Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1906 — POLITICS and POLITICIANS [ARTICLE]

POLITICS and POLITICIANS

Congressman Olmsted of Pennsylvania expressed this opinion: “It takes a man about four terras to familiarize himself with his office." The late Senator Henry L. Garrett, once the ablest Republican member of the Virginia Legislature, was a first cousin of United States Senator Foraker of Ohio. Sir Wilfrid Laurier will be one of the guests at the Erie, Pa., chamber Of commerce banquet, where he will meet Vice President Fairbanks and Senators Penrose and Knox, who will be the other guests. Congressman Victor Murdock of Kansas is eredited with being the most proficient pianist in the House. It is his ruling passion. Next to this he loves newspaper work, which he understands thoroughly. James R. McLaughlin is the only mem ber of the District of Columbia bar with two distinct professions. He is an ex* cellent lawyer and preaches regularly to Washington congregations, being an ordained Methodist minister. Henry Labouchere retires from parliament without regret from the women of Great Britain, for whom he had no sympathy. It whs he who referred to the aristocratic dames of the “Primrose league” as the “Primrose Pollies.” Having stepped out of |>olitics, former United States Senator W. A. Harris of Kansas is negotiating for the purchase of his old Linwood farm, which he sold while in straitened circumstances, brought on by dabbling in politics. Senator Crane of Massachusetts is an expert judge of paper. When be opens his letters in the Senate he may be seen crinkling the paper between his fingers and holding it up to the light to observe the water mark before reading the communication. John Rouse has been in charge of the main door of the House at Washington for thirty years He is the youngest veteran of the Mexican war on the House list and was a drummer boy at the battle of Vera Crus, where he lost a part of hi* left arm. John Morley’s notes of his speeches I are always interesting owing to his pow'er of condensation. He has devised some , condensations that would not pass mus- ! ter with the printer. One of these consists of a dot In the middle of a capital “O." Thi* represents “in the middle at Um world.”