The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-04

Aunkee-An Improved OF AAk
CIasse--PresidentiaI Prsbabiiiiios-Csn-
gressmen's III and How They Wear
Ghem-Temperance at ths Capitol.
Special Corresp 5ndelce of the Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.
The New South is attracting good deal Of
attention here now. The vigorous growth Of
Sow enterprises in all the Southern States, par
ticularly those east of the Mississippi, is very
gratifying to everybody. Reports coming from
many of these States show a steady and grati-
flying influx of Northern capital, and with it
Northern energy. A gentleman just arrived
here from Key West in Florida, the southern
most point of the United States, reports the
appearance of the ever present aud ever active
Yankee, and what is more important, the in
vestment OF his money Orange, cocoanuL
banana aud pineapple plantations are spring.
ing up all over this tropical section of the
Sunny South. One firm Of Naw Yorkers has
just begun the work of establishing cocoAuut
grove of 100000 trees, while tns culture OF
pinesPpitS an oraages is being pushed IN many
parts of the tate. TIE Florida people, too,
plume themselves, as well they niay, upon the
railway development of their STATE, some 500
miles of road having been constructed in,t1o~-
State in the past two years, more, with one ex-
ception than in any one of the Southern
States.
Georgia and South Carolina are full of man.
ufacturiug interests. The cotton mills of
those States are. reported doing wall, adding
thousands to the number OF their spiudles, aad
manufacturing the cotton at the very spot
where it is grown. In Mississippi railway
building is being pushed rapidly, and sections
OF the State whose values Were hitherto unsDo
pecied are being opeued. In Tennessee the
establishment and the growth of the iron
works proving Of incslculable value.
Everywhere" said RspreseuLstive Houk
OF Tennessee, yesterday moruing, "the signs of
growth and improvement in the condition
of the psople are visible. Through the noun
tains where iron aud coal and all the re-
quirements for manufacturing are at hand,
towns springing up and manufactures are
starring their fires. The result is improved
conoiton of all G Asses. The farmer, who
few years ago, got two and a half cents dozen
for his eggs now gets twenty-five, and
that at ready market. For his eggs, vege-
tables, and grain aud tobacco he not only nDds
a sale, which he did not before, but ready
sale at price that are profitable. Daring my
last canvass rode over my district great
deal, aud everywhere saw evidences OF this
often. would come on camps of men trav-
cling with loaded wagons to some OF the man
ufacturiDg towns, who would say that they
expected to get $50 for their load OF truck that
ten years ago would not have brought them
50. and this increase of prosperity brings q
desire for increased comforts and increased in
tslligence. The result is a greatly improved
condition things with the people of the
Stale, and especially those of the eastern por-
tion where this manufacturing industry 10
most to be found"
PRE- E.IDENTIAL PROBABILITIES.
There seems to DO a growing impression that
clark horses" are to be the winners, perhaps
on both sides, in the presidential conventions.
Congressman Singleton, of Illinois, who Is q
very shrswd observer and gentleman OF long
experience. is here just now visiting his old
friends in Congress aud in Washington. He
ha nd q ms kQd oh in IN
ment in the past few months, and that he looks
for some surprises In regard to the presidential
nomination on the Democratic side at least.
81 very much doubt" he said, "whether the
candidate has yet been named. may be mis-
taken, bot it seems to me that we are not like
ly t. see any of the candidates thus far promin-
emily mentioned given the nomination"
Have you an idea what his name will be-
this dark horss?'
mot yet. Only time will develop that
The General was too loyal to his psrty to say
that the reason of the apparent change in sem
timent, which indicated choice of some new
man, was because OF the opposition to making
the tariff prominent issue in the campaign,
bat that is the fact. The choice of any OF the
Candidates thus far named, with tariff views OF
pronounced character, is so certain to awaken
factional feeling in the party, that there 10
desire TO hnd some man upon whom the party
can unite in this particular.
