The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-04-16

Nv r. n r..

Robert B Gordon. Sergeant-at-Arms of
the House, was taken to hospital
threatened with pneumonia last week.
but his friends are watchful and hopeful
| of quick recovery. Only a few years
back Gordon was a member Of Congress
| from the Hoop Pole district OF Ohio.
which had the two terms and out
| habit, and he expected the usual two
terms when he came to Washington. He
was not disappointed. but rather con-
tented, that he had gotten as much as
any one who preceded him in forty years.
His present illness recalls that some
twenty-eight years ago the Hon. Robert
was active In the Touring mill OF his
father, and the dusty atmosphere brought
about a bad state OF health with the
eventual announcement by the doctor
| that the trouble was tuberculosis, and
i Robert b. listened calmly TO his death
warrant. He figured out that a few
months OF life was all that was coming
/ TO MIN, SO he converted his holdings into
money and decided to devote his last
hours of life to pleasure He sought the
| seashore at gay season, and realized.
as never before. how much happiness
there wal in the world. lamenting that
| he was soon to leave IL all.
| One day he happened to see a slot
weighing machine and risked investment.
Somehow this machine indicated that
Robert had gained a dozen pounds since
coming East to die. He could not be-
lieve the indicator and tried some real
scales, but the same figures told him he
was gaining weight, and he quickly
reasoned that a man wasting away with
quick consumption did not gain in weight.
There was a new thrill Of hope in the
Gordon heart. and he decided to keep on
living and also keep out OF the -four
mill. He has prospered in business and
politics ever since and gives the slot
machine and its silent story credit for it
all.
Each day sees new entry in the Ohio
| Senatorial running and coming out
| from 'innocuous deuetude' OF many Re
publican and Democratic leaders once
active and eloquent in State political
AFFAIRS. The list will soon be long enough,
also varied enough. to be disconcerting
| to the Ohio voters who have the first
experience with primary nominations this
year.
The latest Democratic projection is by
John II. Clarke, once OF Youngstown,
now of Cleveland. The silver-tongued
eloquence Of Clarke has long been in
demand all over Ohio for the benefit OF
| others without winning much for him
self and he Is old enough to give some
heed to the suggestions that ne should
reach for something big once he decides
to ask any honor. The Senatorship has
long looked good to John H., and pos
sibly he lamented some that IL went to
Pomerene. living in an adjoining county
and in the same Congressional district
three years ago. Possibly il locks like
crowding things for Northern Ohio TO
ask Democratic Senator this year.
while the Hon. Alice Pomerene has three
haNs a. Ia h-N
Southern Ohio has the governor and had
the three previous Democratic nominal
lions for governor. so that Northern
Ohio is entitled to both Senatorial terms
IL the Democrats can retain their grip
on things
Clarke had a sudden jump into prOmi-
nenCe a few years back when, as an I'M
known Youngstown lawyer, he made
speech in State convention eNCOriatinS
Senator Brice for too much connection
with Wall street and too little residence
in Ohio. The Cl-rk speech was a scorch-
er Brice was on the stage hearing it all
with something of a flush on his fea-
lures. but making no reply. lie had his
revenge a year later as chairman Of the
convention. Clarke arose with the US
ual MIR. Chairman" seeking recognition,
and Brice without the flicker of an eye
lash. responded:
The gentleman will state his name and
county, please"
The whole convention understood and
appreciated the sarcasm OF II all and
Clarkc's face Redeemed much as the
friends Of Brice controlling the convcu-
ton, applaUded much AMI laughed more.
The old Brice guard in Ohio will hardly
forget the Clarke castiEation Of their
beloved chief, and his eloquenCe of years
ago may lose him votes in the strong
that idOlized Brice as a great leader and
above all else a dear good friend