The Washington herald., 1914-05-05
HISTORY BUILDERS.
Two Congressman Who Found the
Lower House UnconseniaI.
written expressly for The HeraId.)
By DIR. v. j. EDWARDS,

4
| By DIR. y. y. EDWARDS.
In the latter part of Gen. Grants sec
ond ADMINISTRATION as President two dis.
tinsuished lawyers from New England
were Representatives In the Lower House
Of Congress. One OF them was Richard
z. Hubbard. who afterward served az
governor Of Connecticut. Mr. Hubbard
represented the Hartford district in the
Lower House of Congress and the people
Of his district were proud OF him and ex-
pected that he would gain a very high
reputation both as an orator and
statesman When elected. he was re-
garded as one Of the great lawyers OF
New England. He possessed unusual gifts
for public speaking. both upon the plat
form and before the higher courts His
diction was choice and revealed his
familiarity with the great English
classics. His voice was a beautiful organ
OF speech There were no harsh notes
in IL and people did not tire II listen.
ing to him. So highly was he esteemed
in his home district that after his death
a statue In bronze Of him was placed
upon a pedestal, from which a fine vista
Of Cornecticut's capitol could be obtained
Yet Mr.. Hubbard had not been in con.
gress six months before he wearied great
" Of his position. The late Henry G
Robinson, himself a distinguished LAWYER
and at one time a Republican candidate
for governor OF Connecticut. but de-
feated by his warm personal friend. Mr.
Hubbard, said to me some years ago.
IF there ever was a man disillu-
sioniZed by his experience in Congress.
Richard c. Hubbard was tina, man.
The hustle, the turmoil. the anecta-
tiOns. and the conspicuous appeal 10
the gallery which he observed some
members were constantly making dis
tressed him greatly
Il asked him why he had not cap
tured the House as he surely could
have done had he spoken from his
place upon the floor. He replied that
nothing would have tempted him 70
undertake 10 make a speech in that
place, and that he was utterly without
any ambition to shine in that assem-
bly,. II he could have had his way he
would have resigned his place in Con-
gress, and certainly would have done
so IL he had not felt his obligation To
his constituents to remain till his term
was out was binding.
He returned to Hartford. and was
nominated for governor. He beat M
out Of my boots in that campaign, and
felt that il IL was inevitable that I
should suffer defeat had rather !,
should come from Dick Hubbard than
from any one else. He enjoyed him
self while serving as governor. but he
only regarded his experience in Con-
gress as something which should be
forgotten as soon as possible
Gov. Hubbard and the late Wal
bridge A Field. or Boston. one Of tbs
most eminent Of the Massachusetts
Jurists. took the same view of life in
the Lower House OF Congress. Judge
Field confessed 10 his friends that hs
was excessively bored by serving as
a member Of Congress. and he looked
forward to the end of his term exactly
as a schoolhoy looks forward to the
coming of vacation"
Copyright. 1914. by II. 2. ]. Edvart. Al rizh-s
reSerred.l
Tomorrow DIR. Edwards will tell of
"The Lawyer Who Wanted the Pay
ment of His Fee Postponed