Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-12-28
MEN AND THINGsAT WASHINGTON.

age a national reputation. John p.
Dolliver, who represents the Tenth
Iowa district in the present Con
gress, was born on a farm near
| Kingwood in Preston County, West
Virginia, in February, 1868. He
taught school during bis earlier
years but his political sentiments
proving distasteful to the community
he emigrated to Iowa and became a
lawyer. For several years past he
has maintained high reputation on
the stump and, according to the
opinion of Mr.. Blaine whose judg-
ment would be everywhere ac-
cepted as correct, Mr.. Dolliver is the
tiuest orator in the United States.
In personal appearance he looks like
IA jolly school-boy about to graduate
from college. His voice is strong,
yet sweet and melodious, and his
rhetoric both fluent and polished. 1t
is a dangerous thing for a man OF
his years to enter Congress With
such q reputation for oratory. Many
public men, who achieved wide repu-
tation on the stump, fail to meet the
expectations of their friends or them
selves when they enter the balls of
Congress. This body is emlnently
practical and the member who would
command its attention must not
only be quick at repartee, but his
mind must be we'll stored with facts
and figures pertaining to all great
public questions. Henry Winter
Davis with his unrivaled eloquence
could hold mixed audience spell
bound for two hours in the midst of
cold November rain on one of the
street corners of Baltimore, and yet,
when he arose to speak in Congress
he always commanded universal at.
tention. Let us hope that Mr.. Dolli.
yer will shine as brightly in Con.
gress as he has upon the hustings.
The people OF the Eighth Alabama
district are fortunate in having Gen.
Joseph FL. Wheeler to represent
them so faithfully and efficiently.
He was a lieutenant of cavalry in
the regular army at the commence
ment of the Civil War, but entered
the Confederate army and rose rap
idly until he became a lieutenant
general at a very early age and be-
came the senior cavalry general of
the Confederate Army. He is small
in stature, transformations in appear
ance, but is one of the most remark
able com binations of energy and in
dustry to be found in either house
of Congress. He looks after the in
terests of his constituents as faith
fully as a father dose those OF his
children and keeps such careful
record of all business matters of his
constituents that he can always tell
at a moments notice the condition
of any business matter to which his
attention has been called. During
the great tariff debate of the last
session he delivered one of the most
able and exhaustive speeches made
on the democratic side. 1T the PEG.
pie of his district appreciate him as
they should they will keep him in
Congress as long as he will consent
to remain there.
When the French SpoliatioD
Claims were transmitted by Con-
gress to the Court of Claims for adj
Indication some four years ago Hon.
Benjamin Wilson, some time men,
Der of Congress, was employed to
defend the interests of the govern
ment. These claims not only in.
volved some forty millions of dollars,
but their defense involved q knowl-
edge of many intricate questions of
international law. Col. Wilson
brought to the discharge of his re-
sp0nsible duties degree of indus.
try and ability which proved invalu-
able to the government and his able
and exhaustive arguments in the
Court of Claims won for him a ma.
tional reputation. For this work in.
volving so much ability, patient re.
search and responsibility, Col. Will
son received but four thousand dol
lars per year, whereas the same ser.
vice rendered for individuals would
have brought him at least fifty
thousand dollars per annum. Can
this government afford to continue
such paltry allowance for the per-
formance of such service? The
present administration was fortunate
enough to secure the continued SER
vice of this gentleman, and it is safe
to say that their failure to do so
would have proven a public loss.
The holidays are here and the en-.
tire population seems to have aban-
doned both business and politics and
given itself up to the enjoyment of
the festivities of the season. Many
of the politicians and office seekers
have departed for their homes for a
brief period, to return after the OPEN
ing of the new year to renewed bat.
tie for place and power. The wealth.
er is balmy and spring-like and the
visitor who has never spent the sea.
CON in Wachin 0top oap NOT ha othor