South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-02
Statesmen Real
and Near.
By Fred c. Kelly

WASHINGTON, March 2.-For an
example of resourcefulness one may
well turn TO the incident in which
Mr. Fingy Corners. well-known citi-
zen of Buffalo. placed himself while
ago.
Corners was in Washington at the
time Pres't Wilson was going TO
read one of his addresses TO con-
gress, and there was a great demand
for seats in the gallery. Admission
was gained by special card only and
each congressman was allowed only
one card. Corners went to Charlie
Smith and Dan DriscOll, members of
congress from his city. and asked
them 20 provide him with a gallery
seat. They both explained how sorry
they We're, but they couldn't do it.
Each was allowed only one ticket and
each had given his away before he
knew Corners was in town.
We'll. we'll" observed Corners,
you're a hulluva pair of congressman
if you can't even get a constituent
into the gallery. / guess I'll have To
get in then on my own hook"
''Ah. but it can't be done explain
ed Driscoll and Smith. The rules are
very strict, and if you tried to get in
you would simply embarrass both the
doorkeeper and yourself. Even
Speaker Clark couldn't take you in
Fact is, there is a limit on the seats
provided for members Of the presi-
dents own family"
That may all be true about the
president and Champ Clark, replied
Corners but I'll bet you a pail of
ink that 1 can get in
How" chorused Smith and Dris-
coll
"Oh, I don't know exactly how yet.
Some way that I'll think up. Just
come with me and I'll show you"
Painting with curiosity the two con-
gressmen followed Corners up To the
gallery floor. He led the way to one
of the less frequented doors. where
he laid his hand on the shoulder of
the doOrkeeper in a fatherly manner
and began to talk to him.
These gentlemen" said Corners,
pointing to the congressman, ARE two
constituents of mine who were a great
help to me In my last campaign for
congress, and ] want them to have
seats in the gallery"
Very sorry" congressman" an
swered the doorkeeper. embarrassed
at being unable 10 call him by name,
but you know we're under strict or
ders today to let no one in except by
ticket. I'd like to oblige you, sir, but
don see now l can.
We'll, if you can't, / suppose you
can't" observed Fingy. It's too bad,
though. because would like to ac-
commodate these boys. They are
awfully good fellows. and this is the
first favor they have asked of me
since / entered congress"
Then turning TO Smith and Dris-
coll. he said:
You see just how it is. I'll have
to see you downstairs later on. / want
to step down into the gallery now for
a minute and speak to Phil Hicks. Go
over to my office and make yourselves
at home if you get tired
And he walked on down TO a vacant
seat where he sat quite comfortably
through the presidents address.
For years William Jennings Bryan
has been a careless person in regard
to his correspondence. His inclina-
ton is to keep no copy of a letter, but
to dictate it. write il out in long
hand. and throw it into the mail.
scarcely taking time even to read it
over. His tendency is to follow the
same system in the state department.
Clerks about his offices have TO hover
about and watch him as mother
would a child. or he will seize a pen,
hastily scratch off a state document
and mail il to some ambassador with
never a thought of preserving a copy
for the department files A while ago
a clerk was obliged 10 dash up to one
of the Washington embassies and copy
off an important letter that Mr.. Bryan
had written without making any pro-
vision for preserving the contents of
same to the department and 10 pos
teTity.