Topic 19 
SENATOR LODGE'S FIST FIGHT

YOU do not mean that? Why that is even better than I thought! You know the papers said the pacifist struck the first blow?"

I had returned to Oyster Bay from Washington via Boston, and had the "inside" story of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge's fist fight with a pacifist, and the effect it had had on the Senator's constituents.

"The folks down Massachusetts way are amazed and pleased," I told the Colonel.  "If Lodge were a candidate for anything tomorrow, he'd carry even South Boston — and that, normally, is six to one Democratic."

"That is splendid," said the Colonel.  "Now, do I understand you right — Lodge hit this fellow immediately he called him a coward? Is that right?"

"Yes, sir, as I get it, and I'm sure of my facts; he got in the first wallop.  That is why he refused to prosecute the man.

"The funniest thing is Lodge's home paper, the Lynn Item.  This has always been a sort of organ of his, treating him with respect, almost to the point of awe.  It's been picturing him in ring togs as 'the Nahant Kid,' with huskies removing his victim by head and heels.  Everybody is tickled silly with the idea of the Senator developing a wallop in his old age."

"I must say that I share their sentiments, though I am not exactly surprised at his resenting an insult," said the Colonel.  "He's not like some men you and I know.  I’ll admit, however, it is a bit unusual for him to appear in such a role.  I 'm not exactly surprised, and I 'm sure his people would n't be if they knew Lodge as well as they think they do.  If they did, to use your irreverent phrase, they'd know him to be 'a regular fellow' in pretty much everything.  I know you've used that term 'the Colonel was in a bantering mood' — I've heard you.

"His constituents, like most other people, think of Lodge as 'the scholar in politics,' and it never occurred to them that a scholar could or would fight.  In the light of recent performances I do not know that I blame them much.

"Lodge, you know, has always rather cultivated that 'scholar in polities' tradition.  He's been the scholar and he's been in politics, but he's a mighty practical man at that.  Of course I know they have never seen Lodge when he did look the scholar part.  If there was any fault in his make up, he was too well groomed.  He has, however, been, to once more use your irreverent description, a 'regular fellow,' and he has taken good care of his physical self.  He does not look the athlete, but he's more powerful physically than he looks.

"Of course Lodge will fight.  He's never had real occasion to do so until this fellow came along.  Then he did as he always did — a first class job.  Of course he did not knock him out, but he did a good job just the same.

"The 'scholar' tradition about Lodge has always amused me.  He's no bookworm.  He is the student, yes, but he's also the Senator from Massachusetts — do not forget that.  I do not suppose your friends in Boston ever think of Lodge running about on errands for his constituents as other Senators and Representatives have to.  Well, he does as much of that as any man I know.

"When I was President he'd come to me on all sorts of errands for Democrats and Republicans alike.  I once asked him why it was that he had all the unpleasant things to take care of for Massachusetts, pardons and that sort of thing.  He told me he supposed it was because the persons bringing them to him could not be sure others would attend to them.  It involved a lot of hard work, much of it for people who would probably be out fighting him the next day, but that did not matter; at least it did not seem to.

"Lodge and I were friends long before he went to the Senate or I to the White House.  He was helpful to me before I was President, but more so after I became President.  I could depend on him to think clearly and to give me of his best — he was absolutely unselfish about it, too.

"Some persons were foolish enough to think we would break because he supported Taft in 1912.  There never was the remotest chance for that.  I knew where Lodge stood and respected his position; he knew my situation and respected it.  There never was a chance of a personal falling out.  Placed as he was, Lodge could not have acted differently, and I 'm glad that he did n't.

"I am glad he had this fight.  I suppose approval is what would be expected of so truculent a person as I am.  I 'm not surprised nor am I surprised at the way his constituents look at it.  Everybody admires manliness, just as every manly man despises the fellow who won't fight when he has due provocation.  Have you heard what Lodge thinks of the response at home?"

"Yes," said I.  "He has a roomful of letters and telegrams commending him.  Publicly he deprecates the affair; privately I think he is pleased.  However, here's what he said to one Boston man:

"'It's a remarkable commentary on American public opinion that after a lifetime spent in public service and about the time I am ready to pass on, satisfied that I have done some things my children won't be ashamed of, the public suddenly discovers I am a great man when I commit a breach of the peace.' "

"The dear old Brahmin," exclaimed the Colonel, laughing; "that's just like him.  The 'scholar in polities' simply could n't bring himself to saying he had indulged in a fist fight."