The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-20
A NEW REPUBLICAN CHIEF.
Senator Plumb, Who Heads the Move
ment for Financial Relief.


Chicago Tribune's Washington City Special.
There is a new leader upon the Republic
can side In the Senate. He is Senator
Plumb. Although the senator has been in
that eminent body for upwards of thirteen
years, he belongs to the younger section
Of the Republican senators, and has been
expected to defer in q respectful manner
to the wishes of his seniors. Mr..
Plumb bases his claims for leadership
upon what be calls practical business
sense. He is at the head of the move
ment in the Senate 10 have some measure
OF so-cailcd financial relief passed through
congress early this winter. Mr.. Plumb is
energetic. He is anything but a partisan.
TO accomplish his political ends | aln con
fident that he would be as coGtcnted work
ing in the company of Democrats as Of
Republicans. The Democrats are willing
TO support any financial measure that
Senator Plumb proposes. knowing that no
more effective means can be employed
by them 10 defeat the election bill
Unfortunately the financial situation for
the moment favors their plans. Every
time there is small failure in the coun-
try, and under ordinary circumstances fall
ures happen every day, the reports OF such
failure arc teleSraphed 10 Washington in
the same exaggerated way that they are
sent TO New York to affect the situation
there. Members are becoming wonder
fully impressed with the requirements OF
the nnancial situation. Those Who have
tendency 10 speculate in stocks are much
more sensitive to these requirements than
others. Bat there is no use denying the
fact that the movement IN congress in the
direction of expanding the currency is
most formidable, and engineered by q man
of Plumh's aggressive ability has more
than a chance OF succeeding.
Senator Plumb is a man six feet in
height He is very hroad-shouldered and
stout. He has large, round head. His
hair is short, carelessly brushed away
from broad forehead His features are
irregular and fresh colored. His eyes arc
a cold blue. His nose turns up in the most
pugnacious way. His mouth is large, and
when he smiles or talks he shows Shining
white teeth The lower part of his face is
ornamented with tuft OF chin whisk-
ers. He nearly always walks about
with his hands in his pockets, and is the
perfect embodiment OF energy and activity.
He is not an orator IN any sense OF the
word, but he has q tremendous force and
directness in discussing business matters.
He saws the air with his arms as if he
were nghting host Of invisible fees, and
when he has full head On he brings a
spiritual atmosphere TO bear upon the
more timid and sensitive natures Of his
senatorial brethren Of about two thou
sand pounds 10 the square inch. He
is driver and has all the Western con-
tempt for precedent and senatorial con-
ventionalities when they stand in the way
of accomplishing what he desires He is
popular with everyone on account of his
frankness and his good-nature. He has
that strange faculty Of knowing how to
get ri everyone, and whether he
meets high political priest in the party
or humble worker, the senator at
once speaks a language understood by
both. He is one of the large real estate
spectators in Washington, and has large
business in the West. He SAYS the election
bill is well enough in It's way. II IS TO cor
rect wrongs that Republicans all admit
exist. But Senator Plumb goes on TO say
that this is not time for such legislation
when the great financial interests of
the country are waiting for relief. This is
the argument which effects nearly all in
congress who have property interests or
who are subject 10 the Geographic pressure
of constituents who are demoralized By
the alarrnist tendencies OF the bear ope-a-
lions of the country.