Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-04

down, but broke two ribs. which at his
age--eighty four years-is almost as
serious. His vitality seems unimpaired,
however, and he gives promise Of out
living many a younger colleague.
Mondcll is the gamcst Of them ALL
His misfortuncs read like the chronicles
of job, except that he has thus far
managed to escape bankruptcy and
boils. Mondcll IA always a hard worker,
either in or out Of Congress. When he
finished his first term of leadership in
the House, last June. his health was
so impaired he was ordered by his
physician to get out in the open air in
Wyoming and stay out all summer.
That was what he started to do, but
fate intcrfered, and exhibited the in
terror walls of hospitals and home to
him much of the time he expected to
spend on the ranch.
Mondell's Hard Luck
First of all, he fell out of hayloft
and broke two ribs. That happened early
in the summer, and was accident mum
ber one. Then in August he went down
before belated attack Of influenza and
again was confined. Hardly had he
started on the road to recovery when
along came an attack Of laryngitis,
which reduced his voice to whisper
and cut short his plans for campaign
speeches. That disposed Of, accident
number two was recorded when he fell
and broke his leg while on an inspec-
tion trip at the Shoshone dam in Wyo-
ming.
But even that is not all. Returning
to Washington, still on crutches, he fell
on the steps of his residence here sev
eral days ago and loosencd the bone OF
his broken leg just as it had begun tc
knit. That laid him up again, but only
for day or two, and now he Is out
again, wondering what is going to hap.
pen next.
His gameness is demonstrated by the
regularity with which he reports fol
work at the Capitol. He is at his desl
early every morning, makes trips dowr
town to the departments whenever
necessary and attends to all the details
of his office, looking after constituents
and party affairs as well, though still
compelled to hobble about on crutchcs
Mr.. Mondell is accompanied wherever
he goes by his daughter. Miss Doroth,
Mondell, who assists him and acts a'
his guardian and aide. He expects Il
continue the leadership of the Repub
lican side, though it Is doubtful whether
he will be able to perform all the du
ties of majority leader when Congress
strikes its stride.
In situation Of this sort the Hous,
needs "Hampy" Moore back in Con.
gress, and there is many wall over th'
fact that he went back to Philadelphia
TO preside over the destinies of that city
rather than remain here. Were he here
he might be majority leader, in fact. i
not in name. at least until Mondel
recovers sufficiently to get into the gam,
with his old time strength. Mayo
Moore, while in the House. was on,
of the most active members and wa
heard in debate perhaps as frcquentl.
as any one on either side.
But time brings changes and nobod,
knows it better than Il member of Con
gress or an observer who watches tn,
tides of politics come and go.
Champ Clark heads the list of cclcbri
ties who retire at the end of three
months session. He will go down il
the annals of politics as a man VIII,
came nearer the presidency, only tt
lose it. than perhaps. any other mar
except Samuel J. Tilden or Aaron
Burr. But he is political cripple
commonly known as a lame duck. ant
if that list were to be compiled, il
would fill another column.