The Pleasantville press., 1923-12-22

dent Harding This fact alone recent
| ~ has focused the eyes of the coun-
try on the person and the doings of
the Massachusetts senator.
There have been few cases in con-
gress where the old men have lost
their influence. provided they ever had
any. 1t is perfectly true that some
men have grown old in the legislative
service of their country without ever
attracting much attention. Their con-
stituents have found them hard-work-
ing. willing to look after the home in
terests, and have been content to re-
turn them to office term after term.
even il they did not shine as states
men, As a rule, however, the old
man who stays in congress is good
deal of Il power even IL his voice is
not as 1t once was and his body is
not always unshaken by the winds of
controversy
Lodge Sometimes Warns Up.
Henry Cabot Lodge always mas
been regarded as a cold man. He GER
tainly is not red hot save on rare
occasions, and he certainly is not Civ
en- to slapping men on the back to
call them Bill, Tom, and Dick. ana
to inquire after the health of the
babies, but Lodge has done some hu-
man things to amaze men.
Some years ago when he was well
past threescore years of age this
scholar in politics was affronted by
h,,r xyha
was after something or other that he
should not have been after. The rath-
er frail looking senatorial scholar OF
Massachusetts was not afraid on that
occasion to mix in" He thrashed the
heavyweight who had insulted him
and when he walked later into the
senate chamber Democrats and Repub-
licans, with delighted grins on. faces,
pressed forward TO offer the handshake
of congratulation.
When one writes of the Republican
Lodge his mind turns back to the DEM
ocrats, Morgan and Pettus of Ala
bama They grew old together in the
senate service. but they never lost
their influence, never lost their power
or persuasion Of speech, and never lost
their quiet sense of humor which saved
for them many situation.
In the senate today is Il party col
league of Senator Lodge, Francis e.
Warren of Wyoming. This senator is
one of the old line Republicans whose
habit of political thought today prob
ably is just as it was years ago. He
is Civil war veteran and he wears the
CongI essional Medal of Honor for con-
spicuous personal gallantry on the
field of battle Warren has been at
tackled as few men have been attacked.
He seems to have withstOod the shocks
Of assault without much physical trou-
BILE. He will be eighty years old next
June. He still is in the ring and does
not look like one who soon is to be
counted out.
Old Members Real Warriors.
The old saying about old men for
counsel and young men for war does
not hold true in its entirety in either
house of congress. Some of the oldest
members of both branches are the real
warriors when it comes TO the fighting
pinch. John Sharp Williams of Mis-
sissippi. who retired from. the senate
last spring, went out as he came in,
fighting He led many a battle in The
house before he was sent over by his
state to represent it in the senate, and
he fought many a battle in his new po-
sition The younger men used to look
at him with an expression which, inter-
preted, seemed to mean: I'VE wonder
If such spirited pugnacity will last
with us through the years"
Some of the old-timers seem to be
able TO stand fatigue better than the
Youngsters. Perhaps it is because they
have taken better care of themselves.
1t is known that several of the old
senators for years have set for them
selves daily certain physical exercises
and have seen to it that no matter
what else was going on to claim their
attention they should not neglect the
duty of keeping well physically.
Age is supposed to mellow mems
temperaments and tempers. There
have been some members of congress,
however, who kept until the very end
the sharp readiness to say the hard
thing. Others who were known for their
quick resentment in youth have found
a means through years of life to dull
the edges of their swords without dull
ing the point. One occasionally hears
as harsh "A thing from the lips of age
as from the lips of youth In the con
main the aged trust more to counsel.