The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-06-18

eighth Congress, when Grant lay dying
at Mt. McGregor. 1t was a Democratic
House. Carlisle was the Speaker A
bill was introduced restoring to Grant
the rank of general. To throttle consid-
Grafton of the bill it's antagonists resorted
to filibustering tactics
'Tama 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. eagery*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 its benefi-
ciary close TO death.
Then "Tama 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. considera ton of so pal
.pable an act of justice was to split? "If
this is the case," he concluded, calmly;
amid intense silence, ''as it unGuestiona-
oly appears to be, the obstacle, is easily
removed. Mr.. Speaker, / hereby resign
my claim to 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. IT
was rushed over to the Senate and imme-
diately passed by that body; and within
an hour after James Wilson, now the Sec
retary 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
law. "Tama Jim" went back to his
Iowa farm.
Among his old associates in Congress
Secretary Wilson is still affectionately
known as "Tama 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, US it 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 managementsof the1ae.
partment he SO zealously strove to estab
lish. The farmers of the United States
are still burdening President Mckinley's
mail with fluctuations upon his selection
of a Secretary of Agriculture.
The Mau-as He Is.
81 came here to work for the man with
his coat off" said Mr.. Wilson. 1.-The mar
with his coat off" is a fayorite figure OF
bis; not unnaturally. for he has been &