The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-25
SENATOR SHERMAN.
The Leader of the Senate Has Unique
POsitiOn-Runs No Errands.

Washington letter in Philadelphia Press.
SenatoV Sherman has a unique position
in the Senate. He is not only the foremost
Republican, but he IS the foremost Senator,
recognized by both sides as the greatest OF
them all, and as perhaps the only Senator
whose place in history is securely estab-
lished among the few great names He
does not have TO run on errands for his
constituents or placate them with docu-
ments and seeds. He does not even have
to write bushels of letters every day, an
most of his colleagues do. In fact, he can
do just about as he pleases and take his
own time to do it in. He is a methodical
businesslike man; SO that he keeps up the
routine of work which he established when
he was younger. and is particularly careful
to see that his clerks answer the letters
that he receives but he gets through his
daily task without fatigue, without fret.
He has plenty of time in the morning TO
attend TO his large private business, and in
the evening TO prepare for publication his
correspondence with his brother. the Gen.
eral and other prominent men and other
more less historical matter preserved in
his fine memory and his capacious pigeon
holes.
L see no reason why he should not be in
the Senate ten years from now, for he has
lived temporarily, regularly and without
has often been in exciting scenes. but per-
sonally has seldom been excited himself:
although whenever he speaks earnestly he
If he is ii is like Mount Hecla, whose ice
covering is not melted by its eruption.
Every time that Senator Sherman has
been defeated for the presidential nom
nation he has known the treachery and
duplieity which accomplished it. and. feel
manifested in private such passionate feel
ings as no one who saw him only in pub
has ever heard of any such demonstra-
lions on his part at other times. His i'm
pulses. unlike those of his brother. the gen.
eral, have always, except on these unusual
occasions, been held strictly under the con-
troll of his strong will. 1t may be selfsh-
from the wear and tear OF feeling which
sympathetic souls sustain. although selfish
ness is not always serene; but at all events,
been represented to be, he has an icy ex-
trior which only those who know him well
delightful companion, full of entertain
ing anecdote and humorous observations.
versation from any public man than 1 have
heard from him, sitting In his library as
he smoked his after-dinner cigar. But in
the Senate this side of him is seldom ap-
parent
Senator Sherman realizes. I believe. at
last that he can never be President. Al
though in his case. as in the case Of every
other man who has really been a presi-
Dental candidate. nothing but death will
cure the desire for the presidency i hope
he will become sufficiently philosophical to
write out the inner history OF his long
contest for the nomination. for there 10
no more interesting story in American pol
iticS. II we did not know how the pres
identiai fever affects the greatest intellect.
it would be incredible that such an aclits
mind as Senator Shermans should ever
have been deceived, as ii again and
again, by false friends and dishonest agents.
1t is astonishing, however, that a born
money maker like Sherman who has made
a fortune by shrewdness. should have been
Cd of nlnn he ~,
campaign after campaign by politicians
who could not have cheated him in any
Senator Sherman is one OF the largest
real estate operators In Washington He
rows of houses. mostly of the Cheaper sort.
many of which he sold and many of which
he rents: He has especially large interests
| north of the Capitol and on Capitol hill
| He looks after them sharply, too, at the
Capitol, where legislation affecting them
| ways pending, and at the offices of the Dis
| trict government, where decisions as TO
| street improvements and so forth are being
| made all the time. which may add TO the
value of his holdings
Senator Sherman is fond Of social life.
contrary TO the general impression. going
| out a good deal with his wife during the
season and entertaining very pleasantly at
| his own home. He has lived for years on
| the north side Of Franklin Park I'm the
| heart of the West End moving three times.
| as he built one house after another, each
| finer than the one he had. until now he
Senator Sherman is the most dignified and
4 most distinguished looking figure in the
| Senate. When he rises. slowly straighten-
ing out his spare form, and begins TO speak
| il is with the air of by-gone days. which
| recalls for the moment the great traditions
| of the Senate. At first he seems round
shouldered and even stoops little, but as
| he becomes interested in what he is saving
he becomes as straight a pine tree, and
| seems TO grow twenty years younger. His
| long, thin gray hair is tossed I'm the air,
| his eyes fash like electric sparks, his long,
bony arm seems 10 grow twice as long as
| il is as he points his thin finger at the
other side while hot words fall thick and
| fast from his lips. though his tongue starn-
! merS over them every now and then, so
as TO show that his ideas are crowding him.
| II is like pouring water rapidly from a mar
| row-necked bottle. Every few minutes the
| eloquent orator becomes a stammerer, hes
/ itating though he was not sure of his
/ word, and often as not mispronouncing
| il I'm a comical manner. II there is any
| way of mispronouncing proper name
| Senator Sherman is almost sure TO HIT
upon ii. The Senate watches for his mis-
| pronunciations now, and secretly chuckles
| them