The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-02

pies may be said to be organic-that is.
they have never used intoxicants and
have not grown up in the habit of seeing
them used in a social way-and so it is
coming about that they no more think
of taking whisky for sociability's sake
than taking any other drug.
Proof of Ability.
All that Mr.. Dingley lacks in person
and voice Hon. Serene E. Payne of New
York has in abundant measure. Physic-
ally, indeed, there is nothing more to
be desired in him, but as yet we have
not had an opportunity to learn whether
he is really that able financier and man
ager of finance bills which his friends
claim. It is true he has served five full
terms, but there have always been one
or two strong men outranking him on
the Republican side of the committee.
Hon. Joseph G. Cannon s career is prob
ably better known to the country at
large than that of any other present Re-
publican leader. He began his congress
sional service with the Forty third con-
gress, and but for the bad break which
lost him the seat in the Fifty second no
would have been, by seniority in con-
tinuous service as we'll as talent and ex-
parience, by far in the lead. It is a
striking proof of his ability that, despite
his defeat in 1890, he came into the
Fifty third congress with nearly his old
time majority, and, without the loss Of
a day, resumed his old standing, and
not only retained the support, but the
respect, of his old associates In his
leisure hours and outside of politics Mr..
Cannon is very genial, and, with youn-
ger journalists, somewhat paternal in his
style, as it is his opinion that the ap-
plause and good will of the young an
ticipate the Judgment of posterity.
Terribly In Earnest.
His colleague of the Sixth district,
Hon. R. R. Hit, is in much better
health than was looked for at the open
ing of the session and is expected to
deal with foreign affairs in a spirit of
truly vigorous Americanism. Hon.
Charles Henry Grosvenor of the Eleventh
Ohio, able lawyer. adroit politician and
soldier with a good record, is some
what worried under the double duty of
regulating the rivers and harbors and
nominating Mckinley for president, but
though he admits the possibility of q
failure in the former duty he speaks Of
the latter as fact accomplished and
laughs at all who suggest doubt. Hon.
Joseph Henry Walker of the Third Mas
sachusetts owns to being ambitious to
lead in the financial reform and is terri
bly, in earnest for his favorite banking
scheme-so earnest that he has succeed
ed in getting himself laughed at, and
in this body that hurts a man worse
than all the scandal his enemies can in
vent. He looks more like a great CAPT.
talist than any of that committee, and
a fellow member relates that Mr.. Walk
er confidentially informed him that he
had forgotten more about finance than
John Sherman ever knew. However,
members tell very hard stories of each
other which we are not obliged to be-
lieve, and Mr. Walker certainly does
understand the money question and can
make his views plain to listener who
knows very little about it, and that is
great talent in itself.
Congressman William E. Barrett, the
self confident young man from Massa-
chusetts, astonished both house and gal
leries by ignoring the usual practice of
new members, coming boldly to the
front as a leader with a resolution for
the impeachment of ambassador Bayard.
cit wasn't exactly the thing to do
said an old member, "but he certainly
did it as we'll as 1 ever saw it done in
this house" Such was the judgment Of
most of the spectators. Mr.. Barrett
showed that his experience in the Mas
sachusetts legislature and as Wash
ington newspaper man had made
him familiar with every detail in the
management of measure, and he met
every attack of the Democrats with con-
summate skill. OF course Republicans
generally admit that the extreme RENE
dy of impeachment never could be
adopted-ex- Governor Ding1ey Endorsed
it, however-but it made the resolution
a privileged one, and thus gave oppor-
tunity for debate before the committees
were announced.
Crisp and BfcMil1in.
In leading the opposition to this move
Judge Crisp was hardly SO happy as
usual, though he did succeed in beating
the speaker on point of parliamentary
law, and, somewhat to the general sur
prise, was badly embarrassed by the
questions thrown at him. He has extraor-
binary advantages for a leader, chief
among them a most attractive personal
presence, SO attractive that the sympa-
thies of the galleries seem to be with
him whenever he rises. His close cola
borer, Hon. Benton McMillin, began
this session considerably out of humor
because of tho supreme courts having
overthrown his favorite income tax
measure. Mr.. Hall of Missouri, like
wise disgruntled on the same subject,
proposes an amendment to the constitu-
ton which will make that and some
other changes in the system Of taxation
feasible, but Mr.. McMillin does not
think much of the proposition.
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