The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
THE STATES LAWMAKERS.
Gossip Concerning the Leaders Of Both
Parties in the State Senate.
The Personal characteristics and Hobbies Of
Some of the SOlons-Gen. Manson's
Resemblance to Father Time.

der of ability which will average well;
but in the individual personality of its member
ship there are exceptions above and below the
mediocrity of an average. There are three
phases to the character of public body's record
its general record, the opposite record of
parties, and the personal records of the indi
vidual members This aforementioned phase in
PRODUCES something of desultory observation
of the members of the Senate during the session
which is now about at an end.
There is figure of Father Time beside the clock
above the chair of the President of the Senate.
An imaginative observer may discover some
thing unintentonally suggestive in the alb
stract relation that the venerable, white
haired gentleman who presides over the
Senate bears to this significant figure. He
bears the marks of Father Times paternity
yet he is the father of the Senate and he often
addresses the members as 'boys." He presides
over the Senate more as an indulgent autocrat
than as a parliamentary disciplinarian. His
knowledge of parliamentary rules is limited to the
common and simple usages, and he makes no
pretensions to knowing more. He has manifest
ed a conscientious desire to treat all fairly, and
he has at all times been impartial General Man
son is the typical 'old war-horse" 1t is char
acterzation of him which is exceptionally fitting
Nothing has given him more pride and pleasure
at any time during the session than the privilege
which he was accorded of bringing his surviving
comrades Of the Mexican war into the Senate.
In his speech in their behalf he spoke with
feryid eloquence of their war experiences. and of
the desire OF the few survivors to be given some
evidence of recognition for their services to their
country.
Among the leaders in debate there is no mem
Der who deservedly ranks higher than Senator
Foulke of Wayne county. He possesses extraordi
nary oratorcal gifts, and he has been the Webster
of the session He is ready in debate, perspcuous
and forcible in his expressions, and impressively
earnest in his manner. He has q clear and
strong voice, and when he undertakes to say"
as the time talker habituaily remarks--any
thing, he says it, He always speaks with the
impressiveness of man who earnestly desires
and the right OF question. He is
liberal in his views, as the size of
his head and the frankness of his countenance
would indicate to any reader of character. He
is lawyer by profession, and has lucrative
practice, although he is in no need of it. 1t is
said that he gives all of his salary senator
to his daughter, child Of probably seven or
eight years. He is comparatively young man,
and his ability is of such character that he
can make his future whatever he desires that it
shall be-
Senator Rufus Magee the member from Cass
is unquestionably the ablest representative of
the Democratic party on the floor of the Senate.
He does not possess the oratorical gifts of
Foulke, but lie is fluent speaker, his language
is graceful and his manner is peculiarly pleas
ing. He has an acute sense of the humorous,
and he is the funny man of the Senate, but
he has manner of refined and easy
dignity which never allows his fun to detract
from the stern good sense of his arguments. He
is conscientious in the discharge Of his duty as
legislator, and lie has not hesitated to
repudiate many of the small acts of
political political dIemasogy Of .,. which his party
the class Of ''self-made men," He was appren
ticed as printer when boy, and twenty years
ago was reporter on the Sentinel in this city.
he is now lawyer in Logansport with
a good practice, and is reasonably happy.
He was the champion of the bill ap-
propriating $780, 900 for the completion of the new
insane hospitals one of which is located in his
county, and the bill authorizing a temporary
loan Of 5000, 000 His record, otherwise fault
less, is blemshed by his support of the Infamous
gerrymandering bills, in regard to which he
acted wholly contrary to his usually good i'm
pulses.
Senator Winter, of this city is recognized as
one of the ablest members of the Senate. He
has taken prominent Iart in the debates, and
as member of the judiciary committee his serv-
ices have been valuable. There is no man in
the Senate who is more familiar with the law,
bly, and faultlessly represented his CON
stituents, which is more than can
be truthfully said for his colleagues
Senators Willard and Hiligass, two of the lead
ing Democratic members, of about equal ability
and standing, are hide bound partisans. Viii
lard is tho caucus president and he is a states
man of caucus principles. He is active, and in
consequence he yields some influence. Hilligass
has not been go violently and vehemently
partisan as he was two years ago. 1t should be
stated to his credit that he earnestly supported
the bill requiring that the effects Of alcohol shall
be taught in the public schools, and he enthu-
siastically championed the State militia bill. lie
is an editor, and he hopes to be a federal office
holder under Mr.. Cleveland
Senator Youche the Republican member from
Lake and Porter, has made good record. he
has not been ubiquitous in debate. but whenever
he speaks he talks clearly and forcibly.
Senator Mccullough, one of the Democratic
leaders, is type of character suggestive of John
G. Calhoun. He believes himself infallible,
while he is generally wrong and he is always
doubling the motives of everybody else.
He is a man of rather stern bearing in
debate, but is a fair speaker. He has vigorously
opposed all expenditures of money, making him
self somewhat odious early in the session by pro-
posing that the committee of the General AS
senbly which was sent TO attend the funeral Of
Schuyler Cofax should be compelled to pay
their own expenses.
Senator Marvin Campbell, of ST. Joseph
county is one of the most prominent Republic
an members. He frequently participates in the
debates and he is good speaker He opposed
early in the session the unnecessary employ
ment of clerks and assistants about the Sen
ate but his remarks were wholly disregarded
by the Democrats, and the result OF their
Needless greed for the spoils of Office was the
corrupt condition of things disclosed recently.
His term of Office expires with this session. He
has been valuable member and he has made q
good record.
There are other members OF the Senate
equally as prominent and able as some of
those who have been mentioned, and their per-
sonal records will be the subject of another ar
ticle in the Journal.