Evening star., 1936-06-07
By John Clagen Proctor

Congress breaks into the news
In the fashion Of Marion A.
~ Zioncheck, and for while holds
the spotlight with his queer actions, we
cannot help but feel that, after all,
the members of the legislative branch
Of the Federal Government ere Just
plain folks; have the same faults and
frailities and make about the same
mistakes as do the rest Of mankind.
It is true that more Is expected from
members of Congress than from the
rank and file of citizens, and when we
take into consideration the fact that
they are the representatives of the peo-
pie, and that they should act as models
for those whom they serve, it is but
natural that their acts of indiscretion
make us sometimes wonder how they
ever were elected to such an august
body-or what should be, at least, an
august body.
Naturally, there are many fine men
In Congress, and it would be entirely
wrong to infer that this were not so,
but then the average CongresSman's
home life, the things he does he should
not do, that no one is supposed to
know about but himself, and the things
he leaves undone that he should do
puts him in about the same category
with everybody else-no better and no
worse.
In the early days they fought duels,
Just as did other citizens, under the
belief, at the time, that shooting or
stabbing one to death was the proper
way to settle human differences. Now,
those inclined to lose their heads in de-
bate call each other nasty names, and
sometimes get away with it; sometimes
they do not fare so we'll. But, from the
beginning of the Republic, nearly
everything imaginable has happened in
Congress and with Congressman. and
will probably continue to happen to
the end of time.
When John Quincy Adams was
President, more than century ago,
We are told, he once sent his son, John
Adams, who served as his fathers pri-
vate secretary, to the Capitol with a
message to Congress. Adams, accord
ing to the story, had already delivered
the message to the House and was or
his way to the Senate chamber when
Russell Jarvis, editor of the Washing
ton Telegraph, overlook him and said
you insulted me and some ladies who
were with me at the White House re-
ception week ago."
What if I did" retorted Adams
whereupon Jarvis pulled the secre.
tary's nose, which was about the worst
insult one could offer in bygone days
He also boxed his ears, when Repre-.
sentative Dorsey of Maryland. who
heard the commotion, came to Adams
relief and parted them.
pUT trifing with the feelings oi
newspaper men does not always
end as easily as did this incident, anc
many will recall the unfortunate out
come Of the shooting of ex-Congress
man William Preston Taulbee b!
Charles Kincaid, which occurred OF
February %, 1890. This was a case O.
"when Greek meets Greek"-for botl
men were Kentuckians and supposed Il
be quick on the trigger.
Taulbee had served in the two pre-.
ceding Congresses, but was defeated
for reelection, for which he held Kin.
caid, correspondent for the Louisville
Times, responsible, the latter having
written certain statements in regarc
to him and a Patent Office scandal.
The trouble began in the House cor.
ridor near the east door, where Judge
Kincaid had come to send card tt
O member on the floor. Taulbee, 81
an account states, was near the dool
and accosted Kincaid, calling hin
aside, but Kincaid declined to have
any communication with him anc
Taulbee seized him by the ear. This
was shortly after IL o'clock.
Taulbee was raw-boned man, con.
siderably over feet tall, and Kin.
caid, who was no match for hin
physically, was a frail man of prob.
ably not more than S feet inche:
tall.
About 20 minutes before 2 o'clocl
they met again just outside the Cap
itol, near the southeastern entranc.
to the building. This time Kincait
pulled out revolver and shot Taulbet
in the head, the bullet striking in tn.
vicinity Of the left temple, coming ou
ut the eye. Taulbee was accompanied
at the time by Ex-Doorkeeper San
Donaldson, and it Is said Kincaic
came down the steps behind the pail
and in a hurried manner touched
Taulbee on the shoulder. The ex.
Congressman reeled sharply around
and Kincaid, raising his weapon, fred
Kincaid was arrested, tried, and
according to the writer's recollection
was acquitted. Taulbee fingered al
Providence Hospital until March II
following the shooting, and died from
the wound.
Unfortunately. the holding Of higf
office sometimes has its penalties a,
well as its prominence, as happened
to be the case with Representative,
Charles H. Van wyck of New York
who came near losing his life OF
Washington's birthday anniversary
back In 1861, when passing through
lonely part of the Capitol grounds a
night. The illustrated weeklies at tn,
time gave an imaginary picture Of tn,
attack, but little information abou
the assault itself, but The Star CAV
the important facts as the write
found upon investigation, saying:
Desperate attempt at assassination
Last night desperate attempt wa
made to assaSsinate Hon. G. H. Val
Wyck of New York as he was goin,
from the room of Senator King, Ii
Capitol Hill, to the National. MI
Van Wyck left Senator Kings abou
II O'Clock, and while passing dow
the north side of the Capitol ground
he was attacked by three men, on
Of whom struck him upon the lef
side with large dirk knife. Tn
blade of the knife cut a hole In hi
overcoat, about 11a inches long, an,
was driven through o folded copy o
the Congressional Globe and alrnos
through q large, leather-coveret