05-06
Political Procession.
BY r. ID. G.

4
Cousin John Wilson, with a smile like
a cherry tree in full bloom and wife
worth a dozen Of him for cheer and
vivacity, is In our midst, putting Frank
| lin, Pa, after his name-beg pardon. theil
names-on the willard guest book.
AS cousin TO the present first citizen Of
| the republic the Hon. John Is here fol
| the White House wedding and remarks
he is becoming rather used to such
| functions. That section OF Pennsylvania
which has long known and appreciated
Cousin John Wilson and has also re-
| joiced in knowing that he was one Will
son capable Of collecting the shekeis.
has perhaps wondered why he did not
yearn more for political honors and for
the diversion of aiding in running the
government
Possibly the attractive and surer prop
osition of increasing the kopecks by
drilling oil wells with good judgment
and some disregard for the envy OF his
fellow-men. has kept Cousin John out Of
the political arena and made him con-
tent with seeing one member of the Will
son family doing his finest at the seat of
government Anyhow, the Hon. John
continues cheerful and cheering. smiling
blandly enough when asked to aid an
aspirant for appointive honors and say
ing soothing words when some one has
lost out.
The splendid diplomacy of Cousin John.
in not doing things that might emharrass
his distinguished relative. commends
him as ft for almost any post In the
foreign service, even to the adjustment
OF things along the Rio Grande, but ii
would hardly do TO have a relative in
official place and the present first citi-
zen of Franklin is content
He will remain for the wedding and
possibly confde few lines OF tnforma-
tion gathered during recent quiet trip
across the continent. which brought him
in touch with many expert political lead
ers all anxious TO tell him what ought
to be done and srhat ought not he done
by the cousin able to do much here in
Washington. Meantime the silence and
smile Of Cousin John remain the most
interesting propositions in Washington
this week.
Gen. Fred Funston's quick coming to
the front in the Mexican affair is OF in
terest TO his fellow citizens Of Kansas.
some of whom happen to he members Of
Congress. and who. without regard to
politics. will continue watChful Of tn"
Funston career and vigilant for his fu-
ture. II is not forgotten here in Wash
ington. nor by Kansas m mbers Of SEN
ate and House. that the father Of Gen.
Funston served six Srms in Congress
from the lola district OF the State and
was finally contested our by Horace
Moore. in 1894. All this was before tha
son achieved fame IN the army. hut the
father lived to see the son a general. and
rejoice in his rapid advancement. The
elder Funston was not only a Congress
man. but a soldier. and served four years
in the artillery during the civil war. with
activity mainly along the Mississippi
He had gone forth to battle from the
village Of New Carlisle. Ohio. and came
out lieutenant He saw little chance
for political achievement in his Ohio
home, and went to Kansas In lS7. taking
hold with vigor. reaching the sp' akcrship
in the legislature and ranking high in
State Republican affairs before coming
TO Congress. He died but little over
two Years ago. and was content to 'et
Gen. Fred continue the adding OF glory
10 the Funston name The general has
never indicated desire for political
honors. but all other wars have brought
the soldier TO the fore in the political
arena. and no one knows what may hap
pen to the second Funston generation