The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-10-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The Closing Days Of Congress Blaine the
Central Figure. *. Davis q Man for
''WhO the HI is Wlliteman?"-
Cold, Clammy Tom Wilson
A Republican Victory Pre-
dicted In November.
Union Special Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Oct. A, 1890.
There never has been a more bust
ness-like session Of congress than that
which adjourned last week. Not even
!; in days gone by when the Republicans
We're in power was there a congress
that passed as much beneficial legisla-
tion as the first session of the fifty-first
congress. 1t began as working con-
gress and continued SO to be to the end.
Filibustering, that is filibustering of a
kind that prevented legislation, was
stopped. It is true that "a days were
consumed in a mode of filibustering,
that mode being the only one that was
left open to the Democrats Roll calls
we're demanded upon hundreds Of pro
positions that were of no great moment,
but served only to kill time. It takes
time to call a roll Of $50 members
Iabout 80 minutes and day after day
roll calls were demanded upon trivial
matters for the purpose of delaying all
business. Yet in spite of all this there
was more good legislation passed leg
islation that is a benefit to the whole
country and all parts OF the country
than ever before. It was the Hon.
Roger @. Mills, the man who put his
name upon a tariff bill that sunk his
party in infamy, that publicly declared
that tho Democrats would control legis-
lation, or control the house and prevent
any more business being done than if
they had control of the house. It was a
man from Maine that met this state
ment with the assertion that the Re-
publicans had come to do business, and
backed by a powerful and intrepid
leader, the man from Ohio, and the en-
tire Republican strength, the man from
Maine so ruled the house that it closed
a business session and profitable one.
The president and all members of his
cabinet were in and about the senate on
the closing day of congress. Grouped
in and about the senate, in conversation
with the senator's, were the men who
are the presidents advisors. It was a
Noticeable fact that only two of the
presto ent,s scabiinet We're publ lie men OF
any note before they were made a part
/ of this administration. Those two were
James G.. Blaine and William Window
When these men entered the United
States senate they went among men
who were at one time their colleagues.
They mingled with men who knew and
served with them as members of the
house of representatives and who after
wards served with them as United
States senators. They were public men
before Harrison was known. They
were cabinet officers before Harrison.
was thought of. And both of these
men were in exactly the same place in
the cabinet that they now occupy.
Blaine was secretary of state in the
Garfield administration, and Window
was the secretary of the treasury. It
was also noticeable that the men OF the
Harrison cabinet who commanded the
attention of the senators were Secre-
tary Blaine and Secretary Window.
The others were there, but they were
not old time friends and old time col
leagues of the senators of this nation.
And who were they, and who knew
them prior to their selection as cabinet
otficers2 Proctor, secretary OF war;
Tracy, secretary of the navy; Noble,
secretary Of the interior; Wanamaker,
postmaster general; Miller, attorney
general; Rusk, secretary of agricul-
ture. They are all good men, but it is
a strange fact that in a group of states
men they were almost unknown, while
Blaine lowered above every man in the
assemblage-a giant of intellect and
craftsmanship.
Among the fast friends of the Maine
statesman and one whom Blaine honors
and respects was Cushman K. Davis, of
Minnesota. Davis was Blaine man
long ago, and to-day they are warm
personal friends. And that man Davis
is a man Of national Importance. He
has been in the senate three years and
has made the most wonderful develop
ment of any man in that body in the
same length Of time. Although for
many years he was Minnesota s favorite
son, he never was a member of the
house Of representa- tives. He came
into national public life first as a mem
Der Of the highest legislative body in
1.-THE world, and in brief time he has
advanced to the front rank. He is one
of the leaders of American thought and
action He is mentally strong and
i ssapacio,ls. He is alive to the interests