Telegram-herald., 1890-08-19
SOME INTERESTING Mn.
svsONe ANo PICTURESQUE ctSARac-
TERs nET At WASHINGTON

v.,ss. wsfazsAA writes of Ex-s~H~ssr
p.ls.er. Gsorxs X Dssts. FEssaaszs
F.oasrss, II sac Pesasyis-HiA k@alEo~a;
s.,e~ss sssd. Gel. C0HxeT @lad Others.
ssr.srial CorresEoz1e2cs
WssElNGToS. Aug 1.-THE Worlds
fair II Chicago is bringing u the front
some iaseres ing men. No more attract
i've snd yieturesqae personality can be
found anywhere than thar of ex-senator
Palmer, president q the Columbian ex-
position. What Ike about the e1-sen-
ator-and discover that others ike IN
him the same thing-is his strong Amer
icsniaa. He is an American of the
Americans. He was IN Washington d
few days ago. where he dined with the
president aud renewed his youth with
al his old friends some one asked him
how he had liked il over in Spain,
whence he returned few months ago,
sfter reSigning his post as minister 70
Madrid.
"OA. replied this thorough American,
Europe is in comatose condition.
cannot imagine why an American should
want TO live in Europe. II IL country
that is asleep. When returned began
TO look for land two or three days before
il was due. was 80 eager 10 see Amer
( lea again that il seemed TO me could
/ not wait. When of Sandy Hook we
/ first saw land 1 was tempted 70 throw
myself IN tho water, SWIM ashore and
{ bury my body III the soil Of America.
But OF course resisted the temptation.
When | LETT this country to so 20 spain
/ promised the president ! would be gone
at least 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 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 Chicago's
campaign for the fair that Chicago won
without much difficulty. Now that
ex-senator T. c. Platt and First Assist
ant Postmaster General Clarkson are
writing articles to show the great value
of political training in building up small
men, l am tempted TO cite this Col Davis
as type of thesuccessful American who
| makes politics his profession. For years
Mr.. Davis has been in Chicago what
was known as q political boss. His par
ty was In the supremacy, and he 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
fuence for good government, I quote
conversation with Col. Davis. l had
asked him how he had managed SO long
to maintain himself.
at was not an easy thing to do" he
replied. ''I'he only way in which any
man can succeed in that profession or
trade, as 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
ties, bring resJl<s, in order 20 keep the
public satisfied. That is, he must give
good government. To maintain disci-
pline and harmony in the ranks one must
be tyrant. l often laugh as l think
Of the experiences l have had. For
instance, q man came to me with a
proposition that he be nominated for n
certain high Office in the city. He wanted
my help. Very WE'LL said l. Before
making any promises / must ask you
soTne questions. And then L catechised
HIM. l 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
lfe's history to me. Several times his
pride reyolted, and rising from his chair
declared he had not come TO be cross
questioned, 70 have his private life in
quired into. Very we'll l remarked,
then you cannot be nominated. l am
only doing what the public will do when
you are candidate. If you do not care
TO be thus scrutinized, TO be thus searched
with al electric light, stay out Of poll
tics. And / charge you. as you value
your reputation and success, to answer
me truthfully'
TO shorten my story continued Col.
Davis, ''the gentleman satisfied me on
all points / could not find flaw in
his record. He seemed impregnable.
Il was huniliating to him to be thus
questioned, and it was not pleasant for
me, but it had 10 be done. II was one
Of the rules Of my political work never
to permit man to be nominated for
Office. II l could prevent IL. who was
lacking IN any way. who was unfit. who
was likely % prove load to carry in
stead OF = source Of strength. A civil
service examination Was as nothing com
pared to The scrutiny 20 which my men
were subjected. All this shows yol
the power. the responsibility Of a DO
htical leader. He must be a tyrant
IN order 70 he successful. and All
his efforts, al his precaution tend
toward better government and bet
ter citizenship. Nen learn that they
must have Jed blsrneless lives. that they
must have character and capacity be
fore they can aspire 20 Office through the
help q che whom the world calls a
boss They learn. moreover. that they
must be TIRE - Themselves and - each