The New York herald., 1921-06-05
ES" IN CONGRESS TRAVEL A ROCKY ROAD
New Representatives Cause No Stir in Board
ing Houses Let Alone in Halls of Eegis
lature, but Way to Success Is Open
to Men of the Right Sort

a new member and you're not butting in
but your folks expect you to do somethine
for them. Don't pretend to know it ali;
grope in the darkness while; be willing
to learn. Don't try to tell funny stories on
the floor. Few members have the gift or
can get away with it, Also, few House
humorists have ever had their name at
tached to important law. Keep after
those bills you've introduced. Answer YOU
mail promptly. Send your folks vegetable
and garden seed. Ask them to advise you
how to vote
"If you get action on your bills, good
enough If you don't when you go back
home tell your people that you're doing the
best you can: that you new member
but If they'll keep you up here long enough
to let the law of seniority and influence work
you will get somewhere and so will they.
Stop worrying and sit steady in the legis-
lative boat. Good committee assignments
and other things will come along"
Such advice as this has been given by old
timers to scores of baby" members. If they
have sense enough to take it, and have in
herent ability they do get somewhere. II
they have not, they drop back into private
life.
No end of stories are told by the old House
employees of the bad breaks" made by new
Congressmen, but this might well be eX
that politics reaches everywhere for it's
candidates.
Whats the Constitution between
friends?" is the classic of two generations
that originated with a green Congressman
from Brooklyn And big Tim Sullivan's
remark that he would rather be lamp
post on Broadway" than keep his seat in
Congress is another saying that often is
recalled when his brief Washington career
is discussed
Breaking into society is a dangerous field
for the average new Congressman if his
women folk are overly insistent about going
everywhere and meeting everybody. Prob
ably no city in the Union has more closely
drawn caste lines than has Washington, and
much heartburning awaits the overambitious
social climber. even if his Office is on Capitol
Hill.
Many man, despite every effort by VIII"
and daughters, has been battered back from
Washington's sacred society portals. And
this in spite of great concessions on his part
in aiding pet measures of the human laddei
hv means of which he sought to climb up
ward socially.
OF course there are numerous functions
during the season that all members of Con
gress attend but access to the real inner
circle is given to only few.
A Few Successful Men Who
Were Once Congress Babies
William Tyler Page now clerk of the
House Of Representatives, has been around
that body in some capacity or another for
thirty-niA years. He recalls practically No
new member who established a real reputa-
ton in his first term. The late Charles
Littleneld Of Maine was one exception Mr..
Page remembers. Lttefield was an orator
of unusual ability and charm, great
student of the law and a forceful debater
Early in his career he ran afoul of organize
labor, and that helped to make his reputa
ton.
William B. Mckinley, later President
the United States. was quiet and unassum
ing member during his first term He di,
not then reveal the elements of greatness
William Jennings Bryan made a speech IL
the House on the free silver issue that Page
remembers quite similar to the one lac
delivered when he was nominated for Pres
dent His utterances a new member o.
Congress brought him little attention; later
substantially the same speech swept n con
vention and made him standard bearer OF
his party an honor accorded him twice
afterward.
The late Speaker Champ Clark was just
the ordinary, average new member when he
first came to Congress more than quarter
of a century ago. There was nothing in his
makeup then revealed that promised dom
nance on the floor in later years.
"Uncle Joe, Cannon sat about and re
fiected upon the lack of influence and the
dlspensablity of the new member when he
came here nearly a half century ago.
Thomas b. Reeds logic, humor and political
astuteness developed after his first term
Frederick II. Gillett the present Speaker
has served twenty eight years in the House
His standing was gradually attained. He
was in Washington for years before he
started on the way to the chairmanship of
the Appropriations Committee and the
Speakershlp.
On the other hand, Representative James
r. Mann of Illinois, the watchdog of the
present and many preceding Congresses dis
played in his first term traits that he still
exhibits. Mr.. Mann is essentially student
OF legislation. No "jolSer" escapes him; nc
bill is introduced that he does not analyze
word for word before il comes up for de-
bate He demonstrated that ability in his
first term, and they soon began to listen
to him. He is still watchdog and par
lamentary expert.
Pupils lombard Mentor
With Many Naive Questions