Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-18
rrRoM A STAFF CoRREsroNpENT.;
A Political Pilot.

When at home in Franklin, Venaugo county,
Mr.. Smiley is editor of the county organ of the
Republican party, the Citizen-Press, and it is
just as bright as himself. He has helped to
steer the Republican bark through many
stormy campaigns in section noted for voting
pretty much as it pleases. He further dis
tinguished himself last year by winning from
one of the most popular men in Northwestern
Pennsylvania his county's indorsement for
Congress. There was considerable feeling in
the Congressional district and the outlook was
dark and stormy, but Mr.. Smiley named the
Congressman and the pleasure OF seeing the
Republican ship anchor safe in the national
harbor at Washington was intensified by the
knowledge that that the Federal patronage of
Watson is concerned. But power brings care,
and the applicants for the fourth-class post
offices, as Mr.. Smiley finds, are legion.
A Change of Name.
Samuel M. Wherry, the gentleman who,
from the fact that he was the Democratic
caucus nominee for Speaker of the House,
officially figures as the leader Of the Demo-
cratic side, has been noted for the wonderful
influence he possessed on the other side of the
Chamber. Often has good. solid Republican
member found the ground knocked from
under his feet by few well-directed words
from the gentlemen from Cumberland.
Frequently has a Republican of good
and regular standing wondered where his
partys majority had disappeared to after the
Democratic leader had had his say. But that
is now all changed. Mr.. Wherry on Thursday
personally, and on Friday through hiscolleague,
Mr.. Zeigler, made an attack on the probity
of the Republican clerks OF the Republican
bers are concerned, Mr.. Wherry's name is no
longer Wherry, but Dennis. Persons who look
for hidden motives in everything say Mr..
Wherry has an ambition to come back to the
I aoricl clafn VT ct ri
and is merely making a record to run on.
Not Bold Enough.
MIR. Wherry's colleague, Mr.. Zeigler, insists
that he and Mr.. Wherry make no charges they
cannot substantiate. He further says that II
men have told him they are recorded as voting,
when, as matter of fact, they didn't vote at
all, being absent from the House at the time.
However, even II votes would not have altered
the result, and men make bad play (as some
of the sinful would put it) when they state
such things in private and fear to stand by
them in public The gentlemen who told Mr..
Zeigler their story would have done much bet
ter to have set themselves right in the open
House.
Some Quiet Workers.
There is great deal Of quiet ability in the
present House. The men who make the
speeches are not in all cases the men who have
the greatest influence. Chairman Andrews,
for instance, is one of the quietest men on the
floor, but when he talks in private his auditor
listens. Some Of the quiet ability has hardly
begun to make itself felt, because Of the new
ness of members, but the quiet men who are
serving second term are power. Represent
ative Morrow, of Venango county, is one of
these. He has not made speech this session,
but when anything comes up affecting his sec
ton, he is right on hand in way that counts.
His constituents were warmly in favor of the
| repeal of the old fence law, and there is much
significance in the statement that before the vote
was taken Mr.. Morrow knew within q few votes
| what the result would be. Mr. Morrow had
| been around among the members and the bill
went through in good shape. OF course he
| doesn't claim the honor of doing it all, but he
did a big share of it. The men who make
| speeches on the slightest provocatlon wear
| themselves out and lose their influence FIRE.
| quently they make enemies. The quiet men
are the best men on committees as a general
| rule, and the most Industrious men in the
House. When it comes to making votes there
| is often more power in their little finger than
in the whole body Of the inYeterate speech
| maker.