The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-01-05
STORIES OF STATESMEN
BY Fred Kelley.

Washington, Jan. g. When John J.
Whitacre, multi-miliOnaire congress-
man from Ohio, gets an idea into his
head II invariably takes definite
form. This Is true Of little ideas ns
well as hig ideas. II he thinks about
n matter at all he thinks either one
thing or the. other
II was Whatacre who announced
some months ago that he would not
run for congress again because he
found that II II impossible for a con
gresham TO be intellectually honest.
There was no bluff about It. He
meant Just that, and he did not run
again.
Whitacre carries a costly watch and
takes great pride In the fact that II
keeps accurate time right to the mid
die Of the dot. When he came 10
Washington rs congressman nearly
four years ago his watch carried cen
tral time, and Washington. Of course,
goes by eastern time. But whitacre
steadfastly refused TO SET his watcn
! forward Although his duties have
kept IN Washington nearly all the
while, he still arranges his schedule
by ce;Itral time, and simply adds an
hour whenever he looks at his watch.
II haven't had to set my watch for
years says whitacre, and why should
I dsvance the hands simply because
am staying temporarily in a place
where the people have eastern time?
Moreover" he explains central
time will always seem TO me TO he the
real time. II was the time was
brought up on look at my watch
and know Just what people are do.
Ing back home. II Is much easier Il
add an hour when look at my watch
and know what time II really Is than
to set the hands forward to conform
with time that have not been ae
customed TO and with which | can
have little in common"
You try to argue the question with
Whltncre and show him how much
happier he might be II he would vel
his watch ahead and be Roman
while In Rome.
"Just the same" he retorts, "Iv,
, never done It, and won't do II.
And he snaps his watch shut An,
proceeds on his way by central time
In the days OF his early youth Rep
resentatiye John Jacob Rogers o
Massachusetts made number Of per
sonal experiments In the use o
matches the ordinary sulphu
matches Of every day commerce, Rog
er's parents had maintained a theor
that II was much better for littl
) John Jacob to know nothing at al
. about two things 10 wit matches an
strong liquor, Rogers did not becom
= interested In liquor, but matches wer
a mystery that appealed to him II
= determined to find out sbout ther
on his own hook.
e one Of his experiments led hun
u take ) cents from his little bank o
IN tht hlhhtcpitf anu pufVhhht w
Of matches, which he carried TO IN
q haymow Of his fathers barn. II
4. thought the NOV would make a nic'
le quiet, snug little laboratory In whlc
n to watch the phenomena incident I
d igniting 5 cents worth Of matches.
q The scene shifts now 10 a campalg
y, meeting shortly prior TO the election
V Several years have elapsed and Ro.
y ers Is up for a secohd term. lie
r. r addressing the multitude and tellin
. them Of his work In congress.
y "And now, he says In conclusion a
suming and easy, nonchalant but tho
q. oughly statemanlike pose. have :
ny apology 10 make. am willing
4. stand ON my record. I"
Be AT that point there ls an lnterru
y tion.
of How about the time" asked
!. member of the audience, "that yon 3
:" fire to your fnther's harnr WI
about your record ON thatr'
And that brings Rogers spec
SHARPLY TO a close, He bows himss