New Britain herald., 1923-08-13
BRANDEGEE HOUSE
 YELLED IN MYSTERY
What Goes on in Washington
 Home of Conn. Senator?
BY GEORGE H. MANNING Bureau of New Britain H

 (washington Bureau of New Britain Heraid).
 Washington, D. C., Aug. 13.-Un- wonted activity about the town house of Senator Frank Brandegee during the past week has given rise to riot of speculation among political ob- servers as to what is going on in the invisible realms of party affairs.
 For almost the first time since Sen ator Brandegee purchased the impos- ing residence at Seventeenth and I streets last fall, the building has shown signs of human occupancy. Shutters which have been tightly closed for months have opened wide; the heavy storm doors which barred the entrance have been put aside; for the greater convenience Of venerable statesmen who call on the Connecticut senator wooden railings have been placed on the stone steps of the front porch.
 At almost any hour, from early morning until far into the night, inn pressive limousnes and broughams tended by liveried chauffeurs may be observed standing at the curb. Through partly opened windows gray and white and shiny heads can be seen close together, while fine blue haze of cigar smoke hangs con- stantly in the lofty library of the Brandegee mansion.
 Mystery Surrounds House.
 The air of mystery which has all ways enveloped Senator Brandegee makes anything more than surmise as to what is going on within his doors impossible. Since the adjourn ment of congress in March, his very whereabouts have been unknown, even to his secretary. It has been supposed that he retired to his coun- try estate near Rockville, Md, where he lives alone-as he does every where, having no relatives with him
 but that has been by no means cer- tain. t-.--
 Now, his whereabouts are no long CT a secret, but his activities remain as unfath omable as ever. He has, never been addicted to golf, or tennis, or riding, or any other form of diver sion except, it is reported, poker. And no one has even thought of suggest ing that the recent conferences at his home have been of that nature. The leputed intimacy of the senator with Calvin Coolidge-if either the presi- dent or Senator Brandegee can be ac- cused of intimacy with anyone makes it generally accepted that whatever transpires within the walls of the. senatorial establishment has a very close connection with the affairs of the new administration.
 It is not the first time that the faded red brick house now owned by the Connecticut senator has furnished an outlet for the powerful undercur- rents of political influence which shape the destinies of the nation. In by-gone days this home, then the res tdence of Senator Geane, was a focal point for the leaders of the Roosevelt! administration. There President Roosevelt is supposed to have re- ceived secretly those whom he was unable, for reasons of policy. to meet | publicly at the White House: or to | have held consultations which he did | not care to have aired,
 % One of Old Guard.
 As. one Of the few remaining mem- bers of the original "Old Guard" Sen | ator Brandegee is fitting successor to the occupancy of the I street house. As the potential Mark Hanna of the Coolidge regime, his residency there adds a certain air of the glamor of old tradition to the speculation attaches itself to his name in connection with the sudden change of administration brought about by the death of President Hard ing. s'' '+f