The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-24
TSpeciaI Correspondence

George Boyd, Col. Conser and Others,
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE Worlds
fair at Chicago is bringing to the front
some interesting men. No moresattEact-
i've and picturesque personality can be
found anywhere than that Of ex-senator
Palmer, president of the Columbian ex-
sosition. What I like aboutfthe vex-sen-
atOr-and discover that others ike in
him the same Things his strong Amer
icanism. He is an American of the
Americans. He was in Washington a
few DAYS ago. where he-dined with the
president and renewed his youth with
all his old friends. Someone asked him
how he had liked it over in Spain,
whence he returned a few months ago,
after resigning his post as minister to
Madrid.
'Oh, replied this thorough American,
Europe is in a coma6ose condition. l
cannot imagine why an-American should
want to hive in Europe. It is a.country
that is asleep. When I returned 1 began
to look for land two or three days before
it was due. I was so eager to see Amer
lea again that it seemed to NE l could
not wait. When off Sandy Hook we
first saw land l was tempted to throw
myself in the water, swim ashore and
bury my body in the soil Of America.
But of course I resisted the temptation.
When ] left this country to go TO Spain
1 promised the president would be gone
at least a year. Between my departure
and my return there were just year
and three days, and have been regret
ting those three days ever since"
Here in Washington we hear some
talk about the election Of a director gen
eral for the Worlds fair. An impress
sion prevails in some quarters that that
great Office may be given to Col. George
R. Davis, OF Chicago. who is another Of
the interesting men often seen in Wash
ington. 1t was he who with marvellous
skill and energy so managed Chrcago's
campaign for the fair that Chicago won
without much officially. Now that
ex-senator T. c. Plat and First Assist
ant Postmaster General GARRISON are
writing articles to show the great value
of political training in Building up small
men, / am tempted to che this Col. Davis
asa type of Unsuccessful American who
makes politics his profession. For years
Mr.. Davis has been in Chicago what
was known as political boss. His par
ty was in the supremacy, and be was
dominant IN his party. To illustrate the
notions of my friends Platt and Clark
son that a political boss may be citi-
zen of high character with great in
fiuence for good government, l quote
conversation with Col Davis. 1 had
asked him how he had managed SO long
to maintain himself
1T was not an easy thing to do" he
replied. "The only way in which any
man can succeed in that profession or
trade. az in other walks of life, is to
struggle always for the best. Being a
political boss is like commanding an
army in the field. One must win bat
files. bring results, in order to keep the
public satisfied. That Is, he must give
good government. To maintain disci-
pine and harmony in the ranks one must
be tyrant I often laugh as l think
of the experiences I have had. For
instance, a man came to me with
proposition that he be nominated for a
certain high Office in hecity. He wanted
my help. Very we'll said l. Before
making any promises l must ask you
tome questions And then | catechised
him. | asked him where he was born,
what his parents were, what he did as a
boy. as a youth, about his education,
his love affairs, his marriage, his bust
ness experiences, his habits, his expe-
rience IN politics, his religion and so on.
In short, | asked him to bare his whole
Iife's history to me- Several times his
pride revolted, and rising from his chair
declared he had not come to be cross
questioned, to have his private life in
CURED into. Very we'll | remarked,
then Won cannot be nominated. am
only doing what the public viii do when
You are a candidate. If you do not care
TO be thus scrutiuized. to be thus searched
tics. And | charge you, as you value
your reputation and success, to answer
me truthfully.'
ITO shorten my story, continued Col.
Davis, 1.-The gentleman satisfied me on
all points. could not find flaw in
his record. He seemed impregnable
1t was humihating to him to be thus
questioned, and il was not pleasant for
me, but it had to be done 1t was one
Of the rules Of my political work never
TO permit a man TO be nominated for
Office, if l could prevent 1t, who was
lacking In any way, who was unfit. who
was likely TO prove a load TO carry in
stead of a source of strength. A civil
service examination was as nothing com
pared to the scrutiny 70 which my men
were subjected. All this shows you
the power. the responsibility of a DO
iacal leader. He must be a tyTant
in order 70 be successful, and all
his efforts, al his precaution tend
toward better government and bet
ter citizenship. Men learn that they
must have LED blameless lives. that they
must have character and capacity be-
fore they can aspire to Office through the
help of one whom the world calls "A
boss They learn. moreover. that they
must be true 70 themselves and to each
other. Bad faith. treschsry, light re-
gard fer ones word quickly destroy
man IN politics Such YVES the case with
my friend Of whom l have been speak
ing. 1 had him nominated FOR office