St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-26

all sectionalism should be obliterated,
and that Grant was the only candidate
by which this end could be attained"
Was there any time during that
convention, senator" I asked, when
Gen. Grant could have been nom
inated?"
Eyes, I think So" was the reply.
Had certain events occurred just five
minutes sooner nothing could have pre-
vented 1t. What those things were, I
do not wish to say, as the men most
closely connected with them are still
living. and it would not be fair to
them"
How about Blaine's chances of nom
nation, senator? You were at the Gin
cinnad convention Of 1875, where he
came SO near getting the nomination
that afterwards went to Hayes"
Blaine would have been the choice
OF that convention" said Senator Cam
eron, had his friends trusted the
pennsylvania delegation. When we
met In state convention the unit rule
was adopted, and the delegation was
instructed to vote for Hartranft. When
we got to Cincinnati, however, through
the influence of Mr.. Mcpherson and
Blaine's friends, this instruction was
set aside, and the different delegates
were permitted to vote as they pleased
Blaine had a majority of the members
done the vote of the state as a whole
would have gone to him after the first
few ballots AS it was, however, the unit
rule was set aside and the friends of
Blaine rather Extensively gave the
Pennsylvania delegation to understand
that they would nominate their candi-
date without it's aid This angered
some Of the delegates, and it was on
this account that, in announcing the
change Of vote, 1 gave the number of
the Hayes votes first The announce
ment was made at q time when it re-
qu1red only hair to turn the tide in
the favor Of Blaine or Hayes rush
followed the announcement, and Hayes
became the candidate. There were
more Blaine delegates than Hayes in
our delegation, and had I annuonced
the Blaine votes first 1 have not much
doubt but that the rush would have
been for him and he would have been
the candidate
Have you ever had any ambition to
be president, senator?" asked
NO." was the reply, II have not 1t
is a great office, but the duties are ar
duous and the responsibilities are
great"
BUSINESS BRAINS.
senator Cameron, you have been in
the senate nearly twenty years You
rave had good chance to judge of it's
efficiency. Do you think congress is a.
good medium Of legislation? Do the peo-
pie get what they want cut of it?"
think SO" replied Senator Cameron.
1t Is little slow, PERHAPS. but it gets
there after time. Congress is better
than people suppose II to be. Some of
the best work done by the body does not
get into the newspapers. The business
OF congress is not done on the floor of
the hOllSa and h11t in ha
mittee rooms. We are more and more
nearing the day when the best of our
government work must be done by bust
ness brains-by thinking rather than by
speechmaking. The great men of con-
gress, in the eyes of the people, are
those who can ably discuss points of
order, who can spend hours in telling
why bill should be brought in through
the right wing of the capitol, rather
than through the left wing, and not as
to the value Of the bill itself The ques-
lions of the day are practical questions
and they require thought rather than
speechmaking. We want to know how
our commerce may be increased and
how our financial and material condi-
ton may be bettered rather than to
show how loud the American eagle
screams or to boast Of the vast extent
of country covered by his pinions"
AMERICAN SHIPS.
Speaking Of American commerce,
senator, what do you think would be
the best way to increase it?"
Il favor the French system" replied
Senator Cameron. 81 would have the
government pay a bounty, both for the
building and the running of American
vessels, SO much a ton for their con-
struction and SO much mile for every
ton transported. All vessels so favored
would have to be built in America and
manned by American seamen. They
would be subject to the control of the
navy In time Of war, and they would
be built after such plans that they
would be of great assistance to our ma
val forces.''
But would this plan largely increase
our shipping?"
Certainly, it would" was the reply.
1T would cause the investment of mill
Ions of dollars worth Of capital in Am
erican ships. Our ships, so favored,
could underbid the ships of Great Brit
ain and other countries as to our car
rying trade. The result would be a fleet
Of American merchant ships equal to
that possessed by any nation in the
world. Such ships would furnish
cheaper transported for all parts
Of the country. Ships would be built
on the Pacific coast to engage in trade
with Asia. There would be cotton ships
DullC on the Gull or Mexico and the
millions Of dollars which we pay in
freight charges to the English would
go into the pockets Of the American
people,
How much do we pay England in
freight charges?" I asked
II think the amount is nearly $780,
100000 a year
DO the English pay much in SUBJ
sides to their ships?"
Yes, England was paying some time
ago nearly 100000 a year in boun-
ties to it's merchant marine. Italy
pays about 100000 a year. France
has been paying more than $1,000 900
year to French ships sailing under
the French flag, and, according to fig
ures which I made when I investigated
the matter not long ago. the nations
of Europe pay the enormous sum Of
25,0Oo,OO0 every year in subsidies to
their shipping"
FIRST FAST CRUISERS.
speaking Of the navy, senator, It
was through your bill that the first
fast cruisers were built?"
Eyes," replied Senator Cameron, ST
introduced that bill during the first
term of President Cleveland. I saw
that the only way to get the people
to take an interest in the navy was to
show them we could have the fastest
and the best warships in. the world.
We are, you know, naturally very
proud. We want the fastest horses.
the fastest yachts. and the biggest
things of all kinds in the world I was
talking one day with Mr.. Cramp. the
owner Of the ship yards at PhiIadel
phia, and I asked him if he could build
a faster cruiser than any yet construct