The daily gazette., 1883-01-20
WASHINGTON.
The slesiing OF the National Republican
COmmittee-senator EaOar's BallOt-bOx
Gnt.

The AIesiing OF the National RePubiican
Committee HOar's I5allot-bOx
scheme.
especial correspondence OF tho GaEette.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. The Republican
National C0mEnittee held . session here .
few days ago and, had something Of q time
trying to determine how the delegattsto the
next nominating convention should be
chosen. Many Of the members seemed TO
feel that 1t made very little difference how
the thing was done, AS there would be little
chance for the candidate anyway; but others
who are themselves ambitious, or the repre-
sentatives of ambition, wanted to have
things fixed to their advantage. twas on the
whole a rather gloomy gathering OF leaders,
wholly lacking in the dash and spirit OF the
'grand old party" in it's harmonious and
prosperous days. About the most touching
Incident was the resignation Of Star Route
Dorsey as Secretary Of the Committee. The
ex-Senator's letter, most plaintive and
heart-rending document, was received In
silence. There was an atmosphere OF solemn
coldness about the room which seemed TO
say, 1--WE are sorry, old fellow, but you have
got caught and we can do nothing for you.
The time was when we could have defed pub.
lie opinion and carried you through as we
have many another, but now We are too
weak Dorsey IN his letter endeavored to
give himself a first-class certificate Of politi-
cal character, which was thoughtful on his
part as It supplies what his colleagues
in their nervousness might have neglected
TO offer him. The certificate which Mr.
Dorsey himself furnishes leaves nothing 10
be desired. 1t Is perfect. 1t sets forth that
but for Dorsey there would probably have
been Democratic victory in 1880, that all
his acts as secretary Of the committee-his
enormous collections of money and his
liberal dispensation Of "soap" In Indiana
were known to and approved by the eandi-
date for President and Vice President, that
with him rested the Supreme RESPONSE
bility" for the results Of the campaign,
and that If any man has ever de-
served the gratitude of his party and
fellow citizens It is the selfsaeri6cing,
patriotic, and indefatigable 8. W. Dorsey.
And yet there are people callous enough TO
keep asking what the excellent Secretary
did with all the money he took to Indiana,
and heartless enough TO wonder how long
Mr.. Dorsey is to succeed In keeping out Of
prison. We also hear hints about Washing
ton that there are other members of the
committee who are quite as little calculated
to reflect credit upon the committee as the
friend adviser and co partner of Brady.
Ex-Secretary Robeson's tender testimonial
to the character Of his bosom friend Mr..
Roach on the floor Of Congress the Other day
must have drawn teara, humorous or other
wise, from the eyes of those who heard it.
If Mr. Robeson had merely said that Mr..
Roach knew how to build ships and get a
good price for them he would have given his
friend good advertisement; but he went SO
much further that 1t is impossible not to
believe that Mr.. Robeson hopes to become
| Secretary of the Navy again one of these
| days, and that Mr.. Roach will take as good
| care of him as he ever did In other days.
''I'll tickle you now il you'll tickle me after
while" is q very old politico business
principle, and people who know Mr.. Robe
son and Mr.. Roach will not be in difficulty
about applying It.
The hard time that Senator Hoar had TO
get himself reelected to the Senate reminds
me that one Of the biggest jobs that has
been introduced in Congress this winter is
| his proposition to purchase with Govern
ment money, at $50 each, about half mil
lion voting machines invented by Boston
man, and supply them to every election dis
| trict in the United States. just what the
merits OF the machine are | have not yet
been able to find out, but 1t is some sort Oi
a glass contrivance with the ballots pasted
on an endless belt, for the supposed pur-
pose of preventing fraud upon the fran
chise. But as the election judges
would handle, aud possibly tampel
with every ballot, the security of the thing
is not so apparent. The only certainty on
the face of the present returns is that the
man who makes the machines would bc
suddenly made enormously rich If Mr.
Hoar's proposition should be adopted
Speaking of rich men, while walking dowI
the avenue one morning recently in com
pany with Senator the name of Senator
Plumb was mentioned. "Did you know
said he, "that Senator Plumb and Whitelaw
Reid worked in the same Office at one
time" Your humble correspondent pleaded
ignorance, and the speaker continued
"Plumb was foreman of little weekly
paper in Xenia, Ohio, of which Reid wa
editor, and they worked together for quit
a while. Both have struck luck since thos
days. The unknown editor of the insight
iicant weekly got In with Jay Gould ant
Jim Blaine, made money and married mil
lions. His foreman went west of tn
Missouri and caught on, to use a stree
term, just at the right time. am told h
| . mn nnp~ af ann