Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-17
Mr.. Speaker!
Washington Post.

Frederick Huntington Gett is less well
known to newspaper readers than Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, Representative James R.
Mann, Senator Boes Penrose and other repub-
lcan leaders who have come into the iimeiight
with the Goth congress For example, the inn
preston that Gillett is an exceedingly serious
minded man prevails in the press galleries. AS
a matter of fact, the new speaker not only has a
keen sense OF humor, but displays it on unex-
pected occasions.
A few years ago, when he was an important
member of the house committee on appropria-
tons, he was called on to cross-examine Byron
Newton, then assistant secretary Of the treasury
on estimates for certain public building appro-
priations. 1t happens that Gillett and Newton
are close friends and frequent golf companions.
They maintained at that time an amiable feud
regarding the perfection of their individual
games.
You say" observed Gillett, that this site is
some distance from the Union station. Please
tell the committee exactly what you mean by
some distance"
Il don't know the exact distance" Newton
replied, but in terms of golf should say that
could make it in one good drive and brassie
shot"
All" commented Gillett softly, "a distance,
then, of about so yardsp'
Whereupon the assistant secretary of the
treasury blew up
Fifty yards nothing" he snorted more
like quarter of a miller
As public man and, particularly, as speaker
of the house, Gillett is almost as repressed in
manner as his -namesake of the stage. In
the intimacy of private life, however. or in
gatherings of his friends. he is decidedly COM
panionable and gives full play to his keen New
England humor. His favorite pastime is golf,
which he plays remarkably we'll He is rated
he puts a tremendous amount of nervous en-
ergy into his game. Moreover, the gentleman
from Massachusetts has frank liking for for
NAL and informal social gatherings. He and
the late Associate Justice William Henry
Moody were for many years close rivals as
diners-out.
This was in 1908 when Gillett, Moody and
Gen. William Crozier formed triple alliance
that greatly annoyed many unmarried Wash
ington women. Gillett was 81 years of age at
the time. Moody had just completed his half
century. Crozier was only 49, And all three
were hardened, shameless bachelors. Gilett
was, even then. very much respected member
of the house. Moody was secretary of the
navy. Crozier was chief of ordnance of the
War department. They were we'll supplied with
the worlds goods and were exceedingly popu-
lar in Washington society Consequently, both
debutantes and widowed matrons sat up and
took notice when the word went forth that the
dauntless three had acquired the handsome resi-
dence known as 1923 K street, had moved in
bag and baggage, and proposed to lead the
tranquil lie OF thoroughly entrcnCneQ DdCnel-
orhood. They gave dinners and suppers, Of
course, over which various social leaders pre-
sided as chaperons But they also gave stag
parties which were even more popular than the
elaborate entertainments. The defiance of the
sex and calm indifference to the revered state
of matrmony was too much for the peace OF
feminine minds. The dear ladies directed against
1923 K street shower of dinner and other in
vitations that made a stage snowstorm effect
look like mechanical breakdown. Competent
authorities say that the three rebels received
from 20 to 80 invitations to dinner day. And.
being entirely without prejudice, they accepted
as many as they could. 1t was just beautiful
dream of contentment while it lasted, but of
course it couldn't last.
Moody, who had become attorney general
of the United States, was the first to show signs
of weakness. The gossips whispered of ro-
tful Mrs. Oliver Cromwell But much to the
surprise of the experts, Mrs. Cromwell eventual
1y married Edward T. SALISBURY, head of the
famous banking house of Drexel & Co., in
Philadelphia. Then came rumors of Gillett's
engagement to the then Miss Dorothy Will
lams, afterward Mrs William F. McCombs, wife
of the man who piloted Wilson to the White
House. The first break in the triple alliance
came when Moody, who had become member
of the United States supreme court. became des-
peerately i'll and retired from public life. Soon
afterwards General Crozer deserted to the en-
envy and married Miss May Williams Where
upon Gllett hauled down the flag at 1923 and
returned to the Connecticut apartments where
he and Crozier had lived in the ante K-street
days. 1t was not long thereafter that he went
the way of majority of his peers and married
Mrs. lockwood Hoar, daughter-in-law of the
Massachusetts senator, and brilliant social
leader.
Frederick Huntington Gett is the fifth
speaker elected from Massachusetts, delega-
tion thus giving the Bay state first honors in
the national house of representatives. Ken
lucky and Virginia rank second. with four each.
Maine, New York. Georgia, Tennessee, South
Carolina and New Jersey have each contributed
two sons. Ohio, Illinois, Iowa. Missouri, North
Carolina and Connecticut have had to be salts
fed with one each. Alabama. Arizona, Arkan-
sas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida
Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Ne
vada New Hampshire, New Mexico. North Da-
kota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South
Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont Washington,
West Virginia. Wisconsin and Wyoming have
failed utterly to break into the list of speakers
since the first congress was convened on
March 4, 1882, Thrty-seven speakers have
presided over the Is congresses. Seventeen
came from three of the New England states
and Is claimed six southern states ,as their
homes Twelve states in the east and SOUTH as
matter of fact have sent 80 men to the chair
out of total of 81 speakers.
There is one limited class of presiding off
GERS into which Mr.. Gillett has stepped with
perfect confidence. Only seven speakers of the
lower house have boosted boards or wfiskers