The Dawson journal., 1884-04-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, April IA, 1884.
The question of revival of the
right of suffrage in the District of Col
umbia has been much agitated of late.
1t has been claimed in behalf of the
movement that the disorderly element
that use TO snake things howl on
election days has been eliminated
scattered through the country, and
that a better voting class
has taken their place.
On every occasion, however,
when there has been chance to do
any voting, the result has shown that
the same rowdy element remains
here and is ready to come to the
front on the slightest encouragement
The beauties of suffrage were most
recently presented to Washington
when the elective franchise" was
exercised some evenings age IN the
election of delegates to Chicego
The convention was marked by a
disgraceful scene of confusion and ri
OF and noisy clamor for suffrage by
a bolsterous mob. There are var
ious causes for this state of things at
the National Capital. For one, a
very considerable portion of the white
voting population-ten or twelve
thousand at least-are government
employees, who under our wonderful
civil service reform system, dare not
accept citizenship in Washington, bat
must hold themselves as citizens in
the state to which they are accrcd-
tied Another cause for the prepond-
GRANGE of the voting roughs is the
fact that the influx of population of
late years that goes to make the new
Washington, is largely composed of
people of misunderstanding and lit
erary workers, students, invalids,
people OF wealth and leisure.-people
who come here to follow in quiet
their various pursuits Of study, work
health, or social enjoyment, and who
have not the slightest idea af taking
a hand in ward politics, and contest
ing supremacy with the ''razzer' vo-
ters This primary election has put
rather a quietus upon the movement
for popular suffrage in Washington,
and it is safe TO predict that the
clamor at the doors of Congress for
the right of elective franchise will
noC be resumed for some time.
Joseph Medill of the chicago Trib
une, one Of the most distinguished
editors IN the West. has deem in
Washington all the week, and his
visit has been the cause of consider
able concern among politicians and
presidential qspirants. Mr. Medill' i
political career has been very eccen-
trio; and, recognizing accountability
to no one, he feels at liberty to
change his mind and shift his politi-
cal anchorage wherever he likes.
But his good nature is proverbial,
and he is always ready TO kiss and
make up" with POLITICAL opponent.
At one time he was an ardent admir-
err OF General Grant, and they were
great chums, but for the last four or
five years their relations have been
otherwise. For years Logan and
Medlll were at swords points. But
when Logan lost the Inter- Ocean,
which had been his organ for years,
he made up with Medill, and thew
have since been quite intimate. In
1868 Medill supported Grant for the
presidency; in 1872 he abandoned
him and went over to the Liberals in
support of Greeley: and in 1876 be
fought Blaine with the greatest bit
terness. lie started out
in this campaign giving
a hearty support to Logan, but
since he came to Washingtio he has
abandoned Logan and joined the
Blaine boomers, giving Logan's
friends fit of the blues. This con-
quest of Mr.. Blaine is the result of
the personal magnetism" about
which so much has been said Me-
dill bad not been at the Arlington
Hotel twenty four hours before
Blaine called upon him. 1t was an
unusual thing for the ex-Secre-
tary to do, but it was not without eff
feet. Medill dined at the Marcy
mansion, Blaiue's residence, the next
day, and since then he and Blaine
have been much together, advising
and consulting about Mr.. Blaine's
book, perhaps.
Considerable agitation has lately
b"en gwen to the subject of Mr.
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