Phil. Thompson, of Kentucky, says Flower
of New York is this of msu, In an in
tervlew here day or two ago he declared in
favor Of this gentleman, saying "he had Just
enough tariff and none too much, aud quite
enough mouey." He might have added that
he had sufficient ambition, and little enough OF
judgment tc spend the money, too. Flower is
a fat country banker, who came to New York
few years ago. and falling into good oppor-
tunity made money. He is probably mill
llonaire, and his ambition is only bounded bY
the presidency. He has the remarkable public
experience OF one term in Congress, where he
Aisti hod hu dali arft fhroo
four schoolboy orations at inopportuns mo-
mentSupon public topics, having in each case
csretally prepared them beforehand, aud then
spent thousands upon thousands Of dollars in
scattering them to the country. Hundreds OF
thousands of copies of his speeches we're order
ed printed, and forces of men and boys were
employed by him TO mail them to all parts Of
the country, and if the waste places were not
made glad, the desert at least blossomed with
Flowers oratory. He is reported to have spent
as much as $4,000 in the distr rbution of this
free literature for the benefit of a benighted
people.
CONGRESSIONAL HEAT. GEAR.
study of head-gear OF members Of Con-
gress by means of cursory trip through the
cloak rooms whom the House i, In session, re-
veals some curious facts. The hat worn by
Congressman Kelly, the prince of protection
ists, would no more cover the crahium Of
Frank Hurd, Of free trade fame, tnan peck
measure could bs pulled down over bali
bushel. Hurd's hat, on the other hand, would
drop down 70 Kelly's ears. And what sur
prise it would be to that statemans friends to
SEQ him with as shiny beaver as Hurc's, for
Frank wears the most fashionable and highly
polished beaver on his side Of the House, willis
kelly's old tile is absolutely "shockipg."
Most OF the Southern members wear the tYpi-
cal souch hat, although Reagan, the Post
master-General of the late CoDiederacy, de-
lights IN an old beaver of the most unfashion-
able shape, well worn and without lining,
which he perches iauntily on his head, as he
ambes down the avenue or patroniZss the fes-
tive bob-tailed Car Cox OF New York also
wears a shocking bad hat, old and rusty, aud
of very ancient style. Hiscock wears fine
felt hat, always pulled down over bis eyes.
The new members usually wear new and fash
ionable hats, but this does not apply to all Of
that class, some of the head-gear on the hooks
bearing new names, reminding one OF the
gravel train.
CoNGREsM MEN AS wHIsKKY DRINKERS.
There is growing belief in the deceRcy Of
Congress. A few irresponsible penny-a-Lners
who iud it easier to sit in their offices and
grind ont sensational stories without tOunda-
tiOn than to hustle round and look Tor actual
news, amuse themselves by telling tremendous
tales about the immortality of members of
| Congress; but the fact is that the average
Congressman is quite . respectable person, and
| duly sober. 81 think" said a member of this
| Congress, who had been here as a coperessman
| years ago, "that there is much less drinking in
this Congress than there used to be a few
years ago. That is, mean drinking of whisr
key or anything OF that nature. see good
MANY members drinking hot water, at the hot
water fountain adjoining the House, but very
little OF anything else. Now 1t used to be a very
common thing to see congressman dr. nSil z; in
deed, so common was IL that nothing was
thought or said of it. Now, however, it is
very uncommon thing to see member drink
Ing, and to see one under the influsuca Of
drink is something quite remarkable" "Y,s,"
chimed in congressman, who was Just taking
glass OF hot water at the fountain for his
| stomach's sake, "there certainly is very little.
| have only seen one member of Congress this
| session who could possibly be suspected OF be-
| ing und the influence of anything more than
| hot water"
| He might have added that that appears to be
| the CONSTANT condition of the msmbsr referred
| to. If he is not constantly drunk his actions
and appearance arc very unfortunate. BE, OF
| course, did not mention any name, or in auy
way indicats ths man he referred to, out any
| observer from the gallery, or any one familiar
| with the corridors could name a member from
a State which prides herself upon being a
mother OF Presidents, whose appearance aud
| conduct, hoth in aud out of the House. indi-