New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-29
WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOUSE.
RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. BLAINE'S SERVICE
IN CONGRESS.

HIS OLD COMRkDEs LEFT
Washington Jan. 2s.-In House composed 81
332 members today there are but twelve members
who served in the House with Mr.. Blaine In the
XLlVth or prior Congresses. These are Holman
O'Nen. OF Pennsylvania: Harmer. Hooker. Bount
Burrows Springer Forney. Culberson Bland, iiendcr
son OF Illinois and Ketcham. The older members
OF the House have fund OF "reminiscences Of the dead
statesman They refer to the memorable fight against
the first Election bil which was led by Mr. Randall
OF Penis yvania, and which endeared that statesman
to his Democratic friends. But In that hght, says
tho Republican father OF the House. ONcill, OF Penn
sylvania-who was antagonisc to the view taken by
tie Speaker-Mr. Randalps efforts would not have
been crowned with success had II not been for Mr.
Blaine. II was then when the Republican majority
was large one and flbusterng by the Democrats
was rampant that Speaker Blaine quoted the OLD
proverb. that You may lead horse to water. but
you cannot make him drink
Mr. Holman. Of Indiana. touched on the same point
with Mr. ONeill, Republican by ascribng the defeat
OF the bill as much to Mr. Blaine as to Mr.. Randall.
1t Mr. Blaine's great fairness as man that per
miired him TO defeat the bill. the Indiana statesman
sald for Mr.. Blaine never left any man In the CHAIR
who was not fair man. 1t was his fairness which
permitted the Democrats TO Gbustcr the bill to death
"The National House OF Representatives. said an
old legislative reporter "has had few Speakers II
any, who enjoyed greater popularity among It's mem
bers who exercised more influence over legislators
! than Mr. Blaine Democrats admired him for his
mparality and fairness much as for his abilities,
and he had no faster friend on either side of the
| Chamber than Mr.. Randall, the un0inching Penn
| sylvania Democrat. Up to and all through Mr.
Randalrs Illness the klndcst relations were main
tanned between tho two men. who had been so long
on the floor OF the House. and who had each
occupied the Speakers chair with signal ability and
success"
! There are but seven Of those who served with Mr.
Blaine in the Senate remaining in that body. where
| he served honorably and so we'll Thcy are
| Senators Allison. Cockren Dawes. Gordon. Mitchell.
| Morrill, and Ransom. four Republicans and three
| Democrats.
Mr. Hale. the Junior Senator from Maine. who.
perhaps stood nearer TO Mr. Blaine than any other
| man In Washington was too greatly moved by the
personal sorrow that came lin TO express his Views
concerning the life and work Of the great party leader
Ills remarks In announcing 10 the Senate the death
az Mr. Elaine were delivered with much feeling ana
but partly expressed the deep emotion that possessed
| him.
The acquaintance OF Mr.. FRYE. the senior Maine
! Senator, with Mr. Blaine very extended SAID
he: was a member Of the Maine Legislature" when
Mr. Blaine was the Speaker ~ the Maine House. ana
have been closely connected with him ever slh' g.
| was also member OF the National House OF f'pr'
seniaiivcs when he was speaker and succeeded MN Ia
his scat I'm the senate relations nearly oil I'd"
time have been Of the frcndi"st character 'h'ih
he was the most brilliant man ever Knew lie ia"
a most wonderful capacity for absorbing inioriha'l'h
and a still more wonderful capacity for giving II
| out at a timely moment. lie very r"inhfh'"i'
controverslalist and was rather fold Of 1t. Indeed
nj, powers were not fully shown In set speeches ana
| hc VAS a much more dangerous a." IN a running u'
| hatc | do not think he himself ever flnci'd mhkli-
/ what f. known II, a speech. On the stump n"iAlhI
| pleased linn better than interrupuon@ and hc "''
Wonderfully effective IN his repli'~. Ih"i we're &C
npd as a rule that some Of his cn"ihi' coca l"'hN
! charged him with settling mp Jobs in advance
| ia Mr. nIInrs wonderful memory for name, ani iac',
| " In I5-i." he said. Mr.. blaine mad" "A speech ~
Wisconsin and he STAYED with me. WEI" he Wa hri'
| rnyn "A dinner In Mr.. Blainr's honor 10 which Ia
| v,i,d MIR Mycr, OF Fond du Lac. Ia 81, more Nli
| si,fcen wear, afterwnrd Mr.. Mycr came here ana
| took him TO call Mr.. Blaine. Before W. got th'r,
! We met Mr. blaine. While We were "ltlh hboii
fnr,v feet Of him. he walked quickly forward and
without any hesitation said Mr.. {. L. j. My'r h""
DO you do = IL. eo.o,or couvc,
4 gentleman OF the party with senator Na"Scr
s,id :. was with Mr. Blaine Wien h" visited Ian
| easier ohio during "A paign. MIR. lame hii
vcd there and he got Il great reception. lie r'h'm
i.rnd all the old residents Finally some one brOls
in man whom they said ht would not remember M
| I,loinr replied .Ncs. ! do, give me "A Hiilr uhi'
pretty soon he remarked 10 the man. ! never SdM
rnu hut once and then he told this story Wh'h
he was A bow there was great excitement VVl'
d,v because convict had escaped from The 'oluhpI'
,.n.utiary and had been tracked into mat nclIhD"
hood The police arrested him and Mr.. BAN" SalI
lao y,s one OF the crowd around. The convict was 'ai
a. blacksmith shop and had letters riv"tcd on mn
Nv The blacksmith 'Y0d' turning 10 the man. ANA
walked home to Lancaster together after That