South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-26
STATESMEN
REAL AND NEAR
BY FRED G. KELLY.

March 26.-Eepre-
sentative Joseph Russell of Missouri
fell into conversation with Champ
Clark in the speakers outer office the
other morning and Champ told him
with some amusement about the case
of the young congressman who want
ed his help in getting a place on the
ways and means committee.
1T showed the laudable ambition
for him to aspire to one of the big
committees admitted Champ; u
couldn't help admiring the fellows
confidence in himself-but the thing
was so ridiculous that"
II we'll remember just such a case
when | was speaker of the house i'm
the Missouri lie lature,' cut in Rus
sell. There Wa a young fellow who
got il into his head that he was just
the man to go on the committee on
revision of the laws-the most i'm
portant committee in the house at
that time. | tried to point out the
absurdity of putting a green and un-
tried member on that committee, but
the young chap was so persistent and
made my life SO miserable that L
finally had to appoint him 10 get rid
of him. L must say, though, that he
was marter than he looked end
But Speaker Clark vas walking
away, with a funny little look, with
out waiting to hear more.
For he was the young man.
Representative Samuel NJ. Taylor of
Arkansas went with a congressional
committee TO the northern peninsula
of Michigan to investigate copper
strike conditions. They were there
into March. but the northern Michi-
gan winter showed no sign of letting
up, and Taylor. who had spent prac-
tically all his life in a southern cline,
was completely disguised.
When they got on the train for the
return Journey to Washington, he
said.
We'll. I hope I never see any more
sleighs or snow so long as live.
What yearn for right now is the
sight of a few blades OF grass n a
vehicle on wheels instead Of on run
ners. Why. I'd give a dollar right
now-give ii gladly for a glimpse at
an Arkansaw negro"
Il got you dOllah, Mistah Taylor, .
said a voice from behind at that juno
ture.
1t was the porter. and when Taylor
had taken a second look at him ne
recognized him Ss a mar who had
done many odd jobs about his home
down in Pine Bluff. Ark"
dAdAlA nt EldlANtu lit DUl Y a hOA7
lar. And the congressional party re-
ceived every reasonable courtesy al
the time they were on hat Pullman
When Representative Walter A
Watson of Virginia was attending the
law school at the University OF Vir-
ginia his chief instructor was John 3
Minor. a famous law professor OF hi:
day.
At the opening of the term. Minol
told his class that If any of then
struck a snag in their work and came
TO him. he would try TO assist then
in any way he could.
A few days after that, Watson
struck some pages in his textbook
that seemed TO have their meaning
hid away beyond recall in a maze O
p-hraseoIogy. He read the lesson owe
and over again for about an hour an'
a half. and then il occurred 10 hin
that this must be what the professO
referred TO when he spoke Of strik
ing Il snag.
Watson vent to Minors privat
office and told him what was disturb
ing him.
How long have YOU studied owe
these pages?" asked the professor.
"Oh. all of an hour and a half,
replied Watson.
LET me tell you something" sal
the professor I'm a confidential tone
For the last 40 years I have neve
failed TO devot at least two or thre
hours a day TO that book. just 10 re
fresh my memory. and / wrote tn
roOk."
James Wickersham. the Alaska
delegate 10 congress. has an ambitio
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