Evening star., 1934-09-16

Seventeenth Congress.
trary. Blaine served three terms and during
that time resided at s21 Fifteenth street
northwest (no longer standing). Subsequently
he lived on Dupont Circle, when he was .
candidate for the presidency, and where he had
a stained glass window put in the hail. faith
fully reproducing the features of an old colored
woman who had served them devotedly. He
died In the Rodgers house, site OF the Belasco
Theater, and was buried in Rock Greek
Cemetery. His remains were removed from
there several years ago.
\ AICHAEL c. KERR of Indiana, who lived
lVl at willards when in town, followed after
Samuel J. Randall, the high-tariff Democrat
of Pennsylvania, who came hto the hmelight
and held the spot for three consecutive
terms. Some say he was the greatest Speaker
the House ever had, but that, Of course, Is
matter of personal opinion. Our fellow
townsman and the writer's personal friend,
G. @. Lancaster, who died . few years back,
married Speaker Randall's daughter, and his
descendants, no doubt, residing in the
city. Mr.. Randall when In Congress lived st
100 G street southeast
J. Warren Keifer of Ohio became Speaker
In December, 1881, and served throughout the
Forty-seventh Congress, when he was sue
ceeded by John G. Carlisle Of Kentucky,
very able man, who retained the Office for
three terms and later became Secretary of the
Treasury during Mr.. Cleveland's second adj
minktration. He stopped ct the old Riggs
House. which stood on the southeast corner
of Fifteenth and G streets, opposite the
Treasury.
A new era was ushered in with the next in~
cumbent of the Speakers chair, for Thomas B.
Reed Of Maine changed the rules, seemingly %
drastic at that time, that the Democrats
dubbed him Gear" Reed, and while he was I'M
- >&AI - nsHf taA
complshed something for his party and those
who have followed him in the ofhce have
found it desirable and necessary to substan-
TALLY continue his rules.
But there was humor in ''Tom" Reed, and
though he did sometimes find it necessary to
did 1t in q tactful way. Upon one occasion,
1t Is said, when a majority vote was necessary,
all Republican members out Of the city were
ordered home Immediately. One member, up
North, after starting for Washington, found
he could not proceed further on account OF
floods, and sent the Speaker telegram saying:
"Washout on the line; can't get there" When
Mr.. Reed received the wire, "washout' was
written as two words, and so he Immediately
wired back: BUY another shirt and come on"
Mr.. Reed made his home at the Hamilton and
later at the Shoreham.
Charles r. Crisp Of Georgia became Speaker
in December 1891. and served two terms. He
was an able presiding officer. David B. Hem
derson Of Iowa followed, and then came the
four consecutive terms of Joseph G. Cannon,
who received 48 votes for the presidential
nomination at the Republican National Con-
vention at Chicago in 1908. Uncle" Joe, %
most every one called him, very popular.
Some one asked him once what he thought OF
women smoking cigarettes. He said he saw No
objection to it, since his mother always smoked
o pipe. He is buried in his home town al
Danville, Ill.
Champ Clark Of Americus. Ga. becams
Speaker April T. 1911, and served four terms
in all He was a man greatly liked and his
many friends regretted that he was not nomi-
mated for the presidency during the Demo-
cratic National Convention in Baltimore I'M
1912, when he led on 20 ballots and had q
clear majority on 8. Mr.. Clark died in this
city in 1901.
Frederick H. Gillett of Massachusetts, came
next, with three terms, followed by NJ cholas
Longworth with three. The Vice Prasident,
John M. Garner Of Texas succeeded Mr..
Longworth, and then came the recently de-
ceased Speaker, Henry T. Rainey of Illinois,
who was as much of q credit to the officc as
any Of his predecessors -
MI N,~o,a::o Eox,,x. I:LI