The Washington herald., 1914-01-14
Statesmen, Real and Near.
BY FRED c. KELLY.

r. .
By FRED c. KELLY
Chief Justice White. of the Supreme
Court OF the United States, has habit
OF using reverent little expletives in his
everyday conversation. II one were to
ask him about his health he would prob
ably say:
I'm very well today. praise Cod
He uses the phrase SO much that some
times he runs ~ In without stopping 20
think The other day, 80 runs the story,
an old friend met him on the street and
Inquired: y
"How's your wife, Mr.. Chief Justice?'
Not quite SO well today, thank you,
praise God" replied White
When he starts any place on a train.
representative Walter l.. Hensley, OF
Missouri, deposits his grips and things
by his seat and then makes a bee line
AZ onee for the smoking compartment
But his object Is not SO much to smoke as
TO engage other travellers I'm conversation
IN regard to their views on the upkeep Of
the United States Navy.
Hensley is the man who got I'D the reso-
luton for a naval holiday a year long.
The idea is for the United States and
treat Britain to get together and inter-
est other major league nations In a
scheme to build no mere battleships for
a year, and see II everything doesn't go
on just about as well.
Hensley likes to find out at first hand
what people think about his proposition
ana make few converts as he goes
along. And he finds the average Pull
man smoking compartment as good a
place as any In which to operate.
little while "a hoe
In his smoking seat. with
q paper In his lap, ana remarked:
well. / hope this naval holiday thing
the papers are talking about goes
through
That started the discussion, which was
the object OF his remark
One right prospernus-looking young
stranger ventured to say:
What do any of us care whether they
build one oattleship year or six battle
ships?"
You seem to be overlooking the fact"
suggested Hensley, that the average
American family has to pay about $50 a
year toward the expenses of the national
government. big item OF which is the
navy"
We'll. i don't suppose my share is
more than about a nickel" went on the
man blandly; Il have very little taxable
property. II may cost some of the big
fellows something. but why should 1
worry? Let them figure II out
IN bet you. though" suggested Hens
ley. that you pay more in Federal taxes
than Andrew Carnegie"
And the man shouted at the absurdity
OF the idea
THE Federal taxes are all indirect"
reminded Hensley. Now, you pay
good deal of money to the government In
taxes on the cigars you smoke. Mr. Car
negie doesn't use tobacco. You probably
drink little Mr.. Carnegie doesn't He
is a modest dresser. You probably buy
three suits of clothes to his one. You
doubtless eat twice as much as he does.
taxes than he does"
The man said little at the time. but he
was greatly fiattered and puffed up over
what Hensley had told him.
A half hour later Hensley overheard
the man fussing with his wife as they
were walking to the dining-car. He as
serted his manhood in this fashion:
You may think I'm an awful boob,
but let me tell you this: I contribute
going than a man like Andrew Carnegie
does"
A pair of out-of-town visitors sat in
one OF the Senate galleries looking over
the human exhibits down below They
made comments on the appearance OF
this, that. and the other Senator. and
finally espied Senator Newlands. of
Nevada.
''Ah. what an odd-looking man is that"
one Of the pair. pointing.
Indeed, isn't he" agreed the other
one. II don't know that l ever saw a !
face quite like that. He isn't at all bad |
looking. but how unusual"
Yes" went on the first one "he looks |
so indignant all the while-as IL some
body had just insulted him
And did you ever see Senator with !
plaid vest just like that? l wonder who !
he can be?"
1t chanced that a few moments later
Senator Newlands himself entered the
gallery and the visitors got an even bet
ter look at him. He sat down directly
N front of them and conversed with a
woman who had been sitting there for
some time with a look of quiet amuse-
nent on her face.
The woman was Newland's wife.
Copyright. 1914. by Fred c. Kelly. All rights re-
servedD