The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-07-01

he is capable. have known Mr.. Dickin
son for years. | knew him first when he
was a lawyer in Detroit and before hi;
name was known outside of local politics
knew him while he was Mr.. Cleveland's
postmaster general. He has never changed
He has always beensa man of resistless
energy, man who goes into the law OIL
into political campaign with the sole de
termination of winning, and who before
his jury is selected, or before the first gun
has been fired, already sees victory perched
on his banners Sometimes he is led toe
far by his own enthusiasm and his over
confidence in himself or his cause, but this
very confidence inspires the people with
whom he comes in contact; it inspires
them to renewed efforts, and it makes
them believe that failure with him as a
leader is impossible.
AS leader in Michigan politics Mr.
Dickinson established his reputation and
as President Clevelands postmaster gen
eral he showed that he was possessed of
great executive ability. The same talents
which characterized his administration of
the great business department of the gov
eminent were displayed here. He is a
thorough believer in the value of organiza-
ton as applied to political work, and the
moment he arrived on the scene, in con-
junction with Mr.. Whitney, Mr.. Fairchild
| and the other men who were managing the
ex-president's campaign, he proceeded to
| thoroughly organize the forces at his COM
mand The organization which these lead
ers perfected was thorough in all its de-
tails, and it evoked the admiration of men
who for the past twenty-five years have
taken an active part in national politics
Another thing which excited their admra-
| ton was the confidence and enthusiasm
which every man interested in Mr.. Cleve-
lands election displayed. / saw Mr. Dick
inson about half an hour after he had ar
rived, and before he had had time to re-
move the stains of travel or get his trunk
unpacked asked him what he thought
would be the outcome of the convention,
and in case it should become apparent
that Mr. Cleveland could not be nomi-
mated whom the Cleveland people would
take for their second choice. Mr. Dickin-
son seemed to be utterly amazed by the
very thought that any one should suggest
to him second choice. He would not
listen to it for one moment, nor did he
think that any possible combination of cir
cumstances could defeat his former chief
Morning, noon and far into the night he
proclaimed the glad tidings to the Cleve-
land men that Mr.. Cleveland would be the
nominee, and when he found delegate
who was wavering or had any doubts as
to the wisdom of nominating the former
president he labored with him so earnest
ly and used such potent arguments that
nine times out of ten the delegate went
away convinced that the man of all others
plead the Democrats to victory was Grover
Cleveland.
General Patrick A. Collins, who for SO
many years represented one of the Boston
districts in congress, is, as his name sug-
gests, of Irish birth and parentage, but
though born in Ireland, he is a thorough
American, and no man is more loyal to his
adopted country and has it's interests more
at heart than the gifted Boston lawyer.
In 1888 he was the permanent chairman of
the st. Louis convention, which renomi-
mated Mr.. Cleveland, and during the cam
paign which followed that convention he
spoke almost nightly from the stump in
behalf of the Democratic ticket He is
great admirer of the ex-president, and be-
lieving that his nomination would be the
best thing for the party, he came to Chi
cago prepared to spare no pains nor efforts
to bring it about. General Collins is very
tall and thin, and his blue eyes and light
brown hair and mustache display his Gel
tic origin. But, unlike most men of his
race, he believes more in solid and effective
work than mere argument or demonstra-
ton. General Collins was seen but little
at the various headquarters but in his
private room in the Palmer House sue
cession of the most prominent leaders of
the opposition passed in and out His
standing in his party and the knowledge
that he expected no reward for his services
gave the greatest weight to anything that
he might utter, because it was felt that
Collins was purely disinterested in his ad-
vice and cared more for party success than
the elevation of any man. 1t is rare in
deed in our politics that a man after firmly
intrenching himself in the hearts and af-
fections of his constituents voluntarily re-
linquishes all further hope of political pre-
ferment and retires to private life But
this is just what General Collins has done
He was sent to Washington year after year
to represent the city of Boston in part and
every time the nomination came to him |
without struggle, and the district was so
surely Democratic that he could count |
upon the election with almost absolute |
certainty.
In congress he established his reputation |
as one of the best lawyers in the house, but |
he found, as a good many men do, that his |
doll was stuffed with sawdust, and that |
while it is an honor to be a member of |
he could only hold his place at a |
great pecuniary sacrifice. His law bust |
ness was suffering, he was growing poorer |
and his children were growing up. Deter
mined to gain a competency while oppor-
tunity offered, he told his constituents that
he could not continue to represent them.
They would not yield to his wishes, and !
despite his objection again nominated him.
OF course he was elected, but he told his
electors of the district that that was the
last time he would serve, and to prevent
them from again nominating him against
his will he moved over into a district so
hopelessly Republican that he knew no
one would try to force the nomination
upon him. Now that he has retired from
public life and is earning fortune at the
Boston bar, he has no desire to again enter
the political arena but his interest in the
Democratic party is as keen as ever, and
for that reason he was found here, work
ing on behalf of Mr. Cleveland.
Ex-Secretsry of the Treasury Fairchild
came to Chicago at the head of the pro
testing New York delegation, the deleGa-
lion which vas convened at Syracuse 20