Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-15

and the Senator'S stock, which had been
knocking about the New York market a
football for the brokers' at "a a share, sud
denly jumped to s220-an astonishing adj
vance. The new find made the Senator
again rich man. He then acquired a large
interest in some gold mines on Douglass
Island, Alaska, and when his Nevada prop
erty gave out again, he found another for
tune In the Alaska venture. His income
from his Alaska investments was said at
one time to be $4,000 a month. In addition to
MS mining property In Alaska and Califor-
MA. the Senator owns a big tract of land
at santa Monica, Cal, which is becoming a
much-frequented winter resort.
Although Mr.. Jones' business interests
are all in the extreme west, he spends
most OF his time in the east. When he is
not in Washington he is usually In New
York He leads a bachelor life here now
adays. At one time Mrs Jones spent her
winters In Washington and entertained a
great deal OF late the Senator has lived
at Chamberlin's most Of the time. There
he can be found almost any evening sur
rounded by a group of friends, telling stor-
les or listening to them He plays an &C.
casional game OF poker, but that is almost
the only social life he knows. He does not
care for stereotyped social entertainments.
and he would rather discuss the silver
problem with casual visitor than go to
a reception at the White House Much Of
his time is given to study.
Silver His Hobby.
He Is perhaps better informed on the
financial problem than any other man In
public life today. Even his political enc
mics admit this. His old friends fin the re-
publican party. while they differed with
him on the silver question, never hest
tated to admit the strength of his reason
Ing and the extent Of his knowledge. They
have always spoken of him as one Of the
most plausible takers in the Senate. Yet
he has never been much OF q speech maker
there. When he does make . silver speech,
1t Is after months OF preparation, and the
speech is worth the making. He takes no
part In general debate on any other ques-
ton, unless Ii be the tariff. He IL a strong
protectionist and almost as fluent in de-
batting the abstract tariff question as in
supporting the free coinage Of silver. But
silver is his hobby; and II il q singular
fact that among those who disagree with
him entirely on this subject there will be
found very few who will claim that they
can answer his arguments.
The last speech on silver made by Mr..
Jones in the Senate was delivered In DC
tober last II took him six days to deliver
IL. He could have completed il In two days
but he would have had to occupy the whole
time of the Senate each day. The speech
filed more than 100 pages-75!00O words.
As soon as IL was known to the country
that the Senator was going to speak re-
quests for copies of the speech began 10
pour In on him. He filed them all and
every one was granted. The Senator is the
had. His speeches have a wider circula ton
than any other speeches delivered in either
house of Congress. And they are not dis
tributed merely to CRAFTY the Senator
vanity. Mr.. Jones delivered a speech in
1890 which consumed the whole Of two
legislative days of the Senate and more
than 100000 copies of that speech were
printed and distributed.
Some of them were sent out into the west
for campaign purposes: many thousands
were sent to individuals in response TO
requests. few comparatively were mailed
to newspaper offices. The speech of 1888
has not gained the same circulation yet,
but II is approaching high-water mark
rapidly. The Senator's mail every day
contains requests for copies of II. Doubt
less II will be in still greater demand, now
that the Senator has become SO conspicu-
GUS. Mr.. Jones' speeches are the longest
ever delivered in the Senate-with one
qualified exception. Mr. Quay's recent
tariff speech" was longer.
Mr.. Jones' capacity as Senator can be
summed up In few words. Put all OF the
other populists in the Senate at one end
or an Intellectual see-saw and drop Mr..
Jones on the other. and Mr.. Jones' end
will come down with a sudden and en-
phatic thud.
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.