Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12

! ms nome recently, 1Or ne Is very PROUD Oh
Bloomington and of Mclean county, and of
| Illinois. Bloomington is about midway be-
tween ST. Louis and Chicago. 1t is a pros
| porous looking city, with picturesque fea-
| lures as well. Its streets are broad and
F.! we'll paved; its sidewalks are substantial;
| it's dwellings are surrounded by well-kept
| lawns, and shaded by fine old trees. But
| the chief beauty of Bloomington is in its
| residences. Some of these are of substan-
| tial brick, but more are of frame, fashioned
| in the latest form of architectural art, with
| "swelP' corners and odd jeweled windows
| here and there. There are broad verandas
about them all.
| One of the interesting residences of Bloom
| il gton is the home of David Davis, Mr..
| Stevenson's remote predecessor as presiding
officer of the Senate, one time justice of the
| Supreme Court Of the United States. Mr..
| Davis remains are buried here; his widow
| (who was his second wife) is married again,
and his son lives in the old family mansion.
| 1t is an imposing building of yellow brick,
| standing far back from the street at the
head of a broad gravel drive, which runs
| beneath overarching branches Young MI.
Davis takes no part in politics, but devotes
| himself to the care of his fathers estate
| When Mr.. Stevenson went to Washing on
| to preside over the Senate he gave up his
home, leasing it for a term of years. When
| he returned to Bloomington last spring, as
| his own home was occupied he went TO the
home of his sster-in-law, Mrs. Scott, on
| Taylor street 1t is 4 large red brick build
| ing of two stories, standing well back, at
| the intersection of two streets In it's big,
square, comfortable parlor 1 spent the
/ greater part of an afternoon in conversa-
| ton with the Vice President of the United
States
1t was hot afternoon and Mr.. Steven
son was arrayed in a black alpaca coat,
| whose open frcnt disclosed a stiff and
snowy shirt bosom. decorated with a single
diamond stud. Under the wings of stand
| ing collar of modest height was the fanil-
| lar narrow white cravat which the Vice
| President Always wears.
Mr.. Stevenson seldom talks conversation
| ally with newspaper interViewerS. He
| speaks with some elaboration. usually rest
| ing his cheek on the forefnger of his right
hand and choosing his words with evident
| care. But when the interview is concluded
| he is very pleasant and interesting COM
| panion.
Shy on Politics.
! The Vice President is as enthusiastic
| about his recent trip to Alaska as he is
| about anything. Mr.. Stevenson is not a
| man of excitable disposition. He does not
! rave about scenery or use frequent eXcla-
nation points in his discussion of political
conditions. He is cool. calm, deliberate
| man, whose enthusiasm waits on his judg
| ment. Possibly, the fact that his judgment
| is in control accounts for his indisposition
| to discuss political questions. One can I'M
| derstand very easily why the Vice Presi-
| dent would hesitate about discussing a new
| issue of bonds or the third term question
! or anything else in which the administra-
ton Is interested; for aside from his posi-
| ton as a part of the administration, Mr..
| Stevenson is reckoned possible competitor
! for the presidential nomination. Another
of the democratic possibilities said to me
with some warmth, recently. that Mr.. Ste
venson had given great strength to the
| democratic ticket in 1892. If the delegates
to the national, convention have an equal
| appreciation of his running qualities, he
may be the standard bearer in 1896. So 1t
beh0OveS him to be cautious in his discus
| sion of public questions. Besides. though
| the Vice President has been described by
| some eminent men as a fifth wheel in the
scheme of government. there is always the
possibility that the presidential wheel will
| slip Off the axle and that the fifth wheel
will become the first. Possibly these rea-
| sons will explain the fact that whenever
| approached politics in my conversat ton
! with the Vice President he showed dis
position to talk about the greatness of Nc
| Lean county as producer of corn: and
when l queried him about Mr.. Cleveland
and third term. his conversation revert ed
Immediately to Alaska. Mr.. Stevenson did
| discuss the political revolutions of Illinois,
| however. and modestly attributed the
change of 1892 to public dissatisfaction with
1894 to the hard times.
General Prosperity.
There is always he said "a DISPOSE
ton to hold the party in power responsible
| for the lack of prosperity"
[ "And do you think the voter is equally
| willing to credit the party in power with
prosperity when it comes?' asked.
| Il think so, said Mr.. Stevenson. There
| is a much better feeling in the west this
year. We can see it here in Blooming ton
More buildings and better buildings are
going up now than ever before. That would
not be the case if the country was not pros
porous.
! l spoke of the fact that in Canada. which
| the Vice President had just visited, the
| shopkeepers had told me recently that
American tourists had spent more money
| this year than ever before. Mr.. Stevenson
| said that this was another evidence of pros
perity.
And do you attribute this to the opera
ton of the new tariff law" 1 asked.
Il have thought from the first that we
! would see a revival under the new tariff y
| said the Vice President. 1T is good
law. 1t is not in all respects what I
would wish. but then every tariff law is of
| necessity a compromise.
I asked if the Vice President believed
| that any modifcatio of the law would be
made in the near future. Mr.. Stevenson
/ replied: ct is safe to say that whatever
party has control of the executive or
either branch of the legislative department
scme agreement will be found possible If
it is necessary to increase the revenue of
| the government"
"Do YOU think it will be necessary to
| modify the tariff law at the next session
| of Congress for that purpose?"
Anything I might say on that subject
| would be mere speculation for l have not
| the treasury figures. But If 1t is neces-
sary to carry on the government, am sure
| that some understanding will be reached
| Have you any idea that an attempt will
| he made to amend the Constitution SO as
| to make an income tax possble?"
81 have never heard the matter dis
| cussed."
| I asked Mr.. Stevenson If he had really
| made public a statement Of his views or
| the third term question. He replied, with
| emphasis: That story was made out of the
| whole cloth. 1 never discussed the matter
| with any one. 1 talked about my trip and
| nothing else. I did not even know that such
| a statement had been published until I re-
| turned from Alaska.
"By the way, have you ever been out on
the Canadian Pacific road" said the Vice
President. "It is a wonderful road. 1t
stretches for $500 miles across the contin-
| ent, and it passes through some of the most
| wonderful scenery 1 have ever seen. The
| Manitoba wheatfelds are wonderful sight,