The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-21
New England and the West.

The complaint of the mayor of Denver at
the Mississippi Congress that the New
England corner OF the country is controlling
the wealth and politics Of the nation and has
demonetized silver is significant, If not
wholly accurate. PROFESSIONALLY there is a
growing jealousy of New England through
out the West. In the.last campaign it was
enough to prejudice the Republican party
greatly in those regions for the lvoters to be
told that the Mckinley bill was intended to
benefit New ENGLAND, and good judges of
the proceedings Of Congress were of the
opinion that the federal election bill would
probably have passed the Senate had it been
managed by western man, like Spooner,
Instead OF by Mr.. Hoar, New England man.
Inlfact the United States Senate, by its pecu-
liar constitution and its traditions, has done
much to create this prejudice. In the House
of Representatives, where representation is
based upon population, primacy of Influence
Is conceded to the greatest states because
their strength is evident in their numerical
representation Primary of influence is also
sonceded to eminent men more generously
Ia the House. because everyone recognizes
that whoever works his way up to leadership
In the House richly merits whatever influ-
ence he attains. So 1t has happened that
New England, with her political associates.
states like New York and Pennsylvania, and
with the unusual number of brilliant men
whom she has sent to Congress, has main
tanned her influence in the House of Repre-.
sentatives without causing great or perma-
nent 1ealousies on the part of the Western
States. Butin the Senate there is an entirely
different state Of affairs. Each state has two
Senators; and the Senators from Colorado,
which has only population enough for one
Congressman, expect to have just as much
influence as the Senators from New York,
which has population enough for thirty-four
members of 1.-THE House. In the Senate it
happens that influence is gained, at the pres
emit time at least, by seniority as we'll as by
brilliancy or application. Debate in that
body has in great measure degenerated
into the reading of long essays; and men
come to large Influence because they have
been there long time. New England has
been noted especially for the length of time
that she kept her men there, and her Sena-
tors. some able and some not especially able,
have gravitated to places of influence. The
list Of committees Of the Senate of which
New England men are chairmen is an i'm
posing one for its importance. There is the
Judiciary, with Senator Edmunds chairman;
finance with Senator Morrill, at its head.
Indian affairs, dealing with subjects of
peculiar interest to the West, with Senator
Dawes OF Massachusetts for chairman: COM
merce, another important committee. with
Senator Frye chairman; census with Sena-
tor bale chairman; labor and education
with Senator Blair. now retired; immigra-
ton. Senator Chandler; military affairs. an
other very important committee, Senator
Hawley; territories, which would naturally
go to Western man, it would be supposed,
falls to the lot Of Senator Plat, of iConnecti-
cut; and rules, still another very important
committee. is presided over by Senator AL
drich. In the House Indian affairs, and ter
rltories are attended to by committees pre-.
siueu over py Western men who have been
pIougnt up 10 acquaintance with the practi-
cal aspects OF the subjects. Privileges and
e'ections, another important Senate commit
tee.has Senator Hoar for its chairman. West
ern men, with shorter terms of service 70
their credit or with less claims 70 distinot,or
~ aD ~ 1nale considerably over the in
fuence OF New England; and this iealonsv
is cropping out among their constituents es
pecially since the silver question has couo
into prominence. New England has boTna q
large share, botn in House and Senate IN
opposing free silver coinage; and she is CON
demned for it In all the silver states. More.
over New England is great money lender
and the West is great borrower, and when
the borrower is inconsiderate and the lend
er free TO lend and prompt to demand pay
ment the relations between borrower and
lender are not always pleasant. But we are
inclined to thinksthat the West is little I'M
reasonable. What would she have done