The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-18

l0UEiNct lldl Ia Stokes WOWlU ever
be n man Of note in the community, with
so very dark u cloud hanging over him.
lie served his term mt Sing Sing, and
soon after his release he went ~
California. Very little was heard of
him for some time. Only his personal
friends knew how he was employed
there. No one had any thou ght that,
having been down so low, he would
ever rise again. But the stuff that
makes men rise was in him After a
while New Workers heard that mag
nillcent bar, the most elaborate and
costly in the city, had been opened in
the Hoffman House, with FL Stokes az
proprietor, and they went in thousands
to see it. 1t certainly was worth see
ing, the pictures and statues alone rep
rcscntng a small fortune. The bar
hourishcd and after another while it
became known that the Hoffman House
itself was largely owned by Stokes It's
business grew rapidly and Stokes made
money fast. He also made the ac-
quaintancc of number of Wall street
men, for his bar became their favorita
uptown resort Gradually his footing
among the Wall street men became
firm, and they, on the other hand
gradually recognized in him an uncom-
monty able business man. He went
into Wall street himself and made some
pretty good turns. And now he comes
to the front as president of telegraph
organization that promises to give the
Overgrown Western Union Company
hard push. Some of the strongest
financial men in New York are ut his
back and evidently have confidence in
him. The rise of Ed Stokes since his
drcary days at Sing Sing is very re-
markablc indeed.
~
The Wilmot proviso, which was
destined TO play an important part in
politics, says Ben: Perley Poorc in the
Boston BUdgct, originated at the din
ner-table of political club in the city
of New York, which met weekly, 1t
was composed Of Democrats opposed
TO the extension of slavery, and among
| those present on the day in question
were John Van Buren,. Samuel J. Til
den, John A. Kennedy, Isaac Fowler,
| Andrew III. Green, and other we'll
| known frec-sOil Democrats. Mr.. Howe,
| Il Western member of Congress, was u
| guest, She having visited New York to
confer with the Democratic opponents
| of slavery. During the consultation
John Van Buren, said that the protest
against the extension of slavery intro
duccd into Congress was not wordcd
right. He suggested that the exact
words of Jefferson in the famous ordi-
nance of 1888 and 1887 should be used.
This was agreed to. Mr.. Howe stated
that ii would be difficult to introduce
the proviso, as the Speaker would not
| give the floor TO any one favorable to
freedom. Mr.. Tildcn, as the chief or
ganizer to the movement about to be
made, proposed that rusc should be
played. II was agreed that each man
composing the little body of sixteen or
eighteen Free Sellers in Congress
should have acopy of the proyiso in his
pocket Each should spring to the
floor at the first chance and shout "AIr.
Speaker" 1t was thought that one of
them would be recognized. Mr.. Til
den, with other members of the CLUB,
went to Washington to aid in carrying
out the plan. At time agreed upon,
| the Spartan band, each with the pro
viso in his hand, sprang to the floor and
in concert shoutcd "Mr. Speaker
The speaker was bewidcred lie could
not ignore the whole crowd. lie selected
Judge Wilmot as the most moderate of
the party, and so the Wilmot proyiso
passed into history
|