The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-05-12

post rOauS, HIS l"eul!elI, WI. 'oito''
chairman of insular affairs, and faith
er of the house, his twenty-siXth; Mr..
Flood, chairman of foreign affairs, his
sixteenth; Mr.. Hay, chairman of mill
tary affairs, his twentieth; Mr.. Glass,
chairman of banking and currency,
his sixteenth; Mr.. Adamson, chair
man of interstate and foreign COM
merce, his twentieth; Mr.. Stephens,
chairman of Indian affairs, his tWen-
tieth; Mr.. Slayden, chairman Of the
library, his twentieth; Mr.. Henry,
chairman of rules, his twentieth; Mr..
Lever, chairman of agriculture, his
twentieth; Mr.. Padgett, chairman OF
the navy, his sixteenth; Mr.. Lloyd,
chairman of accounts, his twentieth;
and nr. Sparkman, chairman of riV-
ers and harbors, his twenty-second.
There are other big chairmanships,
but these will suffice to show that as
a rule the big places go to old and
experienced members, for most of those
who rank next to the chairmen are
old timers. The same thing holds
good with reference to members of
the minority AS an illustration.
Messrs. Gillette and Cooper, who are
serving their twenty-fourth year, are
the ranking republicans on appro-
priations and foreign affairs, almost
certain to be chairmen thereof should
the Republicans ever again have a ma
jority in the house, as in that eve1t,
in all probability, Mr.. Mann will be
speaker unless he is nominated for
president next June.
Go through the whole list aid you
will find, with few exceptions. that the
men of long service have the high
places.
New England and the cities of Phil
adelphia and Pittsburg have under
stood the value of long ser .ce ali
along, and, having elected fairly
good man to congress, they keep him
in the harness:
Father of the House.
The member of longest consecutive
service is called the father of the
house" Five Philadelphians in i'm
mediate succession bore that honor
able title-Raadall, Kelly, O'Neill,
Harmer, and Bingham. When Gen
Bingham announced the death of Gen.
Harmer, his immediate predecessor as
father Of the house." he stated that
the FIVE Philadelphia fathers of the
house, had served a total of 147
years, and he served or 10 years
after making that interesting state
ment.
In the second and third congresses
in which l served, Maine, with only
four members, had the speakership
and the Craftsmanship of the great
committees on ways and means, navy
and public buildings and grounds-a
most remarkable circumstance, giV-
ing the Pine Tree State an influence
in the house and the country out Of
all proportion to her population and
wealth. These four men, Readd, Ding
ley, Boutelle and Millikin-each serv-
ed in the house 20 years or more.
Other States might profit by her ex-
ample.
Not for Ambition.
No man should be elected to con-
gress simply to crafty his ambition.
All members should be elected for the
good of the country.
The best rule, it seems to me, is
for a district to select man young
enough to learn and to grow, with at
least fair capacity, industrious, hon.
est, energetic, sober, and courageous,
and keep him there so long as he dis
charges his duties faithfully and we'll.
Such a man will gradually rise to high
position and influence in the house
His wide acquaintanceship with mem
bers helps him amazingly in doing
things.
/ can speak freely on this subject
without violating: the proprieties for