The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-02-27

Sketches Of Some Ohio C0ngressmen.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercially
MILT. sAYLER
Sits at desk No. 4, to the immediate
right of Speaker Randall. He is not as
frequently in his seat during this session
as has been the custom during the pre-
ceding ones. 1t may be owing to the fact
that the disbursement of defeat has
fostered decentralization of energy for
legislative business. He spends a good
share of his time in the cloak-rooms. out
in the outer circle of the hall, where he
smokes, chats, laughs and says the wise
and witty things for which he is noted,
and which have added perceptibly to
his personal popularity, and not in the
least detracted from his political in
fuence. It'll but truth to say that per-
sonally he is the most popular man in
the House, and, had not Ben. Butter
worth shorn him of his political glory,
he would have been the successor of
Sam. Randall in the Speakers chair.
Butthat is all over now, and Sayler must
content himself to see Blackburn reach
the place that he might have had. When
in his seat he is usually conversing with
his near neighbors, Rice and Banning,
and not unfrequently is there a gather
ing for political conference around his
chair by the leading members of the
House. As speaker, he is free, easy
and rather conversational. He never
indulges in oratorical periods or de-
clamatOry movements, but talks squickly
and tersely to the proposition under con-
sideration. Heis frequently called to
act as Speaker pro tem, and as such he
is considered to have but one equal in
urbanity of manner, promptness of ac-
ton, and impartiality of decision, and
that one is John G. Carlise, of Kentucky.
Sayler boards at Willard's, and is gen.
eral favorite there of the ladies, little
children, and the man who sells cigars
and lemonade. He is generous in spend
ing his evenings in the corridor, smok-
ing his cigar and conversing with his
friends as to the future of himself and
his party.
H. B. BANNING
Has a seat between Mcmahon and Say
Ter, to the right of the Speaker, and he
generally occupies it during session. He
does considerable talking; not as much
as Finley, or Sam. Cox, or Conger, but
nevertheless, enough to enroll his name
those who think that silence is
not always golden. He is vigorous
worker, and an irresistible FOUNDER at
any subject in which he is interested.
He is rather impulsive and cratic. His
action on his army bill represents the
man very we'll. Determined not to see
it total failure, he has amended and
amended the original bill until its for
mer opponents have enlisted themselves
in its behalf, and yet the accepted bill
has retained Banning's original features.
He is very pleasant and affable, and is
far from being looked upon as boor or
a cynic. He is never put forward as a
Captain, to lead the company to
charge, but is considered good Lieu
tenant, TO see that the men are all there
and ready for fight. He boards at
Willard's, and is one of the great favor
ties of that house, for he is liberal, good
natured and homelike. He pays the
best of attention to the ladies, and never
turns his ears from a pleading constitu-
ent or a friend in politics in search of
counsel or facts.
CHARLES FOSTER
Sits far back on the Republican side,
near the main aisle, and to the rear of
Garfield and to the front of Acklen, of
Louisiana. He has said that he wished
Acklen would move away, or else the
ladies would think that he has selected
that seat in order to nurse his little
protege. 1t did look little that way af-
ter he had publicly exonerated (after an
investigation) the social hero of the
South, but he has now made amends for
that act by paying no attention at all to
the immortal, black-haired Acklen, and
leaves him to his own meditatiens. Fos-
ter is not in his seat much of the time,
and makes no pretension to do any work
in the way of answering letters or mail
ing documents during the session of the
House. His time is mostly engaged in
consulting with Garfield, Hale, Keifer
and Banks; in trotting down to the
Clerks desk to look after some matter
in whispering to Conger to give them the
devil; in patting Sam Cox on the
shoulder and telling him not to be so
bitter, and in leaning against the railing
of the House to make faces at Ben. But
ler. He is unquestionably one of the
foremost men of his party. No big con-
ference is had but that Charlie Foster is
its animating or leading spirit, and / am
inclined to think that he to-day is as
great a power in the ranks of that organ.
ization as either Hale or Garfield; but
these two come to the public notice the
most, because they do all the talking,
yet it may be that Charlie is the very
one that animated them to the struggle
He seldom speaks; in fact he does nc
talking; he is one of the great silent
members, the great executive and organ
izing force of the Republican party in
the House. 1t seems strange, but 50 il
is, that he visits the Democratic side OF
the chamber more than any other Repub
lican. 1 have seen him sit and talk long
with Rice and Sayler, and laugh and
crack jokes with Sam Cox and Tom Ew
ing, argue with Wood and Hooker, anG
promenade with Tucker and Blackburn
They seem to like him socially, even il
their political relationship is antipodal
He israther marked man in appearance
and whether the stranger would see hin
standing, talking, walking or sitting, ht
would very soon want to know who tina
dark-haired, deep set, black-eyed, big
headed, busy, energetic fellow was; ant
if told, and the name was never befor
heard by him, the remark would Ger
tainly come: Well, 1 will bet fv
dollars that if you get that man in
tight place you will have to be almight.
smart"
As for Fosters candidacy for the Gov
ernorship, it is hard to say anythin
more than that he wants the position
and it looks as though he would get it.
EX-GOVERNOR cox
Sits to the front of the Speaker on tn
Republican side, by the main aisle, an,
between Monroe and Jones. 1t is i
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