Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-31
Political Views Of a New
York Politician.
John B. Haskins, the Tuscarora
Chief, Interviewed.
He Thinks David Bennett Hill Will
Be the Man for Galway.
The Only Danger Will Be That West
ern Man May Be Taken UP Az
Compromise.

p - /. - 4.
The name of John B. Haskins is one
of the familiar onesin America. In his
native state, New York, he is one Of the
best known men alive. For forty years
he was in nearly every state convention
Of the Democratic party, and he was a
conspicuous figure in many national
conventions Of the party. He served in
the house Sof representatives for many
years, from 1867 to well into the sixties.
He introduced Abraham Lincoln to the
members of the house on his first visit
as president. Mr.. Haskins is known
far and wide under the sobriquet Of the
Tuscarora Chief. He was the sachem OF
the Tuscarora Tribe, powerful Demo-
cratic organization in New York city,
and at the state convention when,J ohm
Kelly was nominated for governor, a Mr..
Gill, chairman Of the County Democracy,
rose in his place, buttoned his coat
about him, cleared his throat, and said,
in grandiloquent tones Mr.. President,
have the honor to present to this august
body, representing the great Democratic
party in the great state Of New York,
the credentials OF the County Democ-
racy." Judge Haskins followed at once,
and unconsciously went through about
all the motions Gill had made, and with
similar intonations of voice, announced
that he had the honor of presenting
credentials OF the Tuscaroras, as chief Of
that great tribe. He was thercupon
dubbed the chief of the Tuscaroras, and
the name has clung to him since.
Judge Haskins is specially well-known
here, as he is visiting Los Angeles now
for the third time. Some two
years ago he came here, and
was robbed by. . gang of sharpers,
Hood, 8oseset ais. It Il In connection
with crimin&t dih6s growing out
Of this robbery that he is here pow as
the complaining witness.
Knowing Mr.. Haskins' grasp of the
political situation in his own state par
ticularly, and in the country generally.
q HERALD reporter was detailed last
night to obtain his views on national
affairs. He was found at bis hotel, the
Hollenbeck, and the reporter being
invited up to his rooms an animated
discussion took place, the topics touched
being mainly on the coinage of silver
and the Democratic candidates for the
presidency in the ext campaign.
Judge Haskins discussed the silver
question with both breadth and
acumen. He went into the vol
ume of currency before the war,
during that episode and since, giving
minute data all the way along. The
most interesting part of this disquisition
was as regards the coinage of silver at
this time. The speaker conceded that
the country needs an enlarged volume Of
circulating medium to prevent spanics
such as that of few weeks ago. He
thinks this is point universally con-
ceded, He furthermore is of the opinion
that there is not much direct and simple
opposition to the coinage Of silver, but
the views of such as Senator Sherman
set, forth in the recent debate in the
senate have great weight with many
people. They do not see why eighty
cents worth of silver should be made
worth dollar by the process Of minting.
Such men claim that more silver ought
to be put into the dollar.
That is the stumbling block of fall
lacy over which all the anti-silver men
trip. They cannot look far enough
ahead to see that the setting Of silver on
. full parity with gold as precious
metal will at once elevate it to the old
ratio of value, justas surely as it's fraud
ulent demonetization in 1873 depressed
the white metal to point of value be.
low that ratio.
But it was not coinage the interview
was for primarily. Politics was the
subject Of the story. In answer to iii.
quiries NJ BY the reporter. Judge
Haskinsl Expressed the following views I:
II VT New York just after Hill was
electd to the senate. ! felt all the time
it4fdst come to that. Hill did not want
ttgo to the senate; but the party wanted
him TO 60 there.
Yes, + think the governor had no.
tion the step might be taking him away
from the presidential nomination. He
consulted good many good. friends,
and they urged him to 60 to Washing.
ton. advised him that way myself. y
do not think il will ct all interfere with
his presidential aspirations; on the con-
trary twill help him along. You see
Hill has never appeared in our politics
on the national arena. The people
generally have an imperfect, in many
cases an erroneous idea of him. AS
was on my way out here y few
days ago, met on the cars
I distinguished Texas Democrat. We
discussed the situation, and the proba-
bic candidates. This southern gentle
man said that the people Of his section
have no feeling unfriendly to Hill, but
they think he Is q mere politician, and
not statesman. Now that is where the
country is at sea in its estimate Of 2. =.
HilE He il politician, and one of the
most skillful Ia the country. How could
he be otherwise2 | tell you he is very
able man. He has been in politics all
his lie. He could not help knowing the
science Of politics. He knows his own
state down 70 the details Of every pre-
cirict. Ruthe q 9 great deal more than
politiciens y 8 will develop into one
6f The ablest eta}epmen IL the SENATE
during The next Two year. k3e viii
nov " able . shoK how m a