The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-10
The Missouri Congressman Worked in Glass Factory
 While. Case Was Pending
STAKED EVERYTHING
 ON FINAL OUTCOME
Fact That He Was Democrat Prob ably Had Much to Do With Final Verdict by House
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

By HUGH W. ROBERTS
 The man who rejoices more, 1t is prob able. than any other in that democrats are in control of the lower house of Con- gross is Michael J. Gill of St. Louis
 When seen by Alaabma newspaper men in Washington some days ago. he had just been given a seat in Congress as q result of his successful contest against L. c. Dyer, republican. contest which endured as a result of the procrastina- tion of Congress. for IS months. At that time MT Gill was all smiles.
 He was delighted, of course, in that he had been seated a congressman of the United States, title which is still in some circles considered quite honorable, And, what is more to the point. he had acquired the right to walk down to the sergeant at arms and demand back pay amounting to s12,5oo.
 MT. Gill might have been entitlel to his seat. It is an almost invariable rule that democrat when up against republican, is entitled to win the honors At the same time it is entirely probable that had democrats been in the minority. MT Gill would simply be MT. Gill, without a title and without shelter for his head.
 Sometime ago MT. Gill ran a race against L. c. Dyer. Mir. Dyer was the nominee of the republicans He had served in Congress. and had builded up a machine. On the face of the returns he was the winner.
 MT. Gill suspected however, that the race had not been won fairly. He packed up his household goods and household gods and with his wife and children moved to Washington. In the most ap- proved, dramatic style he cut his bridges behind him. He had to win.
 At that time MT. Gill was unsophisti- cated in regard to the movements of Con- gress. He thought that as soon as he reached Washington the facts in the case would be submitted, and a verdict rem dered in respectable length of time. Be- cause he held that idea, he considered his fortune, paltry $9oOo, a sum large enough to keep the wolf from the door while he engaged in his struggle for seat and honor.
 But a shock was in reserve for him. Congress received his brief and filed 1t. Congress. at a later period, permitted him to explain his side of the issue. Similar courtesy was shown to Mir. Dyer. And then the democrats tried to act and the republicans asked for more time. Time was granted. Weeks became months. MT. Gill became desperate. His money was gore. He was convinced that the republicans. aware of his fast decreasing pile. were determined to starve him into submission.
 But MT. Gill was determined himself. determined to win and not to starve He had burned his bridges behind him. He had no place to go even had he been obsessed with an idea of running away. But it did become necessary for him to go to work.
 He secured a job in a glass factory at Alexandria. In that little historic Vir- ginia village he was able to sustain his family in comfort on s2 per day-his wage. Whenever opportunity presented itself he walked over to walked and endeavored to hurry up Congress. And finally a year passed And then passed more weeks. And then passed six long months.
 F'irally the day of reckoning arrived. Democrats refused to grant another stay to republicans. MT. Dyer was most anx- louS tnal opportunity De gwen nm to collect new evidence. Democrats held, however. that in a year and half evi- dence of sufficient force to prove any contention could have been collected The balloting began. The roll was rapidly called. Democrats voted for Gill Re- publicans voted for Dyer. As there are more democrats than republicans, Gill won.
 Gill was then congressman. He re- signed his job in Alexandria. He received S2, 300 from the sergeant at arms for back salary. Verify, he must have declared to himself. the clouds of diversity have rolled away.
 The victor was very happy man when Birmingham reporters interviewed him, very happy. although he still wore evil derce of the hard life he had lived. His clothes were in trifling respects dissimi- lar from those worn by the average sleek member of the House. different, 1t Is probable, from those he himself wears to- day.
 or course, he was very thankful for every act taken by his friends in his be- half. Local reporters heard him, for in stance, tell Congressman HeEin that but for the speech delivered by the Alabamian in his behalf he might not have been seated Local reporters heard him thank John w Abercrombie for his vote.
 ''I tell you" said Gill. "a great deal depended on your vote. For yours was the first cast, you know. Had you spoken for my opponent, many others, inclined to me, might have followed"
 It Is very probable that he thanked every other democrat who supported him. and in his galantry suggested and implied that each of his friends in big part had been responsible for his success.
 
 nooor w Trpderwood the most fnattar of fact man in Congress, made remark the day previous to the victory of Gill, which was in a way at least significant.
 What Is the business before Congress today?" he was asked.
 There Is a contest on," he replied. ''The vote will be called for this after noon. They are hearing the arguments this morning. When the hour comes we will go over and seat the democrat"
 It is very probable that Mir. Underwood had learned that majority believed that MT. Gill was entitled to his seat and would so express themselves through their ballots There might not have been significance in his statement. But there was nevertheless a suggestive smile on his face when he spoke.
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