The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-03-23

SENATOR ARTHUR 2. 00RNAN. OF
EARYLAlD.
o. the statesmen-politictans who will
bs in the forefront Of the great presi-
dental struggle Of the coming year no
one is more conspicuous that Senator
Arthur P. German, of Maryland. He
has been prominent figure in national
politics for the past eight yea's. but
he was not 30 well known to the gen.
eral public prior to the Cleveland.
Blain campaign Of 1884. Now there is
no important move at the Democratic
end of the chess-board Of national
politics without he enters to q greater
or less extent in the calculations. The
Maryland Senator was born In instincts
. politician, and his subsequent career
and training developed his natural in
clinations in this direction. His cool,
shrewd, determined method have been
compared to those of the late Samuel
]. Tilden. and there is an unquestion-
ed similarity in this respect.
Senator German is native of the
State he now represents. Thirty-five
years ago he was a page in the Senate;
and there his ambition to figure in
politics was stimulated and fostered by
the lofty examples Of political success
with whom he was thrown in contact
A few years Of service brought him to
the age limit that required him to re.
sign as page, but he had made him
self popular and useful to the Senators
and they retained him in the more
important capacity Of postmaster of
the Senate. Political changes in the
Senate resulted in lis removal from
that position, but he was almost imme-
diately appointed Collector of Internal
Revenue in the district comprising the
city of Baltimore by President John.
son. This position he filled until Grant
assumed the duties of the Presidency.
1t was while he was collector that the
present Senator became figure in the
lively politics of his native State.
The first elective office held by
Senator German was that of member
Of the House of Delegates of the
Maryland Legislature, to which he
was chosen in 1859. He was re.elec
ted two years later and became speak
er Of the body. In 1875 he was cleo
ted to the State Senate, and four years
later was reelected for another term.
But by this time he had gained foot
ing in public life that enabled him to
reach forth for still higher political
honors. and before his second term as
a State Senator had fairly begun he
was chosen as United States Senator
to succeed the Hon. William Pinkey
White. There was shade of romano,
in his return, clothed in the Sens torial
toga, to the distinguished body where
he had twenty-eight years before been
an humble page.
Germans great characteristic: is In
never getting ''rattled." He has cool
judgment, and is never swept from his
feet by any temporary excitement. As
chairman of the Democratic National
Executive Committee he did the head
work of the campaign, and that with
very limited amount of money at
hand. Never, for one moment, did he
concede that his party had the odds
against them, but conducted the can
vass in the spirit Of a leader bound to
win. Three days after the election,
when the result Of the issue was still
trembling in the balance, and every
thing depended on the slender margin
in New York State he grasped the!isitu-
alton twenty.fodr hours before the
result was certainty and telegraphed
his now famous dispatch:
Light your bonfires. We have
elected Cleveland and will inaugurate
him."
In his domestic life the Senator lie
one of the most amiable men. He
never touches a drop Of liquor, not
even the social glass upon convention
al occasions. He has never made any
money out ofpolitics beyond his salary.
Within the..past few years he has bet.
tered himself financially owing to an
increase Of value in several hundred
acres of farm land near Washington,
and in q few years he will doubtless
be possessed of q moderate fortune.
THAT HvYrApn uAYr