New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-09
PART II.
PAGES II TO ~.


ON THE WRONG SIDE OF MANY QUESTIONS
During the XLvIIh Congress and several subsco ucnt
Congresses the subject Of polygamy one Of frequent
discussion and some legislation. On this subject the
Democrats almost solid in their opposition to every
measure brought forward for the suppression OF that
crime against civilization. On January IL, 1882 ths
resolution offered by MIR. Haskell, OF Kansas, was
brought TO q vote in the House
"Resoved las the fixed and final determination OF
this House OF Representatives Of the XLvIIth Con-
gress), That person guilty OF living In poyganons
marital relations. guilty Of teaching or melting others
20 do So is entitled TO lie admitted TO this House oil
Representatives as delegate from any Territory Of the
United States"
Only one Democrat voted for the resolution. He
was not Roswell p. Flower whose name is recorded In
the negative. AT that time George O. Cannon, OF Utah.
who was subsequently convicted and sentenced TO I'M
prsonment was a claimant for a seat in Congress Us
Delegate from Utah
In 1882 as 1t has been ever since that time, the
Supreme Court Of the United states was oyer6urdeaed
with work and its docket crowded TO such de-
gree that long delays, amounting In many cases 10
the virtual denial of justice TO tgants. were constant
and inevitable At that time the working capacity
Of the court seriously impaired by the lons-DF
tinued physical disability OF Associate Justice ware
Hunt who had been appointed from the State OF New
York 1t was imperatively necessary that lie should
be retired and the place filled by the appointment o.
ply scaly able 10 perform the dutes OF the ONCE
Senate bill to authorize the retirement OF Justice
Hunt was brought 10 vote In the House OF Repre-
senatlves January 25 1882, and the name Of Ros-
well +. Flower was recorded in the negative
In 1882 n determined effort was made by the RIO
publican majority IN Congress to adopt measures tor
the increase OF the Navy and the building Of modern
vessels This effort opposed by most Of the Demo
crate and Flower carried his opposition TO suoh
an extent to cast IBIS vote against the annual ap
preparation bill for the maintenance OF TIE NAVE
which passed the House OF Representatives July D.
1882 On April II of the same year he voted agaihs4
motion to allow the bill for the increase OF the NAVY
to be considered by the House.
BOOMING HIMSELF FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
wheh MIR Flower member Of the ALViitn
Congress II occurred TO him one day thar he would
uS 70 he the next Democratic candidate for the
Presidency, and he forthwith began to construct
BOOM for himself. lie probably mad rear inas
earlier in the history OF the Democratic party It's
Presidential candidates were selected Dy Oohgroe
sona caucuses and he could see no good reason why
Congressional influence should not be patent IN ms
own case He probably had read. also. that the
foundations OF political fame and fortune had often
heen laid at a dinner table, and believed that the
easiest and surest road to the hearts Of politicians lea
through their stomachs and he began 10 fee ms
political friends and associates In Congress Win nch
yIands and to tickle their palates with rare ana
costly wines. Mr.. Flower is at all times seniai ana
generous host but now he fairly outdid himself HIS
dinners became the talk of the town. The caterer VINO
| supplied them recently said:
In those days he had at least one party. some
times two or three, week. OF not less IMAM t"eu'J
five friends, to sit down with him a. dinner "nat 10
you think each plate cost him Never uncer Slo' noo
including wines, and that meant Si0 more per plate
so Won can figure what ii cost him to lauldate for
| everv entertainment Yes, 500 was tho average
| 6gure and he handed over his checks with SMILE
| Naturally Mr.. Flower rapidly grew In popularity
among the politicians and statesmen who ATE MS an
| ners and drank his wines, and he soon resaaed ms
political prospects rosy indeed Unfortunately ior
his ambition however, Mr. Flower retired from Con-
gress in March, 1858, and, rs subsequent experience
showed the popularity which he had gained by din
| ner. giving waned so rapidly that 1t had entirely
Vanished when the Democratic National Convention
Who attende,l that convention however must remem
| Der THAI M. Flower was candidate, not from whss
| not intrude there-but from the expensive and OBJ
| frisve headquarters which he established In the
young man waited in for the delegates who never
EyeyDody must reme%eeF 9e gay s f ss
which numberless portraits of Mr.. Flower were dis
rbued freely that his genial features 1ea n upon
and saloon within mile OF the convention nall anu
yet nobody except the handsome CUSTODIAN on i've
newspaper men seemed to take much interest in Mr..
Flowers alleged candidacy Even the Iammany con.
In It's opposition Cleveland and denunciations OF the
unit rule never mentioned the name o. o prsen,
leaders did not then know about his little desk, just
big enough 20 sign check ON on; vr r7owers ambition
10 be Democratic candidate for the Presidency Heo
msaEe The SemYork Statesman IS not one whit
less eager and hopeful now than ne was eight yeas
ago. and if he should win this year he would regard tho
| Governorshp only stepping stone to the freSl-
| dency.
| VOTING AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF NEw-YoRK.
Mr.. Flower was a member OF the Committee OF ways
and Means OF the List Congress- Speaker Reed having
| cd WIN ia
| the fact that the Empire State, with her Imperial
| resources and immense manufacturing. acricutura'
commercial and industrial interests, was entitled 70
| Democratic as well Republican representation In
| that important committee. As member Of II, Mr.
Flower was true TO the freetrade instincts and tenes
OF his party and subservent TO the demands OF the
| American representatives OF foreign producers ana
manufacturers. In the face Of facts when he mmseu
admitted exist, he favored and voted for Canadian
competition against the interests Of the farmers OF MS
Own State he favored and voted for the composition OF
the tencent per day labor OF Sumar ana against tho
interests OF the leaf tobacco growers of New York he
voted against every proposition to protect home In
dustTies and American wOrklngnen against the IN
furious competition Of unterpad, cheap European
and Asiac labor his economic soul vibrated IN syn
pathy with the demands Of the foreign producers anA
importers Of Mediterranean oranges, sumatIa leai
,oacco SPANISH Ores British firearms, Fench brsndes
and wines and Canadian farm. mine, forest and nsh-
| cries products while he turned "A deaf ear 10 the
| appeals Of the. workingmen farmers and other pro-
| ducers and manufacturers Of his own country ara
| State
His attitude of Indifference and hostility t0ward
the agricultural producers OF Ncviork was especially
marked. There Is 10 other state in the Union In
which foreign competition, especially Canadian COM
petition is so strongly and iDurousH felt by aSr1-
cultural communities as In New fori.-a TACT whle"
Mr. Flower knew II he was iii TO be MEMBER OF 'ho
| COMMITTEES Of WAYS and Means-and yet he joined
hands with Mills and the other Southern free-trado
| Democrats. not only 10 perpetuate oui
! to. strengthen that competition against the Farmers
and producers OF tn. Empire state
The imports OF agricultural products through New
Iii lai year execc,Icd $50 coo 900. nearly all Of