The Washington herald., 1921-05-29
By William Atherton DuPuy

WITH Congress approaching the opening
w Of its first session under the Harding
administration with the Republicans 50
overwhelmingly in control. that party meas
ures seemed to have clear sailing, and with
the nation facing a momentous era in its
career and with unprecedented need for
rovel and revolutionary legislation, asked
myself what manner Of man was at the
helm in the House of Representatives.
knew, Of course, that his name was
Frederick Huntington Gillett, and that be
hailed from Springfield, Mass. 1 had seen
MN preside as toastmaster not long before,
ana DO It with such grace as to show himself
past master Of suavity and elegance.
mad marveled at the excellence of his diction
and the precision of bis choice of words.
mad not known of the genial humor and
capacity for intellectual frolic which h.
showed.
Inen, one Sunday afternoon General
fershlng was receiving at that rambling
country home he occupies or the outskirts of
ROCK Greek Park. in Washington. and Mrs
Hlllett was by his side welcoming the guests
Inc representative from Springfield had
"aiten until he was past sixty to marry.
and decided had justified the maturity of
ms Judgment. The noncongressional Gil
lett called forth approval. 1 would 20 to
See him at work
Inc House chamber is on the second floor
OF the Capitol, at the east end. 1t extend,
all the way across the building except for
the rooms of the appropriations comIoitt..
on one end and the rooms of the speake, an
tne other. Office space is scarce and hard q.
get hereabouts. So it is the nortbeas, COZ.
ner OF this historic building which ia ocru.
pied by the gentleman who presides over m.
oeHoerstlons of that body which speaks fo,
III 100000 Americans.
MI Gluett sits at big desk INST u,5.,
eutgiass chandelier that must weigh -.
1nere are number of these infiniteIv -,
phcated lighting devices in the Capitol sn,-
nVers of a day that Is gone.
He is a smallish man. On. vo,,,
that he is five feet six and that A. -,
l35 pounds. He does not scar,
Inere any evidence of flesh about him
ES mar Is half white, half brown. and hi,
van Dyke beard is nearly whit. and c,o..
eIppeo. Ihere Is the rudy glow Of bs.lts
ABOUT MIN, the alertness of moy.m.,, =,
one who exercises much. ALTHOUGH n. m
De seventy years old next October tb.,. =
notnlns In his demeanor to indicate an, =.
down because Of age. He h.. m. -,
eyes that one could fad i, . days. Sou
tn Ireland. .,...,- 'SufneJ
sFTIHE big moments In tn. war.
= speaker" Mr. Gillett said
70 come during the closing days of a. c..
Sress- Inis s particularly true n ., -.
osen a snori session like that which rec,,,t,
ended. huJ
fnere Is sure to Be q great op,,.,.
business which cannot be compIst.d -
upon which months Of work hs, he. n.
Inc course OF national events d.nsnd. ~
these bills Each has its ardent .d1 apon
They are making frantic erort, :.
through, to write it into th. hw " "
nation OF the
The speaker knows that r,,.,
legislation must 20 BY the board IN 'ni'
time to get but a certain ns,c. u
through. The responsibility ~ .L Oh
tween life and death for tb,s. Nil De-
sor@ OF man On the floor are 80;
rosninoo mat they may present .nl.
me speaker recognize. n
ms Din Is presented, Is hurried ms. man
a. man yonder Is clano,;.
n,eon: His bin rs q good on. lor
written fato law. But the ,n..Ls. snould
lnat enere Is certain opposition 10 ., no"s
Us introduction win precipit,t. " nh
Tnere Is no time for wranxlinr. =, Hsns'
es, o, seher iegsiatsOh b. must TN, ~
tnumoe aovn On this measure.
ns i,ss few day. Of a session. tb.-.,o-.
are fun Of stressful work, of mom.n.nr.
decisions, OF responsibilities of meat m.sus
tude that must be assumed "asni-
Under the old order in the d.y, h.,,,.
the speaker was overthrown .nd -
called autocrsdc powers were taken 49,,