The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-09-01


he was a unique member Of the house
In that, during all Of that time, he
never let one Of his speeches appear In
the Congressional Record. Since as
Stunning leadership and speaking for
the party he lets his speeches go In.
The gentleman by his side is FINS j.
Garrett Of Tennessee, who acts as as
sistant minority leader Mr.. Garrett
is In his ninth term. He Is a keen
cutter, and can roast the Republicans
and their measures in more polished,
clever and entertaining way than any
other member on his side Of the house.
Only Lady Representative.
Yes, the lady on the floor Is mem
Der. That Is Miss Alice M. Robertson
Of Oklahoma. the only lady member
and the second woman to be elected
to congress- She was born In Okla
homa 90 years ago. Her father was
missionary TO the Cherokees. MISS
Alice has been teacher, postmaster
of flrst-class Office at Muskogee, and
In recent years has conducted very
successfully the largest cafeteria IN
Oklahoma. She Is not what some are
pleased to term themselves, new
woman" She is little old-fashioned
In way, for she stands by her con-
victions and Is not easily influenced
by organizations outside Of her state.
She was never a suffragist, and 1t may
seem an irony Of fate that the only
woman in congress did not favor votes
for women. Miss Alice Is q popular
member. She accepts things as they
are, asks no favors on account OF her
sex and has more good horse sense
and Is less afraid to stand by her con-
yictions than are most Of her fellow
| members.
That old boy up in the press gallery
| Is General Sherwood Of Ohio. He was
| a member Of the Sixty-sixth congress,
but was retired by the landslide. Cen
eral Sherwood was elected to congress
as a Republican IN 1872, the year IN
| Gle Joe Cannon first came In. Then
he came back In the Sixtieth congress
as a Democrat and served IA years.
The general is eighty-seven years OF
| age. When retired from congress he
took up newspaper work, his former
profession When asked the other day
| If he would run again, he said: mo,
I can't afford It. I have got to work
now and lay up something for old age.
But late newspaper reports indicate
that he may have changed his mind.
Not the Place for oratory.
Who are the orators of the housed
Well, that Is hard to say. You hear
many speeches in the house, but little
oratory. I know several gentlemen
who are noted orators In their home
states whom have never heard make
speech In the house. Those who
have been used to swaying the multi
tude with their oratory don't get very
far with It In the house and soon be
come disappointed In their audience
I must say the house Is not yer,
attentive listener. The members ge
fed ND on speeches. They don't carr
for sloquence. What they want are
facts. Order Is not very good. Mem
bers come In and 90 out; they tall
and read; they listen II something o.
interest Ia being sad, but they are no
sitting there for entertainment ant
fiowery speeches do not draw large au
diences here.
| A speaker Is often interrupted b!
questions Any member may rise a
any time and ask If the gentleman will
yield for q question. The gentleman
! usually does yield, and he often get
his set speech badly punctured ant
comes out with fiat tire. Many mem
beers read their speeches Prestden
: Wilson and President Harding. whei
appearing before congress, have al
ways read their speeches, and Score
tary Hughes read his great speech a
the opening Of the Limitation OF arm
conference, so II Is not necessarily
sign of lack. Of ability for man t.
read a speech, as II Is often done t.
guarantee accuracy. However, w
have plenty Of orators for all occa
sions and can furnish the countr!
with a good supply for the campaign
Do the men In congress today ranl
mn to those Of the congresses Of year
agoi Well, yes; I think 30. II yot
name your ideals Of other days you
List covers a hundred years. You are
endea voring to compare this one con
gress with fifty others. OF course,
do not care to back this congress
against the whole Of American history
The congress is not made up Of ex
perts or highbrows or bosses or super
men. We have no breed Of ruling mer
In this country. 1t is made up OF
pretty good average of the citizenship
It represents-men who meet theil
folks back home on common ground
and do not tower too high above them