Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-26


forward 20 the Vice President. But Matt
w. Ransom mot Matthew. az some OF
the newspapers print II. but plain Matt"
Just as Tom Johnson OF Ohio Is not
Thomas) IL the very pink OF senatorial
courtesy. and II his newly-elected coll
league had been the arch-enemy OF man.
kind he would have shown him all the
honors which the occasion demanded.
When the hour arrived he approached
Jarvis with the most courtly bow and
the most kindly smile imaginable, offered
him his arm. MARCHED him down the
main aisle. and up 10 the Vice President,
as though It gave him infinite pleasure
TO do So and then. after the oath had
been duly administered not content with
escorting his rival back 10 his seat. he
proceeded TO introduce him 10 all the
leading men on the Democratic side OF
the Senate and to- such OF the Republi-
cans as were within reach. lie really
could not have done more for his best
friend.
SENATOR RANSOMS DISTINCTION.
Senator Ransom Is naturally regarded
as personihcation Of all the proprieties
by his brother-senators. handsome
man. tall erect. broad shouldered. vigo-
rous mentally and physically. showing
no signs OF age al So except that he has a
tonsured crown and that his short-poInted
beard, his moustache and his monk-like
fringe Of hair are turning gray, always
diguincd. he always dresses in the best
style wearing a black broadcloth in the
winter and a long coat OF black alpaca
I'm the summer. and paying particular
attention 10 his linen, which Is always
immaculate. unlike that OF some Of his
southern colleagues. He has always had
a nervous trick OF pulling down his ample
cuffs with a sort Of flourish, which is now
as much one OF his characteristics as
his habit Of attitudinlzing In picturesque
poses around the Senate chamber or his
way Of listening TO speaker by sitting
with his back turned 20 him, and yet all
attention.
He is courteous TO everybody; not only
20 senators Of both sides. but TO members
OF the House and other public men,
ueWspappr-fuen Oiiicc-scekcrs, servants,
and all other sorts Of men and women.
lie never says very much, although he
talks with apparent freedom. for he IS
naturally secretive. and, besides, thinks
IL improper TO talk about pubic atalrS
as most Senators and Representatives. do,
and as for telling what goes on in exc
cutive session or in party caucus, az
many Of his colleagues do. he would
resign his seat in the Senate, than which
/ can say nothing more striking, before
he would think Of doing such thing.
HE CAN KEEP A SECRET.
Some men have thought because he
asks so many questions and answers so
few that he was uncommuncadye be-
cause he had nothing 10 communicate.
Iut this is a great mistake. The fact
that he can keep secret brings him
secrets to keep. so that ] suppose that
49, c., ft. I.aa
moro Information as 10 what = going
on lie is Senator Germans close friend
and adviser. and so has all the cOunsels
Of the Democratic side within his know
ledge and he is on intimate terms with
several Republican leaders. ana so is kept
Informed as 10 what is going on on he
other side Of the aisle. But the brightest
ncwspaper-men in Washington, some Of
them among his best friends, have never
gotten any news out OF him.
Drawing down his cuffs and pattng his
newspaper friend anecuonately on the
back he win reply to a pointed question:
Not now. not now. my friend. We must
reflect we must consider. Ne must de-
liberate." or something equally Delphic,
out of which ne can make nothing eX-
cept that there Is nothing to make. or
Ransom will take another tack, ana,
with an encouraging smile and a re-
assuring grasp Of the hand, will say. i'm
pressively, Everything is moving
smoothly" or some equally indefinite gen
crality of the most glittering character
and Of no earthly value to a newspaper
man Yet he would walk all over Wash
ington t. oblige his friend. while he would
do absolutely nothing for him which he
thought he ought not to do.
THINK RANSOM WILL WIN.
His friendships are his strong point in
politics for II Is said that he knows
almost every Democratic voter In North
Carolina. and many OF the Republicans
and. strange TO say. is as popular with
the young men as with the old ones lie
Is "a good stump speaker as well as a
splendid mixer" although he does not
make many speeches in the Senate, hav-
ing learned that he can do more effective
work for himself ana his constituents in
committee and in conversation on the
soor and in the cloak-rOoms.
lie is a very useful man in the Senate
for he has all the pTecedents in his memo
~. This Is very valuable on all occasions
1f ceremony Vance used say that on
ceremonial DAYS he was lost without
Ransom Where Is my master Of cere-
mOnics?' no inquired in tones of mock
anxiety of "A friend whom he met in the
rotunda on Inauguration-Day and heaved
n great sigh bl i'ii'A NIi'A ii4' Ai'N'4A 'e'iN
he had just left Ransom
Senator Jarvis looks older than Ransom,
although h is younger. l believe, and is
much less impressive every way. lie has
Il thinner body, although he is about as
tall: ne has small head irregularly
shaped. while Ransom's is like a gigantic
acorn. and his form is bent, while his
hair. MOI stache. and chin-tuft are snowy
white He looks as If he had been i'll
for "A long time, or was just going TO be.
But he is said to be a strong man, who
rivals Ransom in popularity in his state.
still most of the North Carollnians think
Ransom is going to win.