The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-16

does not do this us u mere trimmer of
sails. but out of II profound respect for tho
people His ideas Of the proper sphere and
function of II president arc that he is moro
tho servant and instrument of the people
than their ruler. There come times, of
course, when tho chief magistrate must
meet crisis. He must tako action with
out any notion of what the popular idens
are. Ho must carve out his own destiny.
But in so far as possible I know it Is the
settled policy of President Mckinley to
Keep close to tho popular wish
A Valuable Experience.
como might almost say that the prcsi.
dent is dcfcrentiGl to the people. His con.
duct since he was elected and since he was
inauguratcd, his seeing all Corners from
among the people ut great sacrifice of his
own strength and convenience, show that
he looks upon himself rs the servant, not
MS the master. He takes this view moro
strongly and conscicntiously, think, than
any other president of recent times.
Take it, too, in his trca tment of mem
bers of congress- There is President Nc.
kinlcy's strongest point. AT dinner hero
few days ago I was unexpectedly called
out to make Il speech. / could think of no
better thought than the tact which the
president shows In his treatment of soma
J.
dent tried to treat every one having bust
ness with him just as ono gentleman would
treat another in consideration of tho affairs
OF company i'll which they were all equal
ly interested. He is wholly without TINT
sense or assumption of proprictorship
which some presidents have appeared to
feel. 1t was great thing for President
Mckinley that ho had years of experience
in congress. There is no other training SO
good for man who is to take tho helm of
state. 1t teachcs him breadth and toler-
ance. 1t teaches him to yield and to dcfm.
and TO mako peace. In that after dinner
speech 1 said if President Harrison had
served ten years as n member of tho house
of representatives Mr.. Cleveland might;
not have been elected president, lust rs
MIR. Harrison might not have been elected
over Mr.. Cleveland if Mr.. Cleveland had
had ten years of congressional experience
A Cuban View.
L was standing in tho great rotunda of
tho capitol tho other day when Senior Que
sada, tho representative of the Cuban re-
public in Washington, came up. "LoolS-
at that picture" snid he, pointing to u
great painting of tho landing Of Columbus
on San Salvador, land tell me wherein e
shows why Spanish rule on this continent
has been one of cruelty and rapacity."
looked the painting over and for u long
time could not discern what Senior Qucsad,.
had referred to. Finally hit upon it.
" sec what you mean, exclaimed. at
is tho two Spaniards who have just landed
in tho new world and who arc already
down upon their knees, not in prnyorful
thankfulncss to Providence for delivering
them from the dangers of tho deep and
guiding their ships to new land, but
NJ for ~
they sec in the sands by the shore
THAT is right" replied the Cuban rep
rescntativc. 'There you have Smln's
American motive from the day Of Column
bus to tho present timo.'
ono OF the odd things anout lifo in tho
national capital is the manner in which
state colonies arc formed at the various
hotels For instance, at tho Portland both
of the Iowa senators live, and there also
may be found the Iowa member of tho
cabinet, Mr.. Wilson, and three or four of
tho Iowa congressman. OF course the
Portland is known as the Iowa headouar-
tiers. Senator Allison only takes his meals
Mt the hotel. But his house, where he
sleeps, Is directly across the street. For
years the Iowa people have made the Port
land their home while in Washington. at
the Cochran the Ohio people may be found
III great numbers. Senator Sherman's
house Is just around the corner, and tho
Hamilton, another rendezvous for Ohio
mon, is right across the street from tho
Cochran. The New England and New
York people are fond of the Arlington
where may be found Senators Platt of the
Empire State and Platt of Connections
Senator Aldrich and many more from that
region. The Illinois mcmbcrs frequent
tho old Willard hotel, and if one wants to
find an Illinois representative he always
looks for him at that inn. The southern
members, as a rule, are found either at tho
Metropolitan, the National or the Riggs.
Perhaps three .ourths of all tho southern
men in town who live at n hotel nav be
found in one of these three The Michi-
gan members are usually to be found at
the Ebbitt So it goes. Almost every one
of the largo states has certain hotel in
Washington which Is looked upon as head
quarters for the people from that common
wealth.
Senator Mason of Illinois is said to have