Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-08-18
SHAKING DRY BONES
Senatorial Dignity Roughly
Shaken Up i'm the U. s.
Senate.
New Men Venture Opinions
and Express Them With
out Fear.

During the Fifty-first and Fifty
second sessions of the national con-
gress, there has been a great shaking
up Ofdry bones in the United States
senate Scenes and incidents that
must have appeared very strange to
some OF the old and 1dignified mem
bcrs Of this branch have occurred
during this period. The traditions
of this very digniied and straight
laced body have been Oyerridden
more than once during the past two
sessions. New blood has ubeen the
cause Of it all, and it can be said TO
the credit Of the great West that the
breezy and taking ways of the new
men sent from that section of the
country to the American house of
lords has enliyened the proceedings
and made the somewhat dreary ses-
slOns of the senate very interesting at
times. From Colorado has come VOL
colt; from Wyoming, Warren and
Carey; from Washington, Allen:
from Minnesota, Washburn; from
Wisconsin, Villas; from North Dakota, |
Hansbrough and Casey, and from
South Dakota, Frank P~ettigrew. |
Previous to the Fffty-first session a
new man coming to the senate was
very much pleased if the old members
in that body permitted him to live
and breathe without receiving actual
consent from some of the old grey
boards every day. If a new man
attempted to say anything or take |
more than a routine part in the pro-
ceedings he was immediatelysat upon
and crushed by the older members.
A man had to serve nearly a six years
term in this branch before it was con-
coded that he had a right to make a
speech or take part in any of the
debates that occurred. All this has
changed. The new men have played
the principal and most sensational
roles in the senate during the past
three years. 1t can be said of VOL
colt, of Colorado, that he cares moth
ing for the ancient traditions of the
senate, and, if he c head he wants
to strike, he Immediately reaches out
and in his most determined manner
proceeds to club it. He does not seem
to be awed by any of the important
! ~persOnages in control of the govern
ment and has eyinced a determina-
tion to attack everybody that comes
under his bane, from the President
down to a special agent of the land
office. Some people question the pol
icy that Wolcott has pursued while
others claim that his advent into the
senate has done that branch very
much good. Those who think that
WolcOtt has been too determined and
a little too aggressive for a new mem
Der declare that before he closes out
the first term of his senatorial career
that he will have very little infiu-
ence owing to the fact that he is
likely TO make enemies of nearly all
his colleagues. WOlcott, however,
does not appear to be bothered by any
of the criticisms passed upon his
course.
Senator Washburn has been very
prominent since taking his senatorial
seat, and it can be said for him that
no man has appeared in public print
so often as he and that but few men
have pushed through so much legis-
lation or attempted the kind OF legis-
lation that Washburn has, and which
has created so much interest. His
anti-option bill has set the country all
agog during the past few months.
Senator Villas, of Wisconsin, came
to the senate having the prestige of a
cabinet officer and more was expected
of him than of the ordinary new MEM
Der. The Wisconsin man has made
himself prominent all along, and
while he has originated little legisla-
ton he has kept a close eye out on the
other fellows and seen to it that they
did not steer through anything that
was likely to be detrimental TO the
country, or, at least, detrimental in
the eyes of Mr.. Villas.
Senator Allen, of Washington, has
played more of a local role than a
national one, but he has taken part
in some of the debates upon some of
the leading topics under discussion,
and his speech on the Nicaraguan ca
nal is considered as one of the oratori-
cal gems of the past session.
Senator Warren, of Wyoming, by
reason of his knowledge of irriga-
ton affairs, has played a prominent
part in legislation touching that
point.
Senator Pettigrew, of South Dakota,
by reason of his being made chairman
of the worlds fair committee in the
senate, has been in a prominent posi-
ton during this session, and Senator
Casey, as chairman of the committee
on railroads, has also had a prominent
place. Senator Hansbrough, was not
lucky enough to secure a chairman
ship, but, although not having taken
any prominent public part in the de-
alterations Of the senate during the
last session, he has come to be recog-
nized as a politician of no small cali
bre and apretty good man to tie to as
a friend. This is also one of the at
tributes of Senator Pettigrew. The
political senators from North and
South Dakota are considered as among
the shrewdest wire pullers in the
state. Their advice is sought in very
many cases, and, when given, has
usually been followed to a successful
point. Both Pettigrew and Hans
brough will be heard fromlate in the
deliberations of the United States
senate, and in the political field as
well.
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