The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-17


morning, and even later. / asked hin IL
be bad read Mr. Blaines book.
''0h, yes" be replied, 81 read the first vol.
ume when it first came OUT
''Do you think be will give you fair treat
ment when ne comes TO you in the second
volume?@
ST do In fact I have no doubt OF il.
Blaine is not a man who carries malice.
There are certain statesmen in his first vol
ume that are not strictly correct from our
standpoint; but, take il as a whole, it is a
remarkably fair book, and not only very
fair book, bat an exceedingly we'll written
one. The English is plain vigorous and
vel sustained. II the second volume IS as
good in style as the first I think the work
viii become
A CLASSIC III OUR POLITICAL HISTORY.
I have just heard, by the way. that Cox (Sun-
SET has written a book or Congressional his
tory I shall be glad to see it,"
Whites speaking OF Congressional histories,
Mr. Thurman, may I ask what yOu think of
BentOn's Thirty Years View?'
"Oh, well, that can hardly rank as a his
tory 1t certainly does not rank with a
book ike Biaine'q. l happen to know some
thing sbeut how Benton's book came 10 be
published. It was really never intended TO
be history Of the Senate. Bentons friends
got after him about printing his speeches.
He finally hit upon the idea OF that book,
which is really lttle more than a RAINING
account of the legislation in the Senate for
thirty years, with his speeches thrown in"
From Mr.. Benton's book the conversation
drifted 70 the Senate while BentOn was there.
There WIS one thing in particular that
struck me when 1 went into the Senate
Chamber for the first time" said Mr. Thur
man. "and saw Benton. CLAY, Webster and
others Of their class. They were
NEARLY ALL LARGE MEN.
believe that two thirds of the members of
the Senate at that time were six feet or over.
II was not q mere fancy Mr.. Clay was over
six feet, so was Mr.. Calhoun, so WAS Mr.. Ben
ton, so was Mr. Preston, so was Mr.. SemBle,
OF Illinois, go vas my uncle William Allen,
and so were many others. Some OF them
we're six feet two inches, or even six feet
three inches. The men in the Senate now
are not so large; neither do they dress with
such care. The first time [ saw the Senate
every member had a dress c,at on. They
now 90 into the Senate with any sort OF a
suit on, aud ! suppose / was az bad as any OF
them. BayaTd always looks neat, but / think
IDgslls takes more pains with his clothes
than any Of them. The custom of the Ssnate
II the matter OF personalities used TO be
much more strict than il nov is Once while
Aaron Burr was Vice President aud presid-
ing officer of the Senate, q msmber, who hal
been riding, came ia and took his seat with
us
page that be wou be obliged if he would
retire at once and appear IN dress becoming
his place ia the Senate Chamber"
BIZ. Thurman was in Congress part of the
time Of Folks administration, aud has been
pretty wei acquainted With public men in
Washington since 1910. Since there has
been so much said recently about the ex-
pense of
HOLDING THE OFFICE or SECRETARY or STATE
asked him If he could tell me anything
about the way that Webster, Buchanan, Cal
hOun, Marcy and other distinguished gentle-
men had lived while they held that Office.
i believe" he said, every Secretary of
State we had up to the war lived within his
salary. Mr.. Calhoun certainly did. I think
be always while IN Washington lived IN the
rooms near the Capitol where be died. Mr..
Marcy was a very economical man and sm
sure he never exceeded his salary. He was
the last Democratic Secretary of State before
the wsr. Mr.. Buchanan was Folks Secretary
Of State. and [ was in Washington much Of
the time while he was serving IN that posi-
ton and | knew him well. he was prObably
the Weaithiest Democrat who ever held the
Office. In his day he was considered a rich
man, though there were no milliOnares in
Washington public life in those times Old
Buck, as We used to call him, was e bache-
Tor, and very polite and courtly gentleman.
l do not think be owned house ia Wash
ingtOn. BE gave ga occasional dinner at his
hotel, but nothing very extravaganza
lie gave one ball, which was
then considered the gTandest
one that had been given by any Secretary of
State. The ladies got about him aud told
aim be would nsVer marry IN the world, If
be did not give q ball. lie 6naily con-
seDted to do so, and il came OF at place
called CaTUsis' saloon. 1t gas not drink
Ing place but a hRll-Ihat in French we
would call a salon, if you please, There
wee
OVER A THOUSAND INVITATIONS
and the hall was crowded, bat still it was
after all a very modest affair compared with
some of the entertainments now given in
Washington. Mr.. Seward came into the
Office Of the Secretary OF State ct the open
ing OF the war, and be had house where he
extended frequent cOurtesies to foreign rep.
resentatives. 1t wes important he should
do so, but / doubt III be exceeded his salary.
There was nothing extravsgant about Andy
johnson g administration, but when Gra 1T
came in be msde Mr.. Fish Secretary oil
Stare. He was a very rich man and very
hospitable he spent great deal more than
his salary. and Wss the first Secretary OF
State to 90 that Those who followed him
have telt obliged TO follow bis example as
far as they we're able. Mr. EVarts no doubt,
spent three or four times his salary, though
OF course he did not bankrupt himself n
doing so.
DO YOU not think, Senator with the in
coming Democratic administration and
an effort at political reform, that there
ought 70 be a return on tie part of the
chief officer OF the Cabinet u the old way OIL
living"
There must be a limit somewhere.
think the country viii sustain a man who
draws the limit at his salary. If public sen
hment demands that the Secretary OF State
should spend more than S. 600 q year ther
public sentiment will give the Secretary o.
State more salary. II this rule does no
hold, then it viii be 50 that none but very
rich men can hold the office That woull
be an il justice and a misfortune"
Goodbye.