The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-06

the legislative alley. In the House suel
eager cooks as Simpson, Richardson
Lewis and Terry, on the gridiron OF theh
sarcastic discomfort, were bralllns the
nainful oil from Walrus Reed. At the
Senate they talked earthenwafe, glass'
marble and stone, and the best aad neat
est methods of despoiling a people WIFI
+axas hased ON these commodities. The
HYDRA headed public did not hugely at
tend to-day. The galleries of both SIDES
showed but sparse and lean inhablta-
sion To folk generally the Senate has
come to mean only sugar, and The House
mean solely Walrus Reed, and ,hese facts
have served to shorten general curiosity
while lengthening general disgust.
Smith, a Senator from New jersey
came heavily forth, and caused TO DE READ
Creelman's article in a recent issue OF
the Journal. wherein Smith was put for
ward as a gambler in sugar stocks, and
denied the same. Smith, in thick, husky
fashion of voice, as one choked by accn-
satory and impalatable fact, rejected the
charges in Creelmans article. Smith
said he had not bought and sold sugar
stocks. nor trodden any primrose path
gentle dalliance with the markets, now or
heretofore 1t is noteworthy, however,
that Smith did not unite his voice to Hi
mans in demanding investigation OF these
charges he has taken two weeks TO consld-
err before he replied.
Smith is a fat, ample Senator, with
face the natural seat of sorrow. Hls
mouth and his morals both draw down at
the corners. | do not know Smith person
ally, nor am known of him. in no sort
care for Smith. He comes no nearer con-
corning me in his sugarsms than II he
dealt with the markets of mares milk on
the steppes of Tartary. But have watch
ed Smith from that coign of cynical adj
vantage. the galleries, and conclusions
anent Smith have, by no special bid or
mine, come rushing in upon me. Smith
has no more natural reason for being
Senator than he would have for becoming
a Jockey; no more business fooling with
legislation as an architect thereof than
he would have to ride running race. For
the last Smiths too heavy for the first
Smiths too light.
His money is the cause of Smith in
the Senate; but inasmuch as money is
the cause of twoscore more Senators be-
ing on the roster, the mouth OF comment
feels more or less closed to any special
carping at Smith for that account. Smith
has taken his oath and sat in his seat
voted and drawn his salary. Smith has
never made speech, save on those several
times of sorrow when, like to-day, Smith
has been driven into the open to contra
dict charges to stock gambling. For it
must be known that forensic efforts of
the sort of to-day are by no means novel
ties in the experience of Smith; he has
had this to do before. Such is Smith as
a Senator.
There are other matters, however, feel
moved to say. / know naught Of Creel-
mans sources of information when he
writes the story of Smiths malefact.ons
of sugar market kind. >But / do kno Y
Creelman as an honest, high-minded gen.
tleman, the equal of Smith in all things,
save those in which he stands Smiths
superior l know that no story OF Smith s
sticky speculations would have been told
without good warrant of fact. l know
also that if Smith has not speculated in
sugar, not only during this Congress, but
every other recent Congress-notably, the
one to pass the German Wilson biii-then
Smith is the most ill-used and sadly SIAN
dered Senator at the post of duty to-day.
THINK HE is A SPECTATOR.
Not man of the Senate .but believes
the story of Smiths sugar mix-up with
the markets Not a mann Of the House
but believes it. Not a man of all Wash
ington with a reason and a right to a
view but believes it also. / myself al
the time of the publication of the Creel
man story heard a gentleman, who might
very well know the truth, and who him
self is part owner of a newspaper, tel
of Smiths sugar sales and the profits he
Smith had garnered home therefrom
And while Smith is hot with his very
sweeping denial it is Of interest to re
call that long before, while the Wilson
billers were hammering at the measure
bearing the name of that tame publicist
Smiths then private secretary, now dead
told divers workers Of the press-mysel
among the number-of Smiths wise EN-
ergy in sugar stocks.
This was prior to any peculiar hut
and cry against the Senate sugar gamb
lers. The conversation was neither con
fidential nor of a private sort; the Seem
was the Press Club, and Hutchinson
showing us a mild roll of wealth, which
he said he had that day gained on th'
market by following the sophisticated
footsteps of Smith in deposit in a Wash
ington bank, wherewith he meant T.
move ON the sugar market; that h
Smith had already had sundry Skin
mishes with the sugar quotations, thea
moving very lively with the warm infiu
ence Of the Wilson bill being framed
and taken prisoner full $4,000, as
now remember, the same being entirel.
to the bow and spear of Smiths skill a
a Spectator in sugar.
Now, with what has been said, let i
go. / do not believe Smith may, b.
right of being any heated proposal o
public interest, claim an overmuch 0
space, / will close, however, with thi
advice to Smith. Call you, oh Smith
with Tillman for an inquiry. 1t can b
guaranteed that Creelman will atten'
most blithely. He will tell then hi
why's" and. his where's" and the rea
sons for the homes within him Their