The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-14
HUMANlSMS
William Anterior Du Puy-

He had always regarded persistence as a vir-
tue, says Secretary Weeks of the War Depart
ment. until he came to his present task. While
he was in Congress he looked with esteem upon
those members who knew what they wanted
and insisted on getting it
But now ne is at the other end OF the avenue.
He Is Cabinet officer and there are 800 mem
bers OF Congress. all OF whom know what they
want for their districts and their constituents.
1t seems to him now that all of them have the
quality OF persistence. He now designates II as
a quality, not as q virtue.
Between seeing them. he says. he has just time
to sign innumerable documents that are thrust
in front Of him. He does not know what they
are. 1t would be entirely possible TO get his sig
nature to his own death warrant. He would not
be surprised at any time to find that he had In.
advertently signed it. Cabinet officer is forced
to labor surprising hours at the mechanical task
OF signing his own name
The miracle of the evolution OF men in high
places the contrast between the positions they
now hold and those they occupied back yonder
before the climb began every day throwns down
the challenge to him who would attempt to match
the truth with the product OF his imagination
Take Senator Charles Curtis for instance, who
is the whip Of the Senate and, therefore one OF
the most important men in the execution of the
It's who drives legislation through the most
gust body in the world was fifty three years ago,
ward OF the Government living as an indian on
a reservation. attending the mission school and
disporting himself in every way as did those lit
tie pure blood aborigines with whom he assoc
ciated.
His home was with the Kaws sixty miles from
Topeka. Kan Then. one day, the Cheyennes swept
down upon the villages. The Kaw warriors went
out to give them battle and the children watched
as they circled each other on the prairie and
many a red man bit the dust At nightfal the
battle was a draw. The peaceful Indians wanted
to send word to the settlements that the Chey-
ennes were on the warpath. The horses had been
run off so the messenger must go on foot
Little Charlie Curtis. eight years old. was Sc
lected. He started out in the darkness on the
road to Topeka sixty miles away Injured to
hardships with muscles as taut as bowstrnGs,
as much at home the praries as a newsboy
on the city streets, he carried on until he reach
ed the settlement and told his story.
When a man named Wurzbach was elected to
Congress as a Republican from district in Texas
the political world marveled.
what manner OF could this be who had
cut the eordian knot that had defied all contest
ants for a generation The only clue to his
personality was a decidedly German mans. He
had been elected despite at.handicap
So I called on Congressman Harry NJ. Wnrz-
bach I found him a dark, handsome man OF
forty crowned by shock OF steel-gray hair.
yes hi. ancestors were German had settled in
Texas a hundred years ago, but he looked more
like creole French His father had fought In
the Confederate army. 1859,
He has more Spanish missions in his district
Than has any other Congressman.
copyright. 1921, by Public Ledger Coz