The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-08-12

fW v.s A@z&8& - tllls NOuih NC oih
posed of 435 MEM
bers, with delegates from Alaska, Ha-
wall, the Philippine islands and Porto
Rico. These delegates do not vote.
| once heard e~x-Speaker Clark in
praising the house say 1t was the most
democratic parliamentary body in the
world. He didn't allude to politics.
As l have met the members and have
looked owe the body of men l have
often thought of that remark. As you
now look down into the house with me
l think you will realize, as | do, that
his is a democratic body of men, rep
%resenting, as it does, the whole of the
great American repuhlic-the greatest
republic in the history of the world.
Almost every type and phase of Amer
lean citizenship is represented there.
1t Is a sort of high-class melting pot.
Laborer and manufacturer; rich and
poor; big brains and mediocre; wise,
earnest men and near-chumps, all have
seats. All classes of business and pro-
fessions and all shades of political
and religious beliefs are represented.
EX-governors, ~ex-senators, eX-judges,
eX-Presidents and a~X-convicts have oc-
cupied seats. The blind and the halt
are well represented. Only the deaf
and dumb seem to be missing, though
I am of the private opinion that it
wouldn't jar the feelings of the house
much If some members were so
stricken.
After some years of observation
from the inside, I can assure you that
congress Is made up of a fine lot of
patriotic men.
Uncle Joe and Jim Mann.
Here is a good chance to look Mt
some of the men as they walk In. You
will recognize some of them from the
pictures you have seen. Uncle Joe
Cannon saunters In with the cocky
air of youth, chewing the cigar car
toonists have made famous. If 1t IS
a cool day he may have his hat on.
He vas elected to congress first In
1872 and Is now serving his twenty
third term. Only twice in all these
years has he been defeated and he
told the house one day that the years
he was out were the longest years of
his life. He is SO years old and IS
young for that age. / have seer him
dance at a dinner party, and l have
heard that he plays a little poker now
and then but gets In over II
dollar or two at a time. He takes a
keen interest In important legislation,
hav n cono .inu- ~ nvhJtn appaire md
makes a vigorous speech occasionally.
Uncle Joe, as he is a~ffectionately
called, has declined to stand for re-
election and will close his official
career with the ending of this con-
gress, after serving in the house OF
representatives longer than any other
man.
I think I have already mentioned
James K. Mann. There he is by the
table. The two tables in the center
of each side of the house are used by
the leaders, by the chairman Of the
committee In charge of a bill and by
others especially interested in the pro-
ceedings of the day. Mr.. Mann be-
longs at the table IN the Republican
side. This is his thirteenth term In
the house and he was long the Repub-
lican leader. He is not the Fourth of
July style Of orator but a most CON
vincing speaker and the best posted
man on pending legislation in the
house. He is a terror to those who
have private bills up on unanimous
consent day. A bill must be innocent,
indeed, or properly amended, before
1t gets through when he Is present. I
fancy that he has saved the govern
ment literally millions of dollars by
his industry. In some ways he is the
most valuable man in the house.
Two Party Leaders.
The other gentlemen by the table is
Frank Mondell, the Republican leader
at this time. He is serving his thir-
teenth term in the house-nearly 26
years Of serviee-and he has been alb
sent only four days, an unequaled rec
ord. / think. Mr.. Mondell is not a
lawyer, but is an able and fearless
leader, a keen thinker and strong de-
batter. He was once a laborer and
later a railroad contractor in Colo
RADIO, afterward going to Wyoming.
He has a hard, nerve-wrecking job,
but does it very well. When he makes
a motion it usually carries. Mr.. Mon
dell will not be in the house in the
mex congress, as he is a candidate
for the United States senate.
The leader of the Democratic side
is Claude Kitchin, but | cannot point
him out t o you, as he has been i'll at
home for about a year. He is a llk-
able chap and was y mar of great
force In the house. His place Is being
filled by John n. Garner of Texas, and