Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-21

proper judgment upon matters as they
come up. He has in a marked degree the
genius OF common-sense, and also that
power OF continued attention to business
SELF
Then you do not consider him an egotist
IA great Am, who considers no other
thought than his ownT'
mo. President Cleveland is not that kind
Of a man." replied Senator Brice. HE has
mind Of his own, and he acts upon II. but
at the same time he advises with others
| and is careful and conservative in his judg-
ment. He Is a student Of public opinion,
and he always wants to know the senti-
ment of the people before he decides"
Has he, on the whole. done good to the
democratic party?"
with such a character" replied the Sem
ator. "he could not do otherwise"
Bricc Does Not Want the Presidency.
How about yourself. Senatorr'. said 1.
Are you a candidate for the presidential
nomination.?
mo, am not" was the emphatic reply.
Twill you be a candidate?"
mo?
Still, your name is frequently mentioned
and people think you have ambitions in
that way" said I.
THAT may be-" replied Senator Brice
man, and I have large business interests
Now, I have noted that when a man gets
the presidential bee in his hat his business
brains fly out Of his skull I am not pre-
pared to leave my business matters, and
have no desire to be presidential candi-
date"
Campbell and the Presidency.
II will not say that have no preferences
as to candidates." Senator Brice went on.
1--WE have a man in Ohio who will make q
big presidential quantity If the election
gees our way. I refer to Gov. Campbell.
If the state should go democratic he will
probably be presented to the convention"
What kind of candidate would he
"a very strorg one. He has a good rec
ord and all the elements Of popular
leader"
How about the presidency. Is he big
II think So" replied Senator Brice. HE
has executive ability, and would make
great President
will come from the west? Heretofore your
party has taken all its presidential candi-
dates from the east"
Il don't think the matter of locality
makes much difference" replied Senator
Brice. of course, /, as an Ohio man, am
for man from Ohio as against all others
Outside of that 1t makes no Inference to
me whence the candidate comes The rail-
read, the telegraph and the Interchange of
social and business interests have made
the people Of this country a homogeneous
whole, not bounded by stated geographical
lines. The people don't care where the
candidate comes from. What they want
| is the right candidate"
A Long Era of Prosperity.
You referred, Senator, to prospective
good times Do you think tie present era
of prosperity has come to stay?"
Yes" was the most emphatic reply. II
think we are on the edge of the most pros
porous time we have had for years. 1 be-
leve fer the next eight or ten years at
least that this country will see business
prosperity nnequaled in its history or in
the history of the world. Every one of our
600 people will feel it, and it will be
lcrg before 1t passes away. There will be
| great development along many lines, and
| it will be n permanent development"
Some business men look upon the pres
ent good times as merely a squirt" said /.
Il do not believe that" replied Senator
Brice. I'VE are over our panic, which
comes periodically every decade or so. We
have had our settlement. We have read
tusted our business. and we are now riding
on the macadamized road Of prosperity. 1t
is true, We may have now and then some
slight financial thunder storms, but these
will be temporary and local. They will not
be lasting nor general"
He Talks of Railroad Investments.
II suppose 1t is on this basis, Senator,
that you have been increasing your rail-
way investments. I see that you have
bought a number of new roads in the past
few weeks"
Yes" replied Senator Brice, "you are
| right. Fo: the first time in five years the
companies with which am connected have
gone into new enterprises. We believe in
the future, and are now spending money on
that belief"
But are you not afraid, Senator, to in
vest much in railroads with the great pos
sibilities of electricity. as to their manage
ment? new invention is liable to come
up any day that may revolutionize the
operations Of all the railroads of the coun-
try
That may be So" replied Senator Brice
Il have interests in electrical matters as
We'll as railroads. 1 suppose in a change
OF that kind we shall be able to take care
Of ourselves. 1 don't know that there is
going to be as much money in railroads as
In some other lines during the next few
years. but all of my training has been with
railroads, and / therefore continue to work
in them"
The Heart of America.
You speak of general prosperity. In
what parts of the United States do you
think the development will be the greatest
in the near future?"
I'm the best part of the United States"
| replied Senator Erice. land in that which
Is destined to be for all time the greatest
and best part of the country. 1 mean the
strip of territory running two hundred
miles north and south of New York and
extending west to the Missouri river. This
Is the heart of America, and 1T will always
be so. 1t will grow immensely within the
| next few years."
How about the south, Senator? You
have large interests there?'
1.-THE south will grow" replied Senator
Brice. but not like that central belt The
southern people will be surprised at the
good times which are coming to them.
They have an undeveloped empire, with
mighty possibilities, and the growth of
their section will be for them phenomenal.
| 1t will not, however compare with that of
the region have referred to-"
Handling Millions.
Senator" said I, you were a poor boy
you have had to hustle, and hustle hard
for the dollar. Now, wonder how 1t
makes poor boy feel to handle and control
millions"
There is no difference between handling
millions and handling cents" replied SEN
ator Brice 1T takes no more exercise Of
brain power to do great things than to do
little ones. l exercised just as much
thought on my small operations as 1 do
| now On MY large ones, and 1t was fully as
hor .-ifl,