St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-10
VIEWS IN WASHINGTON.
A Democratic Constituent Calls Upon
a Republican Congressman.
Gossip on Minnesota Politics and General
View of Things Nationally.
Washington letter from an occasional cores
pondent of the Globe
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 9, 1884.

excuse me, sir, but that is just what you
won't do. Send up your card frst.''
"Now, look here my friend, have rested
my feet On his desk many a time, snapped
yarns with him, bought goods OF
him, cheaper than 1 could al
home, abused him in the papers, fed him
taffy when I met him, always found him q
good fellow and never had to send him a
card yet. know he would be glad to see
me, so just dispense with the ceremony,
please, and will surprise him.
eyes and then he'd surprise me. You fell
lows all think your congressman is dying to
see you, but 1 know that half
the time they would rather see
the devil. They don't want you rushing in
on them until they get things fixed to look
as if they were working themselves to death
for their country. 'Sposc now he was hay
ing nice little game of draw, think he'd
want to be bothered?''
''He wouldn't mind me, I'd just borrow
some money of him and learn the game"
That elegant gentleman, Washington no.
tel clerk became impatient at my chaff and
peremptorily demanded my card. In mo-
ment was shown to the room of the Hon.
Mr. - '-
The clerk was right, he was engrossed in
labor. Bills, documents, authorities, in a
wearisome tangle and thirty-seven letters
from his constituents that day added to the
Accommodations of the past, made his task a
repetition of the labor of Sisyphus. He
looked worried, nervous and tired. Those
who aim gibes, sneers and ridicules at him
would have required nc further revenge than
to see him overwhelmed by his responsible
ties. Certainly he could not be of the sort
limited at by the clerk. And he, was
really glad to see me, especialld when he
had found that I wanted neither his infu-
ence, money or vote for any pet scheme but
had simply dropped in as of old for little
harmless gossip.
''Now this is comfortable. You don't
want anything and can tell me about the
folks at home"
"Do people who visit you, generally want
something's"
eyes generally. Few people come to
Washington except for purpose and they
all expect their congressman to help them.
Those who don't come, write; just
look at that stack of letters
some of them from your town. Now, who is
thiss Do you know him? Writes for all
sorts of information. Wants to know the
probable action of congress about certain
lands. Must have some money to invest2
No! Well, can't see what his object is
them
SHE is an honest laborer, whose mind is a
little off color, but he is entirely harmless
and much respected, besides he always re-
CARDS it as his duty to vote, and you can
guess his politics. He likely thinks you owe
him letter for his vote.''
"Well, it takes a great deal of time to
meet all the demands of this nature. Not
only time, but money, in one instance
the other day such request cost me SIS 10
comply with, and I presume it will never be
noticed, wqile time after time these letters
involve an expense to me ranging from five
cents to several dollars; but, of course, am
glad to oblige my friends, and presume no
one of them realizes that all the rest are do
ing just the same thing.'
From generalities we strayed again to indi-
viduals, and the subject was gentleman in
my hosts home town, who yields an able ed
itorial pen in his behalf, with but few in the
secret.
eyes, - is a genius, a good business
man and mighty clever writer, but is queer,
clear up or clear down. Just now he is very
Respondent. Thinks we have lost everything,
and that you people are going to elect the
next president"
"Well well, that is not being queer, that
is a strong indication of level head. Mr.
- is man Of good judgement, and just
the person for you to draw on for political in
formation, and that reminds me that if you
Republicans desire a further lease of power,
why don't you put men forward eminent for
brains instead of money? For instance why
don't you put G. K. Davis in the senate {?
Men of his mental caliber have so great an
intellectual wealth that they are careless of
piling up fortune in lucre.
1t is only your mediocre, venal scheming,
intriguing man who accumulates great
wealth now days. Such men are selfish,
grasping, unsympathetic with the
masses, ignorant of the principles
of our government absorbed in
the pursuit of wealth and desire exalted
official position simply as an appendage to
their establishments and out of their dis
creditable hoard buy senatorship as they
would control in a stock enterprise. They
love money for the sake of money, they
judge all men by their money and their low
bred, sordid souls seek to establish
an aristocracy of money. The men
of intellect like jefferson, Webster, Clay,
Douglas and Lincoln, stand no show to-day
unless they humble themselves to this con-
temptible, hateful money power. l fear
there is much of truth in this. A man can't
get into the senate to-day unless he is mil
lionaire. / should like to see Davis there, he
would lay lots Of them by the heels, and old
Pap Edmunds himself would find him rang
ing right up alongside when it came to a
question of law. Yes, l wish Davis was in
the senate, he would be credit to our state.
eyes, but you folks will never put him
there You seem to have no further use for
such men. A man of brains who is not a
money grab and with too much pride to
change, is in a sorry predictment belonging
to your party now"
To shift the scene from the Hon. Gentle
mans private apartment to the halls of con-
gress.
eyes, that is Carlisle in the chair; be
makes good speaker. So long as we had
to have Democrat I would sooner have him
than any other He is fair and able man
Then, politics aside, he is with us of the
northwest upon all material questions
These people here are learning which side o.
the Alleghanies is the heaviest. That Missis
sippi valley convention opened their eyes the
other day. There sits Keifer, that man witt
the big head. There is Nelson, our Knute
but he is smart fellow and the frs
Norwegian who ever got into congress-
member was ranting in the most grand
Eloquent style, rolling up his sleeves, dis
PLAYING his cuffs, whirling his arms abou
| like Don Quixote did his lance at the vino
mill or rather like the wind mill itself
growing. stamping, gritting his teeth, hiss
ing, shouting and not a solitary person pay
ing the slightest attention to him. ''Who il
that man and what is he trying to tall
aboutl"
81 don't remember his name; he is speak
ing on contested election case and is talk
| ing to his constituents
''H;s constituents must be a discriminat
ing lot; probably he got here with his barrel.
sob, well, men think they must be orator
if they go to congress, or most men do.