New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL


THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAINE DELEGA-
rION IN CONGRESS
A PATENT on FARO BoX-sENAToR HARRIss
coNsTIrtrNT-A FRECoCIOUs YouNGsTER-
CONSULTING HIS DOCTOR BY LONG
DISTANCE TEIEPHoNE-ADMIRAL
JoUETTs JOLLY TAR.
Washington. April (speciaD.-'The Congressional
Directory" is not. according 10 general IMPRESSION
su,ply a volume OF cold facts OF course Senators
and Representatives. write their own Biographical
sketches While in respects there Is more or
less soueness in Others there is infinite variety and
Interesting reading In short few people realize how
much OF human nature crops out In the frank detail
and description OF The road which finally brings UP
in Congress In than one Instance 1t Is easy 10
read between the lines something OF the Character
of the statesmen who penned them Some give
rotary list Of political offices to which they nave
previously attained, beginning with justice Of the
peace or county clerk and breaking the chain with
the Information that positions even as hish as
Cabinet portfolio have been rendered them. when
they have nevertheless declined. Two or three-out
only two or ,hree-have gone so far as 10 ,nciude
marriage among other important events IN ther
earthly careers.
An Engl,shman once said: Americans do roam
80" This is no, remarkable as an English opinion
OF Americans except that It IS true. But 1t Is not
al; aver the world ~ much as from State to STATE
al aver the United states that Americans do roam
30" II Is surprising note among Senator'S ana
Representatives the number OF allen br'h' enuca-
zion and occupatlon-hat IS, born In one state edu-
Gated in another. seeking occupation IN thrn fame
or fortune In n fourth and In the long run reach-
Ing the goal OF ambition In the halls OF Congress
pprhaDa the
Maine delcgation which stands out a conspicuous
, exampe OF native born. home-n ade men Every
member Of that delegation was born bred ana euu-
Gated in Maine and never lived away from the state
They have never ''roamed" even so far as seeking
nossible worldly ADVANTAGES in neghborng state.
All were poor boys. making their way up from the
,ory hot,om ~ the ladder to place and power -Four
., the six members OF the Maine delegation are col
lego graduates and two are editors OF the TWO ie'"-
ing newspapers Of the State. The Main" deiesa ION
,s not rich IT. members have not been mon "
r,et,rs men Though possessed OF comfortable
means only Senator Hale. who acquired fortune
nth bis wife would be rated rich man But II
ho,,,d no added that Senator Hale had acquired
something OF a National reputation as MEMBER "a
49,. ,ro,se Of Representatives before his marriage,
m hat II was with MIN no less than the rest OF the
a.,oc,tlon n question OF brains and pluck
- tho mast as now. intellectual force has been the
- ~ tho Maine delegation. To-day 1t Is the
,n,sest delegation in Congress To the House OF
Rcpresentatives Maine gives Speaker whose lead
,sh,p and National fame are only second 70 those Oh
nor great statesman James c. Blame; 70 three I'M
o-,an. committees Maine gives chairmen or slSnai
P,i,t. "a ,,lds experenoc: while in the Senate the
pin. Tree state Is honored by tho unanimous choce
NJ her Junior Senator 10 he the president pro tenn
rore Of the Senate. II may he said also tha' TIE
Mo,re decoration Is a conspicuous example Oh con-
.'o,s ecr,,cc which In no small part Is the secret
tn
',.o IN Congress includes twelve years in the
tIouse and fifteen years In the Senate-a continuous
service OF twenty-seven years Senator Haze SER
vice includes ten years In the HOUSE anu "i'ce"
,ears IN the Senate continuous service OF twenty
a.. ,,o.r, While Mr. Fryes whole service is two
,on,.r Mr. Hale Is the senior Senator by four
,.or davs OF the Maine members In the House.
Mr. Reed has been In continuous service twenty
wears; Mr. Dingley. Mr.. Boutelle and Mr.. Miii'Keh
have each served fourteen years
While some Maine men found success AZ nome
,hors "roamed' to much advantage. Among the
latter IL Senator Perkins. OF California VINO mas hau
a Varied career. Mr. Perkinss early recohecuohs
~. of Maine farm and limited educational ad-
,..r,aocs"-so limited that at twelve years OF age
g., ,o,, his uotiyc State and went out In the world
49, - something better lie went by water-that
&, - sea as a cabin boy--and at sixteen shipped
.heforc the mast on sailing vessel In oue '''"e
IN. Young sailor reached California where ne ek-
.ac,.d IN find his fortune. ana where ne eh'"oS
l,,1 h,s cxpectatiohs. Mining and banking
ade Mr. Perkins a rich man. and to this ne added
a., ,us,noss of steamships the coasts OF Caiifor-
,a or.,nn British Columbia. Alaska and Mexico
,,,r ht ,ears in the State Senate he was selected
covcruor Of California. Two years ago ne came
,ost not as a cabin boy BY water. but across tie
Continent I'm his private car. to seat IN the 'h'eu
c,,.s senate And forty years cover the story Oh
49,, .o,uinp" a story of reality far stranger than
fiction.
eo,,,or Germans education Is summed up IN just
,,o voris-"attended the public schools IN his
naive county for a brief period That Is all pu'
- -, ,,orv,h,ng when said OF n man who. twenty
,o,rs ofter serving as a page In the Senate LOOK
Bite son, there a United states Senator VINO ms
-, "a. mower behind the Maryland Democracy.
and whose name has It's place among .INee vi eaI'
AZ Tor The Presidency Mr.. German mas never
,re T." lie was born IN Maryland Ills succeesS
srI All that be Is Senator German owes 10 Ms
native State
The clerical cement in Congress is not apparent
Itch there are a number OF statesmen VINO nave
,a,,n5 no,,tlcs more agreeable and profitable than
nraach,nc Amcng the number is Senator Kyle. one
=, the ak PopulIsts in the Senate. Mr. Kyle was
h.rn In Ohio was educated in Illinois, studied ior
10 ministry in Pennsylvania, ana preacheu ~ Cta,
where he was p-otor OF the congrega AZ
a, " no city ard At Salt Lake NY. howetei, ~
a. ns Thai he did not feel called TO preach onser
ihan three years. when he went TO south hah'ss %
Mr Kyie says. "after q contest lastns twenty
si.. xsvs tipon thu forteth ballot the 6sv.