The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-10
Especial Washington Letter,

Especial Washington letter.
Some men are perpetually dissatisfied
with everything and with everybody
All men are unsatisfied, and therefore
continually seeking the betterment OF
their condition. In the latter category.
the unsatisfied and therefore ambitious,
the candidate for the speakcrshp must
be set down. The pending contest is
the most peculiar one witnessed in
generation.
There are three men in the lead. and
30 far in advance OF their competitors,
that they have become conspicuous tar
gets for the shafts of the enemy. There
fore. the other candidates and their
friends are picking Messrs. Springer,
Crisp and Mills TO pieces, and narrating
the alleged weaknesses OF those strong
men TO the new members who have not
pledged their votes. II is but fair to
say. however, that the other candidates
are careful always to mention the good
qualities OF the gentlemen from Illinois.
Georgia and Texas. But, they never
forget to mention that Mills Is nerv-
Gus and lrascihle," that Crisp is not
partisan enough" and that Springer
Is overrated.
In fact, /, is like q contest for the
presidency NJ a college debating society
Or the secrctaryship OF a village Dorcas
sewing circle. The three hundred and
thirty-three statesmen conduct them
selves very much as three hundred and
thirty-three men in a circumscribcd vii
lage would do There are leaders, SUBJ
leaders, bosses and bossed, gossipers
and tattlers galore. Everything that is
said At Mr.. McMillin's or Mr.. Bynum's
headquarters Is repeated in the course
OF the evening in the rooms Of Hatch.
Wilson and the other candidates One
OF these tale-bcarers is loosely called
the Nightly News" and takes the so
briquet as q compliment
One thing is particularly noticeable
TO an on-looker. 1t is the temperance as
pect and temperate condition Of the cam
paign- There was time easily within
my memory when gallon after gallon OF
whisky was nightly dispensed by the
colored servants Of the candidates:
while many pint or half-pint flask
was given away when good-nights were
said. Just about day break. The rooms
were constantly poisoned with the
fumes of tobacco. which the friends Of
the aspirants pulled from his strong,
choice and costly imported cigars.
There was something Of this kind
started a few days ago at one
of the headquarters, but it was soon
stopped by the advice Of intimate
friends. The time has gone by when
success can be sucked from a bottle Of
liquor: or when statesmen can float
into favor upon the flavor of clouds of
tobacco smoke. A few cigars are given
away. just as they are often handed
from friend to friend upon the street;
but there is no ostentatious parading OF
hospitality of that kind. This would be
very unfortunate indeed for the
colonies, judges, majors and other pro-
fessional deadbeats, whom. like the
honest poor. we have with us always,
except for the fact that the iniquity yet
exists at the headquarters of the candi-
dates for the clerkship. doorkcepership,
astership and sergeant-at-ar Of
tie house. Those who seek these Of
fees believe in the ante bellum style of
vote-getting. But even the headquar-
tiers Of these people are more quiet,
decorous and dignifed than in former
years, SO that ! can see with great
pleasure the gradual improvement
which Is permeating the body polite
throughout the length and breadth Of
this republic.
II Is not to be wondered at that new
mem hers Of the house sometimes suffer
frata excessive self-consciousnes. Never
before in all their lives have they been SO
popular, SO courted and SO sought after,
especially by gentlemen with national
regulations 1t has tendency to ex.
pand the sensorium to an undue degree,
to have such unusual and persistent at