The Washington herald., 1914-02-23


~ r. y. a.
There was a tense and dramatic moment
on the Congressional Limited nearing New
York week ago yesterday. Congress-
was in the center Of group in the club
car, which included District Attorney
Whitman. prospective Republican candi-
date for governor; Henry L. Stimson, late
defeated Republican candidate, and Con-
gresham Mott. Of oswego. They were
going over the political probabilities Of
the year with careful reference to the
Whitman ambition to straighten things
out at Albany as governor.
Naturally there was reference to Whit
mans great work OF investigation. which
reflected On the Democratic Official list.
and promised to aid greatly in his cam
paign. In the midst OF the semi-con-
ference the brakeman called out Newark.
the train stopped and a messenger boy
came In the car calling out Telegram
for Mr.. whitman"
This was not unusual, as each one Of
the party were familiar with the blue
envelope OF kilograms delivered en- route.
There was silence as Whitman opened
and read his message.
He told the boy mo answer" then
read the telegram again. Then he hand
ed 1t &c Fairchild without a word.
Fairchild read 1t and in silence handed
Ii to Stimson, who in turn. read IL and
to Mott. Not word was spoken for a
few minutes, and no one of the four
looked at the other.
The telegram had told OF John J. Ken
nedy's suicide. and Whitman had ex-
pected much from Kennedy's testimony
In the investigation Of last week. As
State treasurer and a Democratic leader
from the Buffalo region, Kennedy had
long been a popular and powerful figure
in New York Democratic affairs.
Much was expected either from his
testimony or from whitman's ability 90
get him tangled up. His death by suicide
dashed whitman's hopes and plans, and
possibly concealed forever the sins OF
others high up in the Democratic organi-
ration
Virginia. long famous as the mother OF
Presidents. before Ohio took a hand in
the game. has a new claim tor distinction
This time ii is the modesty of five dis
tinguished statesmen in her Congressional
delegation who refrain from living their
date of birth to the Official biographer.
A few years back, when all five were
younger and eager in the political game
they did not hesitate to give date Of birth
and call attention to the date of their
first political honor.
Alas, as years came on and the am
bilious statesmen are older, but no less
eager in politics. they take pains TO leave
out the birthday line OF the official life
story.
This was remarked one night this week
when some OF the five were in the social
whirI and there was some speculation
as TO the age Of each and Of other House
members from other States who have left
out the natal day in the last edition.
Then the wise observer ever on hand sug-
gested a looking back to the biographer
when all came to Congress for a first
term Sure enough there were the dates.
and none OF the Virginia quintet are
very old. and have no excuse for con-
cealing their ages unless they are plan
ming forty years more of public life.
Senator Swanson took pains in his Sem
atorial story to merely remark that he
was born at Swansonville, indicating that
the Swansons were big enough folks in
Pittsylvania County, Va, TO have a
village named for them; but he avoided
the date of such an important event.
When he first came to Congress, twenty
one years ago. he was not so cautious.
and besides was considered remarkably
gOuAb he Will Dt
years old on March 3, so he can still
count himself young. with four years OF
Senatorial honors yet due.
Henry Delaware Flood has long been
the popular and elusive bachelor Of the
delegation, hailing from "Appamattox and
its famous apple tree'-an apple tree not
especially approved by Flood-and he has
had nearly fourteen years in Congress.
There are intimations of his approach
omit a birthday reference. However. he
was but forty-eight last September. and
that is not counted old in Congressional
circles
Carter Glass. who has jumped to fame
with the passage of the administrators
currency bill, has been a Congressman
for over a dozen years from the Lynch
burg district of Virginia, and with prom.
Use of long continued Congressional honor
may be cautious in not giving his age
from now on. although he took pains TO
remark when he came to the Fifty
seventh Congress that he was born Jam
uary 4, 1858 He will be fifty-seven before
his present term ends and can serve a
dozen years more without encroaching
on the three score and ten limit
James Hay. from the Rappahannock
region. with nine elections to the House,
forgot mention of his birthday in recest
biographical contributions, but seventeen
years ago he put il in the first time.
He is now fifty-eight with promise. like
Glass. of a dozen years more in the Con-
gressional arena.
Charles Creighton Carlin. Of Alexandria,
has had but three elections to the House
and his modesty about age was observed
in his second term, but. bless you, he is
only fOrty-eight and has little TO worry
about except the proximity of his dis
trict to Washington making it easy for
constituents to drop In and give instruc-
tons every hour of day and night, let
alone few requests in behalf of the
M rty Orea nizatfon