Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-08
BY WILLIAM ATHERTON DU PUY

CIENATOR OSCAR UNDERWOOD, who
- sits with the American delegation at the
Conference for the Limitation of Armnm'nt'
was when Congress was asked to appro-
pirate funds for the entertainment OF VISIT
ors, reminded Of an experience he had with
Uncle Joe Cannon some twenty years ago
when Underwood was Il youngstrr In the
House Of Representatives and lncic Joe
was its dominant factor.
Congress has Il ways been very reluctant
to allow Government officials 10 fpchG
money for entertainment, ana the hltcH
States has never been able TO give th"t at
tcntion TO the social side 0f diplomacy which
is shown by other nations. There was n
bill before Congress approprlutug certain
money for entertainments bill which Mr.:
Cannon favored, but the popularity ot
which he doubted.
One night Mr.. UudcrW Wood'S doorb"Ii rang
and it was the Speaker. The Republican
warhorsc asked the young novice OF Dcmor-
rary TO go for walk with him, and they
strollcd out to sheridan Circle, which was
then in the suburbs. There tn" two sat
upon Il curb and Uncle Joe unfodcd the
following scheme:
On tho next day. he sud. it would proba.
bly happcn that along toward the end Of
the session matters would lag and the at
tendance in the House chamber would be
light. At that time he, Republican leader,
would ask action upon this bill n2propri-
nting money for entertainment. ii" would
like Mr.. Indrrwoud Of the opposition. TO
arise and with some heat, oppose the meas
urr. He would like Mr.. Underwood, how
ever, to appear amCnab!o to reason and 10
seem to be converted to an acceptance OF II.
Thus would it get certain support from both
| Sides of the House and breeze through.
And it did.
James r. Mann, Of Illinois. the 'lnost
| compctcnt Congressman, was trying to get
| certain business transacted one day when
! the House was working Oh tn" unanimous
! consent calendar. Mr.. Mann arose and be-
| gan as follows:
transacted today, but it is obvious that any
! individual can prevent it because it is pos
siblr for any individual to throw Il monkey
wrench into the machinery Of the House.
At Just that moment n member opposing
tho measure arose and said
Il make "A point Of no quorum"
! Noses were counted, the point sustained
! and the House had to 60 about the tedious
| task of rounding up members until 1t got
| the REQUIRED number for the transaction Of
! business.
This being accomplished, Mr. Mann con-
| tinucd:
"As I was saying he proceeded. "any
| indiyidunl may throw monkey wrench into
| the machinery, butt he went on, "it does
not follow that every monkey ought to
| throw a wrench.
We stood in II Semi -cirrlc about thn
! Presidents desk in that big, low cell
| inrcd room in the little one storicd wing Of
| thr White House which ho IDS the executive
offico, of tie richest nation in the W rid.
There were Il hundred of us, the group OF
ncwsDaUcrmcn in Washington having mug
mrntcd itself Of late.
The President was monOsyllabiC today
hadn't much of anything to give out. At
the very point of the semi -crClc, where
stood | was almost behind him and from
thI, point made the fol owing observations.
The President is thnner--in fact, his big
frame show, quite bonily through his well.
tailored clothes.
His hair - onCthrd black and two
third, white, Quite strangely this comhinu
tion produces u shade CHAT exactly matches
! his b uc eyes.
lie has big hands and feet and today
wears a new pair of vicikid shoes.
when Lord NorthrIiffc said that the
President wa' six frct two inches in hcl;ht
he over estimated his stature by nearly hall
foot.
Thee is IA pill" Of letters eight inches
thick on the Presidents desk.
There are two pictures on his desk-on,
that of George Washington in a good sized
frame, standing over to the left. Jut IN
front of the President Is little frame con,