Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-02-22
SENATOR MARTIN.
What Down East" Paper Says of Him.

| The Washington correspondent of
the Brooklyn Eagle has the following
to say in a recent issue of that great
metropolitan newspaper:
The forthcoming tariff contest in the
United States senate will develop some
new leaders upon the floor in the coun-
ellis of that body. The older members
expect it. The senate is losing much of
its conservatism. and the opportunity
| is better now for new senator to gain
distinction than they have ever been be-
fore. Judging by the strong foothoId
gained by him already few senators
have more promising future than
John Martin. of Kansas. When it was
knewn that the radical republican state
of Kansas had sent a democrat TO the
senate for the first time in her history.
there was natural curiosity on both
sides of the chamber and in the coun-
| try generally to see and size up the
product of the sunf1ower urheaval.
Plumb has been succeeded by one who
| is the equal of the dblest that Kgnsas,
in all the days of her black republican,
ism, could produce. It was to be eX-
pected that that state would hold to
| her traditions and send to the senate Il
man of unique individuality and Sena-
tor Martin meets such traditions to d
marked degree. Already he has estab
lished himself with his fellow me bers
in manner out of all proportions to
the time usually accorded to- u new
senator in which to prove his worth.
The leading champion of the Kansas
democracy for more than "A generation,
Senator Martin appears to take it as
the simplest matter of fact and as the
most logical results that he should now
hold a seat in the senate and see the
old time legions of Kansas republican
ism trampled under the feet of an eX
by me at the senate pOstuffice devel-
oped the fact that BY far the heaviest
mail received by any one senator comes
to Martin. also visited his committee
room, for the purpose of learning the
nature of his mail, the manner in which
it was handled and if possible, some
thing of the traits that have made Sen
ator Martin peculiar 1T home and III
| Washington. l. key to the latter
problem was soon ;ip:, rent. 1t lies il
his democratic manner, 9 cordially
and the absolute sincerity with which
impresseS all. Office seekers, newspa
per men, messenger boys and miScela
neous callers are made to feel that they
have met friend. a hard and earnest
worker himself Senator Martin has DC
time for triVialities. There may be
idling elsewhere in Washington, but
the senator's secretaries are not guilty
of it. Only by systematic hard work
from early morning until night can they
avoid being swamped by the inflowing
mail. The senator's long practice at
the bar, and his eXperenc as d judge
on the bench have disposed him to give
great attention to details, and every
communication received has due atten-
ton. Federal patronage and pensions
are subjects covered by great major
ity of the letters. These are supple
mented by letters on the various mat
tiers before congress, suggestions of
needed legislation, and SO on. Kansas
has a great many pensioners in her pop
ulation and the mail from them is
enormous. The discomfort among the
farnars of tho vest is revaaIad i'm the
numerous letters suggesting needed leg
islation and in commentator of the
senator's position on the silver ques
ton. The populists having Joined With
the democrats in his election, it IS but
natural that Senator Marion should
regard them most kindly. He is out
spoken IN his criticisms of what he calls
the provincialism of the eastern dem
ocracy, and is very frank in saying that
the farmers have many grievances of "a
most serious nature. and he treats with
| much contempt aSpersions on the orthO-
| doXy of his democracy in that respect.
| He contends that the western demOc-
racy, in treating with kindness and
|
| farmers, pursuing the right course. and
| that his eastern brethren mast come to
his views of it eventually Very much
| like the late Senator Plumb in answer
ing promptly all correspondence. and in
keeping in thorough touch with his
constituents, Senator Martin is also
following in the footsteps of his great
predecessor in the boldness and earn
estness with which he contends for
what he thinks is right. 1t is. there
fore, not strange that colleagues are
beginning to accord him marked
place in democratic councils.
SOME of the railroads notably the
Santa Fee are appealing to the county
commissioners TO make reduction on
their taxes. Attorney General Little