The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-02
MIR. BRICE OF NEW YORK.

Rochester Post-Express: Calvin s. Brice
IS a remarkable man. When he went on
| his wedding journey he was so poor that
he had to pawn his watch for railroad fare.
| Now he Is worth twenty millions or more;
he Is a large owner Of railroads, mines,
and factories; his wife has $4,000 a year
for spending money; each of his children
has $40, 600 a year, n Brice, who main
tains palatial residences In three cities
and travels arOu the country In special
trains, is growing richer every day. He
Is very ambitious; not for more money, but
for prominence in politics. His ambition
he has so much faith In himself that he
does not doubt his ultimate success. In
the Ohio campaigns of 1888 and 1883 he ex-
| pended an enormous amount of money
In the legislative districts; a Democratic
legislature was elected and 1t belonged to
Brice. 1t elected him a senator of the Uni
| ted States. He claimed that he was a resi-
lent of Lima, but that claim was disputed
and there was serious thought Of contest
ing his election. 1t was certain that Bricc
had refused to pay taxes In Ohio on his
personal property on the ground that he
| was a resident of New York. Suits were
siderable excitement over the matter for
months. But no action was'ever taken by
the Federal senate. Brice was allowed to
keep his seat.
He desired a reelection and he went in
TO the campaign with enthusiasm. He be-
came the master of the Ohio Democracy
and the boss of the state convention. His
orders were obeyed. There was some
grumbling, but there was no revolt. Then
came the campaign, which ended in Ohio,
as elsewhere, In Democratic defeat. Be-
fore the canvass had gone on ten days
the Washington correspondent of the Chi
caRo Times-Herald. knows Senate Brice
well. He SAYS: "Brice showed his
shrewdness in the recent campaign
Of making fight for the state.
He was prepared, In case he saw a chance
to win, to throw half a million or a million
of money into the canvass. But before do
ing so his temperamental caution sent him
to Ohio to look into affairs himself. Three
tours did he make across the state by
special train. Each time he took with him
a railroad superintendent, and the duty of
this official was to go to each station agent
along the line and say to him: There is a
gentleman In the car out here who wants to
talk politics with you. He doesn't care
THAT party you belong to. but he wants you
to tell him Just what you hear and think.
He want you to be frank and honest with
him." When the agent entered the car he
was taken In hand by Mr.: Brice. and there
is no keener c~ross-examiner than he. In
two minutes he had ascertained all that
agent knew about the political situation.
ali he had learned from his Intercourse
with travellers. with shippers. and with
politicians. Then the special car was hur-
Iltu VII " Nv iEAt ctotAohs AO II PiO-
cess was repeated.
-:ll:-
In this way Brice gagged public senti-
ment In Ohio, and he gagged 1t SO accu-
rately that he decided not to make q figh.
for the state. He knew there was no
chance OF success. All he did do was to
make a show for the sake Of appearance,
for the sake Of holding the party together.
The result IL a justification of his judg-
ment and Of his method, which Is quite
like Mr.. Croker's way of going about New
York before an election, talking with the
street car and truck drivers, with laboring
men on the streets. n With BARRIERS in
their shops. In 1899 Mr., Croker told me,
three days before election. within 5000 Of
Cieveland's plurality In the city. and
last week, he told me Tammany would win
by. 5000. They fall only q few short of that
figure. Mr.. Brice was not SO quite SO ac-
curafe inhis estimate OF. BushnelI's major
fly In Ohio. He thought 1t would be &c..
900 or 10000" Now what IL Brice going to
dot Abandon Al hopes Of q political ca
from one OF Brice's intimate friends that
the senator has decided 10 shake the dust
Of Ohio from his feet, acquire q legal resi-
tiles, and WORK 70 the front there. He be-
lieyos that Hill'o political supremacy b