The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-04-15
WASHINGTON NOTES.

the corridors Of the Ebbitt House re-
Gently there came figure that called
to mind vividly the days of 1888 and
the tremendous struggle then made, to
wrest the government from the democ
racy. 1t was that Of Col. w. w. Dud-
ley, of Indiana. He Is not ia active
politics nowadays, and though man
tie of gray covers the raven black hair
of other years, yet he never looked In
better, more vigorous health than now.
1t will take some time for the Republi-
can party to repay Col. Dudley for the
labor he has done in its behalf gal
liant soldier In the war, he early
learned to bear his share of burden for
opinion sake, and to make the battle
hard and strong. He and John G.
New made the fght for Harrison at
Chicago nine years ago, but when the
larger contest through the nation for
election was on the man who fought
by Chairman Quay's side was Dudley.
New went' to London as Consul-Gen-
eral, and Dudley began the practice of
law. To-day he is on the road to
wealth. wants no fnvors from any one.
and takes just enough interest in poll
ties to keep informed.
1t is amazing how fast we forget the
men of other days. Eight years ago,
when Harrison was about to take of
fee, Col. Dudley was one of the central
figures in the play of political forces.
A crowd was at his heels, turn which
way he would. New faces Eow COM
mand the exits and the entrances, and
the coming and going of this veteran
Republican concerned them not at all.
Yet there has been no national CAM
paign since LincOln's day the success
of which was so clearly due to the
campaign workers as that of 1883,
when a few thousand votes determined
the result in Indiana and New York.
Matt Quay was the man at the helm,
and Garret Hobart, now Vice -Presi-
dent, was with him. Both still figure
In the currents of national politics, but
Dudley has dropped out. Clarkson
finds Philadelphia more congenial, Fas-
sett remains in Elmira, John G. New
says the younger boys must run things,
and William Cassius Goodloe, of Ken
tucky, is dead. These men planned the
Harrison fight, and better one never
was mapped out.
Probably never before the present
period has the United States had
among its members at the same time
seven men who had played the role of
Warwick to as many Presidents or
Presidential candidates. Almost every
incident or condition in that chamber
is now accepted properly or otherwise,
as an evidence of deterioration from
ye olden times, but whether the pres
ence of so many campaign managers Is
n menace to the sacredness of the Sen
ate's past dignity and greatness or not
is matter for others to discuss. The
fact l want to bring forward is that
there are five Republican and two
Democratic Warwicks now seated in
that semi-circle Of desks. They are
Mark Hanna, NJ. S. Quay, William Il.
Chandler S. B. Elllins and Thomas II.
Carter, on the Republican side, and
Arthur Pue German and James Jones
= on the Democratic side. Hanna was
pitted against Jones in last years con-
test, and Elkins against German in
1884. OF the two Democratic campaign
managers German won his fight for
Cleveland, and wishes he hadn't, while
Jones lost his battle for Bryan and has
not yet got his head above ground suf,
fciently to view the situation dispas-
sionately. OF the five Republican man
ayers, Chandler won the fight for
Hayes in 1876, Quay for Harrison in
1888, and Hanna for Mckinley in
1896, while Elkins lost the Blaine fight
in 1884, and Carter led defeated army
in 1892. Chandler, Elkins and Thomas
G. Plat were all on the National EX-
ecutive Committee in the Garfield CON
test in 1880, but Marshall Jewell, now
dead, was chairman, and Stephen w
Dorsey really ram are campaign.
Returning to Mark Hanna for com
parison with the other Warwi6ks OF
recent Presidential campaigns, it may
be said that he impresses one as moi
SO much of a politician as either Quay
or Elkins. There.is more of the quick
open responsive man of business abou
ludu tlc OtutI TWO,
Elkins is also the possessor of large
wealth and the active manager of hi
own business interests. Elkins, how
ever, Just as Quay, is manipulation o.
men, and, like Quay, delights in watch
Ing the drift of the political currents
and speeding or stemming> them b.
maneuvre according to his desire. Boil
he and Quay play politics as politician
and they handle men and forces in pc
litcs exactly as they would pawns ol
a chessboard. That, Of course, is tru
Of Mr.. Hanna, as 1t must be to som
degree of any one who pretends to b
an influence in political affairs; bu
1t Is net always that men have both tn
ability and the inclination for handlin
politics in this way. Men who ar
trained to business affairs and onl
enter politics in large way whe
their years are many, seldom max
what are called good politicians. The
get tangled up in the political wire
before they realize it. They spea
their minds too openly, make their d,