Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-12
WINDOWS ORIGIN.

a Breezy Sketch of the Neso Secretary of the
Treasury, and a General Revtesc of Min
sses0ta Politics, Including Bill KtnQ.
[Gath's New York Deter to Cincinnati En-
quirer].
In the financial estimate the new cabinet is
inferior to the old only because the f1nanciers
did not appreciate the fact that another gene
ration has been moved up from legislative to
executive place. John Sherman was the type
of the last administration, and he is eight
years older than Garfield, and five years older
than Window. 1t is not only in the age of the
new cabinet that it represents succeeding
generation The commodity for cabinet ma
terial now grows on the further frontiers, and
a Minnesota man in the treasury department
is to be.judged by his distance from the former
center of government, and by the development
in the governmental relations of his neighbors
aud constituents. Yet the secretary of the
treasury comes more normally to his place
than Albert Gallatin, for instance, eighty years
ago, who was brought out of the wild noun
tain parts of the whisky insurrection. The new
cabinet, with one exception, is stronger than
the old. In Hayes's cabinet integrity was
perhaps more consulted than ability. Devens,
Schurz and Golf are cases in point. Yet Hayes
haa some old veteran politicians, like Ramsey,
who had been Investigated in their day, though
they came out clear.
VIM. Window owes his promotion in great
part to the same thing that made Garfield
President-the fidelity of his constituency to
him. They sent Window to Congress Ave
times, when the governor appointed him to
the Senate, and he was twice elected to the
Senate after that. In the Senate he occupied
a financial position midway between the ne
cessities of his constituents and theiorthodox
convictions of the country on the currency
and the public debt. During his term Min
nesota received her huge pansion from emf
grafton, railroads, Improvements of the mines,
and more approved facilities for grain grow,
ing. The Northern Pacific railroad. which
was at one time fiercely denounced, and is now
as extravagantly commended, was favored by
Window, and he is said to have achieved his
independence by investing in its funds. He
was never a leading Senator. but always an
attentive one. His head was hard enough to
distinguish an able man; and between Blaine
and Conkllng he played the gentleman, and
not the familiar Both considered him
friend, though Blaine may have thought he
stretched the test of friendship somewhat by
keeping Minnesota out of the Blaine column
so long at the Chicago convention.
AS between Allison and Window, the latter
has the most decision, the more stubborn
character heard this discussed the other
day by little group, in which was Senator
Beck, of Kentucky. He said: 'Both Allison
and Window are able men, well versed in the
public service, and either would have made
appears to quit sometimes, but you will see
him back again where he left off soon after
ward"
Window always took care of his person and
clothing in the Senate. Inclined to be portly,
though not fat, his habits were well regu-
lated, his skin always white and healthy,
and his eye bright. Eschewing drink and
voluptuous eating, his manners were uniform,
and he was always ready for business. He
it after it ceased to look new The
political conditions of Minnesota are often
rough. Language is not minced there in con-
troversy. The ambition of new men is not to
be restrained, and the Congressman who can
hold his place half dozen terms, and then
go to the Senate two or three times, must have
made a spectable-perhaps a permanent
impression on his fellow-cltizens. 1t would,
however, surprise these New York cockneys
if they could look into the origin of the great
men IN some of the Western States, and fino
how accidental it was.
About twelve years ago Minnesota had In
the Senate her old Governor, Ramsey, spo-
radio temperance refOrmer named Wilkinson,
a little nmble Democrat named Norton, who
voted against Johnson's conviction, and in
the House were Window and IgnatIus Don
nelly Donnelly was rather the best speaker
in the Northwest, and only required to have
some fixed views to have amounted to some
thing. But he was not scrupulous, and was
vain and fond of invective. One day there was
terrible row in Congress, on account of a
pitched battle between Elihu Washburne and
Observation-Disclosures for both of them, and
in the result injurious to both.
The Washburnes have certain fierce force
of character and severe indignation, without
any of the gentleness and negatveness the
public service induces. Their notion of life is
asking your leave. They concluded to send
one of the younger members of the family to
take Donnelly's seat in Congress, and as a
means to do it Elihu Washburne attacked
Donnelly's appropriations, being at the head
of that committee. Donnelly retorted by
showing how Washburne had no modesty,
got everything he wanted, and assailed every
body else's prerogatives. He said the Wash
burnes were all born branded in the back,
"Members of Congress" and dispatched
to the different States to be elected
The members of Congress at the moment SYM
pathized with Donnelly, Washhurne having
been unpopular; but very soon Donnelly was
off among the Changers, and had driven him.
self by sheer want of stability outside the
party. The night of this speech I went from
curiosity to Donnelly's hotel, and met for the
first time Senator William Window. He look
&c pretty much as he does to-day, except that
he has become rather sitter and more self
conscious with years. He appeared to think
that Donnelly had done pretty well, but that
he ought to go further. Not long afterward
DonnelIy was fighting the whole roost.
Among the architects of politicians In the
Northwest has been Bill King, of Minnesota.
He has played material part, think, in elect
ing Window to the Senate. King was born in
New York and went West as an insurance
agent and started a newspaper at Minneapolis,
which, partly by his engergy, has become a
larger city than st. Paul. His great forte
was lobbying, and he was made postmaster of
the House of Representatives, so that he
could have the right to the floor and an Office
to lobby in. He finally made himself rich. and
was next to supreme in Minnesota. The
Washburns and the Steels and many more were
gobbling up the pine lands OF the State, get
ting the military reservations for song, Sc
curing big appropriations for the WATERPROOF
er, and it was just as legitimate to be in the
lobby as in that kind of craftsmanship. The
condition of our frontier States put personal
iobbery and the public service in very close re-
lation with each other. The big contractor
or Indian trader is eventually sent to the Sem
ate.
Bill King kept making senator's and COVER
nors, and defeating congressman by the aid Of
his newspaper and his activity, until the fool
ish idea entered his head that he ought to 90
to Congress and be great man. He took mp
the Pacific Mail scheme, helped disburse
million or two of money among members and