Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-01-26
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

ESuilIueu vi luc lliuldu say ing NHCh viz
late senatorial contest is brought to mind.
That many members of the legislature
gave encouragement to both candidates
there can be little doubt, and only made
up their minds for whom they would vote
when it was demonstrated to a certainty
which side was going to win. The idea
suggests itself that this is not in accord
ance with old fashioned notions of pro-
priety, but it is the way many of the
modern politicians do things neverthe-
less
Last Tuesday evening the Sawyer crowd
field caucus, and the men who came
here with the determination to go with
the winning side concluded that it was
not safe O remain outside, and as a con-
sequence every member who had himself
to look after before any other considera-
ton was swooped in. Several men who
had been Keyes' supporters from the start
could not withstand the temptation and
into the Sawyer caucus they went. When
noses were counted it was found. that
enough were present to nominate the
Oshkosh lumberman, and some to spare.
This caucus practically decided the ques-
ton and the following day was one of
gloom at the Keyes headquarters. We'd
nesdav evening the republican. caucus
was held in the Senate Chamber Every
one knew what the result of the first bal
lot would be, AM very little interest was
manifested in its deliberations. On the
informal ballot Sawyer received 5S votes,
Keves 25, Washburne 10, and the re-
manning 10 votes were divided up be-
tween almost as many Individuals. This
ballot was declared a formal one, and
Sawyer's nomination made unanimous.
This ended the senatorial contest of 1881.
Philetus Sawyer is now as good as elected
United States Senator for six years from
the 4th of March next. The formal cleo
ton will take place before this letter is
published but the pr ceeding will not
consume twenty minutes time.
Philetus Sawyer, the man who will
succeed Angus Cameron in the U S. Sen
ate, was born in Vermont in the year
1916, and worked in his fathers black
smith shop until he was Is years old,
when he purchased his time OF his faith
er for 500. He came to Wisconsin in
1S47, settling in the northern part of the
state, where he has accumulated an im-
mense fortune in the numbering business.
He is man Of great business capacity,
and has made his money in an honest,
straightforward manner. He has been
in the state legislature several times, and
and served his district in Congress be-
tween the years 1865 and 1875. AL
though man for whom nature has done
a great deal, he has little or no education.
His knowledge of textbooks may be linn
tied but his strong common sense and
knowledge Of the world are worth mere
than any amount of knowledge derived
from books alone.
In personal appearance Mr.. Sawyer is
not as attractive as he might be. He
is short, thick set, bunchy man, with
round bald head, which rests six inches
too near broad pair of shoulders; and
Waddles fearfully when he walks. He
would suffer in comparison with Senator
Conklin or Blaine in personal attractions.
He is not the ideal senator in any way
shape Or manner, but his record in the
House of Representatives tells us that Phi
letus Sawyer will be no "bump on log
in the Senate of the United States.
The legislature since disposing of the
senatorship has settled down to work
and more or less bills are intro
duced at every session. Two or three bills
have already been introduced providing
for lower rate of interest, and more are
coming. There promises to be another
lively fight on the interest question this
winter. The first of the week resolu-
ton was introduced in the assembly for
the appointment of committee to in
1uire into the workings of the kerosene
oil law which was enacted last winter,
said committee to report by bill or other
wise. The resolution was killed in the
senate on Thursday. A great deal of
dissatisfaction is manifested, however,
with the law. l have talked with several
members who announced themselves in
favor of its unconditional repeal, while
others favored a change in the test The
principal objections to the law are-tirst,
that the oil which stands the legal test has
poor illuminating qualities; and second,
the increase of so per cent in the price
of kerosene since the law went into eff