The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23

A Refutation OF the Common SANDER that
the Senate Is a Millionaire Club.


about the millionaires of the Senate. An mac
curate idea exists, therefore, regarding that body
of men. Senator Ingalls, once said, In good
humored way that the Senate was "a club OF
good, honest fellows" and he meant only that,
taken by and large, the seventy-odd members OF
the chamber were as creditable to the country as
any equal number of men that could be got to-
eether from the various States. He was doubt
less right in that opinion. and | imagine that he
did not desire to yelegate to the Senate any
claims to righteousness beyond those made by
all respectable citizens. His remark, which he
has been accustomed to repeating freely, IN
doubtedly gave the cue for the expression, 1.-THE
Millionaires' Club" Let us look over the men
from the gallery, assuming, of course that all
in their places, which, it is sad to say, Is tax
ing purely poetical license.
Suppose we begin with Maine. Very we'll.
The first face we see is that of Mr.. Hale, who,
surely enough, is rich man. His large means
mostly came to him from his father-in- law, the
distinguished Zachariah Chandler, of Michigan.
He lives comfortably but without ostentaton,
and deserves the comforts he enjoys His col
league, Senator Frye, has only his salary and
law practice to live on. He is an earnest, hard
working member and is young enough to make
his fortune yet. Crossing over to New Hamp
shire. we find that Senators Blair and Pike both
live within their salaries. 1t is said that
the former occasionally takes timid flyer
in the real estate of his beloved State, but
in very small way, and not. am assured,
with gratifying success Both these men are
quiet, modest men, and their choice is credita
BILE to the Legislature of their State. In Yer
mont Senator Edmunds Is probably the wealth
lest member of the upper house from New Eng
land, excepting Mr.. Hale. But he is lawyer
of pre- eminent ability, and had he deserted
politics ten years ago might have gathered In
enough large fees in his profession to have made
him a very wealthy man. indeed. He is not in
ordinately rich now Senator Morrill, through
out his long life has been economical in his
habits, has saved reasonable amount of money,
but is not even to be called rich
How is the outlook in Massachusetts, Not a
rich man! Senator Dawes is very poor. As
heard him say the other evening, he began life
as a farmers boy, and had never known any
thing but toll and struggle ever since. His col
league-Mr Hoar-is to-day at a financial low
water mark. What little means he had was re-
Gently lost in attempting to build a home for his
declining years at Worcester. Much sympathy
is felt for him by his fellow-Senators. The old
Montagues and Capulets, OF Rhode Island. are
not here any longer. Their places are filled by
two men of moderate means. Senator Aldrch is as
handsome as anybody on the floor. He is in trade
at Providence-groceries, l believe. He attends
to his duties carefully and systematically. SEN
ator Chace is quiet Quaker. who lives scrupu-
lousy and within the limit of his salary. Sen
ators Plat and Hawley are almost too we'll
known to need mention. The first is studious
and active man, without large means, and the
second is the editor and handspring of a Hart
ford newspaper He is rich only in ability and
friends though he has made his journal an ex
cellent property.
Leaving New England, the Middle States may
be briefly scanned. In New York Senator Mil
Ter is only relatively a wealthy man. He un
dou btedlv enjoys good income from his manu-
featuring plant and his patents. But his money
was all made before he went into politics, and
his success is creditabie in every sense. sour
Evarts' is rich only in his bright intel
ect His capacity for exacting large fees is
commensurate only with his talents. But he has
great vested interests, and his income must
suffer greatly by his presence in the Senate. ln
New Jersey Senator Mcpherson is fairly en-
titled to be called rich. He accumulated his
fortune by thoroughly commendable business
methods. do not think he claims to be a mill
ionare, but his friends assume that he is. His
colleague Senator Sewell, is sturdy product of
hard work. He is comfortably situated in life,
and no more He owns pretty house in Cam
den, and manages the large railroad properties
intrusted to his care with shrewdness Senator
Mitchell, of Pennsylvania, is in very humble cir
cumstances, financially. He has no greed of
money in his composition. Senator Cameron is
worth. probably So. 600. 900 So 100000 His
father was identified with many of the great i'm
provements in his Com m on wealth, and during
his long life gave his son and successor the ben
efits of his experience and wisdom. The son is a
shrewd business man, and knows safe invest
ment when he sees it.
Contentment is the main thing, after ALL Look
at Senators salisbury and Gray. of Delaware.
They dwell in snug little State, where modest
income is not held in disrespect and where their
salaries suffice to make them independent
Neither man is ricn and neither has the faint of
avarice in his blood Senators German and f..
K. Wilson. from the adjacent State of Mary
land, are only comfortably fixed, so far as the
worlds goods CO. Neither can complain Of pov-
erty but they are far from the border lands Of
wealth, as fixed, for example, by the Pacific
coast or Fifth avenue.
Suppose we hasten Westward Both of Onios
Senators are very rich There is no disputing
that fact. But how of Indiana2 Senators Voor-
hees and Harrison are not Croesuses by any
means 1.-THE Tall Sycamore is rich in fund
of humor as exhaustless the asphaltum lake
of Trinidad, but money does not haunt his
dreams or his pockets Harrison is good
liver. quiet, agreeable person. who warns up
occasionally and deals hard political blows, but
he is not rich Senators Logan and Culiom, Of
Illinois, come under exactly the same category.
General Logan may be worth $50 900 or $75 900,
but not more. His public life is pure and
tainted. and be owes his greatness not to any inu
ence of money but to his sturdy and mperious
honesty. Mr.. Cullom resembles President Lin
coin in other respects than facially. He is poor,
hard worker; he finds little time Cor social fes
tivites and less to accumulate wealth.
The Northwest does not disclose to our sight
any very rich men. In Michigan Senator Palmer
has accumulated fortune in the tobacco trade.
1t has been the slow work of years and the result
of much chewing on the part of his well-pleased
customers; but Senator Conger is still poor and
his devotion to the duties of his public life
threatens to keep him So Crossing the lake to
Wisconsin we find two excellent specimens of
the great Northwest Senator Sawyer is rich
above the average, but makes parade of it.
Senator Spooner has only his youth, his quick,
bright talents as lawyer to earn his fortune
for him. He lives on Capitol Hill, quite
near Senator Ingalls, and gives his best
energies to his constituents. He is
with Kenna. of West virginia-one of the
really promising Young men of the Senate In
Minnesota neither Senator can count his wealth
as greater than many of his neghbors. Senator
Allison, of Iowa, inherited large part of his
wealth, but it is not fahulousy large His col
bearded old gentleman, who has comparatively
little means.
In Kansas both Senators are dependent on
their salaries.
But the Pacific coasts
Yes; the Senators from California, Oregon,