Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-06-10

eighth Congress, when Grant lay dying
at Mt. McGregor. 1t was Democratic
House. Carlisle was the Speaker. A
bill was introduced restoring to Grant
the rank of general. To throttle consid-
Grafton of the bill its antagonists resorted
to filibustering tactics.
llama JIM" for several previous terms
a representative from Iowa, now held his
seat Professionally. 1t was contested by
Ben. Frederick, his Democratic opponent.
A contested election case has the right of
way in Congress. The pretext was seiz-
ed by the opponents of the urgent measure
to give back to the expiring leader his
military rank The supporters of the
Grant bill, eagerly as they desired to get
1t through in time, were not willing to
sacrifice their colleague from Iowa in or
der to gain their end, and thus they were
in turn compelled to resort to filibustering
to prevent the consideration of the cleo
ton case, which was exactly what the
anti-Grant party wished them to do. The
Grant bill was blocked, with it's benefi-
ciary close to death.
Then llama Jim" rose to the height
of Arthur in his hall. Did he understand
that the mere question as to whether he
was to be permitted to retain his seat in
Congress stood in the way Of a nations
exhibition of common gratitude to its pre-
server? Could it be possible that a mere
contested election case was to be the
boulder on which consideration of so pal
pable an act of justice was to split? IF
this Is the case," he concluded, calmly,
amid intense silence, "as it unquestiona-
bly, appears to be, the obstacle is easily
removed. Mr.. Speaker, hereby resign
my claim to a seat in this House to my
contestant, Mr.. Frederick"
The House rang. Every man in the
body joined in the hoarse plaudit that
followed the speech. The anti-Grant men
were stupefed, and the Grant bill passed
the House amid hurricane of cheers. 1t
was rushed over to the Senate and imme-
diately passed by that body; and within
an hour after James Wilson, now the Sec
Rotary of Agriculture, had made way for
Its consideration by surrendering his seat
in the House of Representatives the bill
was signed by the President and became
a law. "Tama Jim" went back to his
Iowa farm.
Among his old associates in Congress
Secretary Wilson is still affectionately
known as llama jim" The nickname
was conferred upon him because during
his service as a Congressman there was
In the House another representative from
Iowa named James r. Wilson, afterward,
and for many years, a Senator. He died
several years ago. To distinguish the
two men, "Sunset" Cox fastened upon
Secretary Wilson the nickname of "Tama
JIM" from Tama County, in which is sit
uated Mr.. Wilson's Iowa farm.
Mr.. Wilson, at the very beginning of
his career as a member Of the lower
house Of Congress, was the spokesman
of the agriculturists of this country in
urging the erection of the bureau of ag-
riculture, as ID was then called, into a
separate department, with a cabinet Off
Ger at it's head. His word may be taken
for it that at that time he never dreamed
that he would himself one day be called
upon to assume the management of the de-
partment he 30 zealously strove to estab-
lish. The farmers of the United States
are still burdening President Mckinley
mail with Fluctuations upon his selection
of Secretary of Agriculture.
The Man az He IL.
81 came here to work for the man with
his coat off," said Mr.. Wilson. "The man
with his coat of" Is a favorite figure OF
his; not unnaturally, for he has been q