The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-03

He experiences no difficulty in writing po-
etry at any time and can grind out rhyme
TO order, while the press waits. He is a most
prolific writer, and can prevaricate and I'LL
| up" equal to Gath. Then. too, he has an eX-
cellent memory. His most intimate friends
| think he would be most successful as a cor
! RESPONDENT, and it is not improbable that he
! Will attempt such work before uanV years,
| He could give to his letters a touch of humOr
! and sarcasm that no correspondent OF to-day
can give 4 characteristic OF Mr. Field is
his handwriting. Three pa Is of lis manu-
script will fill column OF the averaEe-sized
newspaper.
A KANSAS SENATOR.
| met Senator Plumb, OF Kansas, a'few
days ago. The Senator is not a humorist,
but he is about as ugly person as one can
find, unless he is looking at Chicago ladies'
Last winter he used to say that he would
have to divide honors Cd that question with
Senator-eiect Kenna, of West Virginia.
Senator Plumb has the appearance of the
regulation Kansan. He is of the average
height is not heavy set, has dark eyes and
hair, and billy-gOat beard two inches long
on his chin, and red In conversation, he has
habit of continually pulling his whskers,
throwing back his head and moving his eyes
He wears almost invariably common bust
ness suit and a dark felt hat. His iewelry
is scarce. A number of years ago the Sena-
tor was part owner of a weekly paper pub
lished at Xenia, O. He was succeeded by
Whitelaw Reid. low of the New York Trib-
une. After disposng of his interest, Plumb
went to Kansas and again became engaged
in newspaper work. Later he studied law.
He represented his town, EmpOra, in the
State Legislature for a time, and by that
body was chosen, six years ago, to represent
Kansas in the United States Senate. Last
fall he was unanimously reelected for an
other senatorial term. He is moderately
wealthy being interested in some Kansas
cattle corporations 1t has been claimed that
he was also interested in some of the rich
mines of the South, but those interests in
stead of belonging to him are owned by a
brother-in-aw. In Washington the Senator
has apartments near the principal hotels.
His rooms look like the exchange editors
room on a large city daily. lie
is a subscriber to between one and
two hundred papers. These generally
are allowed to accumulate till Sunday morn
ing when he glances through them and
clips them with the rapdity OF an expert
enced editor. This hurried action is one OF
his characteristics. He talks hurriedly and
walks hurredY. In considering measures
in the Senate like Sunset" Cox in the
House. he pushes them through as rapidly
as possible He is not eloquent in his talk,
but has the happy faculty OF INDUCING in
good common-sense arguments.
While talking with him in one of the Chi
cago hotels he said he understood that Dor
sey was going to Europe for the benefit OF his
health.
/ said to him: Senator, what will be the
result in the coming speakership and presi-
dental CONTESTS
He replied: Randall will be the next
Speaker. He has more political sense than
all the rest OF the candidates put together
! He has had experience, has had training I'M
der Iilden, and is one of the best. if not the
best men that the Democrats have He
would make a good Democratic nominee
for the presidency. Carlisle is a strong
man, but he can hardly be compared 20 Ran
dali.
Il have come to this conclusion regarding
the Presidency-that Democrat will stand
no show unless ne has a war record. Rose
GRAMS of California and Slocum. OF New
York, are men that might run very good
race have no fears OF the Republicans be-
ing unsuccessful however. There is no doubt
but what they will have the next President
1t will be hard to say who will be the uoml-
nee All that is said would be merely
guesswork. / don't think Blaine will be
nominee, for those who have been his warm
est supporters in the past are now not favor
ing him."
The Senator was one of the ardent support.
ers last winter OF the bill reducing letter
postage. | asked him if there would be any
legislation on that subject this coming SEES
sion OF Congress.
Said he: BY an error that occurred in
the bill passed last March the government
will lose about 81 100000. 1t provided for
an increasedi percentage in the sale OF stamps
to be given as salaries to a certain class of
postmasters. 1t was intended to have the in
crease go into effect Oct. l. the time the
measure became a law, but instead clause
was inserted making it go into effect the date
of the passage OF the bill. This gives a num-
Der OF postmasters more pay than it was de-
sired they should have The error may pre-
vent legislation on the subject in the shape
of reduction next session. The next reduc-
ton that will in all probability be made will
be reducing drop-letters in letter-carrIcr
cities to one cent People will object to pay
ing the same price for having letter deliv-
cred IN the city as II costs to send it to any
place in the United States. Then will follow
a reduction in newspaper postage" X.