Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-06
w AS ONCE A ERIK
The New Senator-Elect From Washington
State
Served in the Pension Cmce-He Re-
signed and Went West Fifteen
Years Ago-Rapid Rise.

The swearing in Of Senator ELECT Wilson
of the state of Washington, who is hurry
ing on by fast trains, and may arrive to-
morrow, will be an event Of interest to
many people here in the city of Washing
tCn-people who remember his compare
lively recent service as a department
clerk, and have noted his rapid rise in the
political world with feelings of lively sat
isfaction. Among those witnessing the
ceremony will be a number of his former
fellow clerks. who recall all of the circum-
| stances connected with his residence here
and the birth Of the ambition that impeiled
him to resign his place and go west in
search Of fortune.
Mr.. Wilson is an Indianian by birth, col
lege-bred, and highly connected. He came
to Washington little more than fifteen
years ago by appointment to a clerkship
in the pension Office. He was a nervous,
| slender young man, full of life and energy.
and giving every sign of making his way
in the world. He did his work thoroughly
well, but was by no means content with
that. His eyes were open to all of the OPP
portunities Of the capital. Public men,
public business. the debates in Congress,
everything and everybody interested him,
and the closer the contact with those in
charge of affairs the kecner his desire to
take more important part in them him
self, and the greater his confidence in his
ability to do so. This spirit came to domi-
rate him, and he communicated his pur-
pose to those who sat near his desk. Not
all of them encouraged him. Some of
them even joked him.
john said one, you would do better
to hold on to what you've got. If you go
west you'll starve They are fertilizing the
soil out there with the bodies of ambitious
youngsters from the east who are unable
to keep up with the procession. Hold on
to your hundred dollars a month here.
You'll never make that much anywhere
in the west"
He Went West.
Mr.. Wilson stood the chaff without finch
ing. "Well starve or thrive" he replied.
I'm going to try my luck I've looked
over this situation thoroughly, and now
I'll take my information and training out
there and capitalize them. Just hold your
horses for spell. and you'll see me back
here with a Congressmans commission in
my hand, or something even better"
There was little surprise, therefore,
among his friends when the young clerk,
having made his arrangements, rose from
his chair one afternoon, stuck his pen by
dexterous throw into the lid Of his desk,
where the holder stood quivering for a mo-
ment. and tn an shook hands all round
The next day he left town.
Good luck befell the young man at the
outset A vacancy occurring in the office
of receiver of public moneys at Spokane
Falls, in the then territory Of Washington,
he secured the place, and so settled the
question Of his future home. True to his
purpose in going west, and with this adj
vantage Of Office, Mr. Wilson set at once
about making himself familiar with the
new field and in very short time had be-
come widely and favorably known, and a
leader in republican circles. He developed
capacity as an organizer, capacity as a
public speaker, and exceptional capacity In
the art of making and holding friends. So
rapidly did he advance, indeed, that as
early as 1884, after residence of only
three years in the territory, he was chosen
a delegate to the republican national con-
vention. Then followed in few years the
realization of his hopes, and his appear
snce here with Congressman's commits
sion In his hands. He shook this docu-
ment in friendly triumph in the faces of
his old comrades, who were still In posses
sion Of their snug departmental berths.
and then announced his further purpose of
landing ultimately in the Senate.
A, Good Congressman.
Once in Congress- Mr.. Wilson found that
one Of his best resources Of usefulness for
his constituents was his old departmental
training. His familiarity with the methods
Of transacting the public business at the
Capitol, which he had acquired in the
modest Office of a clerk. now stood him
most valuably in hand in the higher post
to which he had beer elevated. He was
called upon to serve no apprenticeship in
mastering details and learning the ropes
but was abls' to start in at once with the
ease and sure-fooiedness of a veteran. His
strength increased at home, and when his
senatorial contest began he led in the bal
loting from the first. A series of skillful
combinations failed to loosen the exceed
ingly strong hold he had established on
the confidence and admiration Of the re-
publicCns Of the state, and he won the
fight.
Mr.. Wilson is only forty-five years of
age, and this seems to warrant his friends
In claiming that he is entitled to be classed
.Ix lft,,r
force in western politics for many years
to come. They point to the fact that he
has no fortune, anu is not a money-maker,
and they assert that his tastes, as his
talents, all lie in the direction of the public
service for the rewards of high and hon
orable reputation alone.