National Republican., 1882-12-23
ON THE AVENUE.
Walks nnd Talks with Public Men.

ON THE AVENUE.
Walks and Talks with Public Men.
A gentleman just from Colorado brings the
intelligence that Gov. Pitkin's health is still
poor, and that the republicans of that state
have reluctantly concluded they will have to
forego his election to the senate. He is not
yet out of the field however, and may come
In a winner, though his chances are believed
to be waning almost to the point of total ex-
tinguishment. OF the dozen or more candi-
dates in the" field, Messrs. Rouett, Chatlee
Hamill, and Tabar are supposed to have the
most strength. 1t is anybody's fight, for all
that anybody can now see. The prospective
fight two years hence between Messrs Teller
and Hill, will begin among politicians as soon
as the one now pending is off the books. For
that matter it has commenced already, and
will cut no mean figure in the settlement of
the dispute which is to eventuate next month.
a@a
Mai. "Ned" Burke, editor and proprietor
of the New Orleans Times Democrat, looms up
as a possible successor to Senator Jonas, whose
term of office will expire in 1855. The major,
though still young man, has condensed the
work of several lives in the last twenty years
of his career. He had charge Of the trans
portation of supplies for the confederate
armies along the gulf and lower Mississippi
during the war; a position in which he de-
veloped wonderful executive ability and pow
ers of organization. At the close of the war
he went over into Texas, locating in Calves
ton, where he built up an immense wholesale
business and then collapsed. He landed in
New Orleans few years ago without dollar,
and went to work in a stone yard as
a common laborer. He was ambitious to
get on, and the easiest way he saw of making
Roadway was to identify himself with the fire
department prominently, as n stepping stone
to political preferment. He watched his
chances and one night he made a daring res
cue, snatching child, or sick woman or
something else in the shape of helpless hui
manity, from a burning building The fire
laddies made hero of him and he was elected
captain of one of the companie. He pushed
himself into the management of one of the
New Orleans railway, was nominated fora city
Office and defeated. Then he tried for the
sub treasurership, the richest office in the
state, and was elected managing the state
campaign at the same time as chairman of the
campaign committee, and doing more probably
to change the political complexion of
the state than any body within its
borders. When the new state constitution
was adopted he had his own official term ex-
tended two or three years. He turned hisat
tention to newspapers, and after three or four
years of experimental effort obtained control
fthe consolidated Times Democrat. espread
out rapidly after he was started on the up
turn, and several times found himself in
VOWED in financial difficulties. A happy mat
rimonal partnership with a $250,0O0 widow
smoothed his path, however, and he is sup
posed to be worth half a million dollars at
the present time. He is possessed of bound
less ambition, and is full of pluck, energy,
and clear grit. He is shrewd, plausible,
diplomatic, and indefatigable in pushing a
campaign for himself or anybody else, and
will be dangerous competitor for senatorial
honors. The legislature to be elected in the
spring of 1884 will choose Senator Jonas's sue
cessor.
The Iowa delegation has agreed to recon-
mend the appointment of George w. Perkins,
editor of the Sioux City Journal, to the posi-
) ton of marshal of the northern district of
} Iowa, and Mr.. OConnell, of Fort Dodge, to
the office of district attorney. There We're
| many applicants for the offices, but as the del
egation determines federal appointments of
[ that character in the state by ballot the con-
test made no disturbance in the departments
or in the white house. By the method en-
, ployed by the Iowa statesmen the Oldest sena-
: tor has no more influence in the matter of ap-
pointments than the newest member of the
lower house.
~
e The demand of the whisky distillers fol
1 congressional relief has set people to looking
up the proceedings of congress when this
same question was under discussion four years
ago, and comparisons distasteful to the alco.
holic manufacturers are being instituted in
: consequence. Wherever the lobbyists go they
are confronted with such talk as this: "When
: YOU asked and obtained an extension of the
u time of paying taxes on whisky in bond il
n 1878 you said that ruin stared the distillere.
If in the face, and that unless congress gave
is them relief they would go to the eternal bow
t. vows and their buildings would rot Yor
It promised that the passage of the bill ther
l. pending would be followed by diminished pro
d duction, and that the holders would work of
If their surplus accumulations by the expiration
~ of the extension. Instead of tapering oil
q as agreed, they went into the manu-
n facture of whisky in n more extravagan
- and reckless manner than ever, ant
now they find themselves in a worse position
:, than when they appealed for help before
u Should they be granted another extension
'e they will be worse oil three or five year
y hence than they are now, and their distrcs
50 would accumulate to such an extent tina
m nothing short of loan from the natiOna
c. treasury would lift them out of the sud
10 eventually. Judging from my acquaintanc
n with the whisky men in general, have n
Iy doubt that they have cheek enough to de
70 mand such a loan. There is literally no limi
e to their gall. 1t is my belief that the dis
70 tllers expect to get an extension, and then
1t have the tax removed entirely from thei
m whisky in warehouses. The next step will b
n. purchase of the whole store and a clamo
IN for reinstatement of the tax, which will be
p. neat thing in the way Speculation"
oi Newspaper and Not an Organ.
n LOcJOr JOuradi,
be Speaking of reform about the most practi