The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-15
A CHATTY LETTER FROM AN
OLD AND POPULAR "TAR
HEEL"

winter In this city and been a frequent
visitor to the halls of Congress and
therefore well acquainted with the
leading Congressman, theic ways ana
habits, I will give your readers a
brief statement in regard especially to
those who represent the interest OF
North Carolina in the National Legls-
lature.
The Senate is a staid and solemn
body, made up for the most part
with a lot of "dry as dusts," who
were. educated a great many years
ago and have not made much advance
since those days. The United States
Senate is fast becoming a body OF
millionaires, who obtained their
I offices not as just recognition of any
peculiar fitness in them for their pres,
> emit positions, but because the position
of a Senator is one of ease and leisure
and reflects honor and dignity. The
presence long ago of Clay, Calhoun,
Webster, Benton and a long line of
great men, made the United States
Senate the most distinguished body in
the world, and the luster of that day
still fingers and illumines the Office OF
United States Senate. But that body
is greatly changed since the eloquence
of those great men thrilled the nation
and echoed through the civilized
world. Those men were made Sen.
ators because of their pre-, eminent tit.
ness by learning and patriotism and
craftsmanship, but now the position is
sought after to get honor and dis
tinction and ease. The Senate is now
a great monied aristocracy. Few men
can or do become members of that
branch of Congress unless they are
rich, so that it is now considered, not
a body of great men, the foremost
thinkers and patriots of the land, but
a kind of political aristocracy, where
n rich men without regard to how they
become rich, may become members of
what is now commonly called--but
mis-called--the "Higher House of
Congress"
A few poor men from the South
and Northwest and now and then n
or two from the North and West may
! be seen, and those do most Of the
work and to some extent keep up the
ancient reputation of the Senate. But
for the most part the Senate is COM
posed of a class of mediocre men, a
lot of "money bags" who are not
statesmen and never can be.
A few men remaia who reflect
1 credit upon I ieir States and upon the
Senate and are worthy of the places
u they coup [ will not now refer
Acritically and individually to them,
= but in passing will say that u own
ri Senators, Ransom and Vance r.
N amongst the best, and represent our
State with ability. | may be per
mitted without any design to show
special favors to any to say that Senator
Vance is admitted on all sides to be one
of the greatest members of the Senate.
= 7 heard a member of the House from
Z another State say a few days ago,
himself one of the most distinguished
men in Congress, that Senator Vance
was by all odds the first man in the
Senate. 1t was gratifying to hear
u State so pleasantly mentioned and
such a distinguished compliment paid
to North Carolina's great Senator.
4 The House is a very different body
from the Senate. There is no doubt
that there is more ability in the
House. Very many able men can be
seen on either side of the chamber.
Reed, the present Speaker, is a man
of ability, but he is an INSCRIPTIONS
partisan and the boiy of the Repub.
lican membership in the House are
tributaries willing or not willing to
his violent partisan domination.
There are a goodly number OF
. Democrats in the House of real abil'
y ity. The constant cause of regret is
the loss of Randall from the Demo
cratic side by a long attack Of sick
ness. The constant wish is that this
really great Democrat may be soon
restored to health and his place on the
" floor. of the House.
North Cardinals delegation stands
well. Skinner is attentive, McClam.
nv always at his post and at work
So also it may be said of Rowland
Henderson, Bum and Cowles.
II l mention especially Maj. McClam
my without detracting from the mer
y it's of others. The people in his dis
trict have cause to be specially proud
y. of their Representative; polite, vigil
ant, attentive, industrious and always
at the post of duty. Maj. McClammy
is a model Representative. He and
.} our people have the good fortune o.
McClammy being placed by Speaker
Reed on the committee on agriculture
one of the most important committees
at the disposal of the Speaker. Nc
Clammy is the first mention of the
Democrats, with the exception o
Hatch, the. former chairman of tn,