The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-08
IOWA'S STAND IN CONGRESS.
SHE MAY TAKE THE LEAD IN THE
PLACE OF MAINE.

PLACE OF MAINE.
Tide of Empire Has Been Travelling
INSTRUMENTATION and Gear Make
n strong Senatorial Team-In the
House Iowa Has Five Men of Prom
inence Beside the Speaker-Hep-
burn Probably the AbIest-The
Orators From Town.
Washington, Jan. What state has the
strongest delegation in Congress now that
Maine has fallen from her proud distinc-
ticn? The question is being considerably
discussed these days, although there IS
very little difference of opinion upon the
subject.
Maine is still very strong in the Senate,
where it has Mr. Frye, the presiding Of
fcer, who is chairman of the important
Committee on Commerce, second man on
Foreign Relations, and a member of othsr
important committees and Mr.. Hale, who
is chairman of the Naval Committee sec
ond man on Appropriations, and holding
also other important committee places;
but in the House. Names strength has
gone with the passing of her famous Big
Four.
1t would be natural to look to New York
or Pennsylvania or Ohio to furnish the
strongest delegation in a Republican Con-
gress, but the distinction belongs to none
of those. The tide of empire has been
travelling westward for these many years,
and now it is a state west of the Misss
sippi which can boast the strongest dele
cation.
With Senators Allison and Gear to hold
up things at the Senate end, Iowa has
very strong delegation in the House. Sen
ator Allison is one of the ablest men in
the Senate-one of the men most infiu-
entail in shaping legislation. He has for
a long time been at the head of the APP
propriations Committee, and on Finance,
and he is one of the marked men of Con-
gress. His colleague, Senator Gear is less
prominent, for he is still in the midst of
his first term and then he is one of those
senators handicapped by a brilliant col
league. Senator Gear has, however, been
Governor of his state, several times
member of Congress, assistant secretary
of the treasury under Harrison, and has
taken prominent stand in the Senate.
Iowa in the House.
In the House Iowa has not only the
Speaker but five other members of real
prominence This is six men of promi-
nence out of eleven Mr.. Henderson has
not always been regarded the most prom
inent member of the Iowa delegation, be-
cause he was not as active in the routine
affairs of the House as Mr.. Hepburn or
Mr. Hull, nor was he the orator that MI
Dolliver and Mr. Cousins are. He, how
ever, combined with the qualities which
make each of these men prominent, a per
sonal popularity which none of the 9TH
ers have, and was easily the best candi-
date for the speakership.
OF 1owas big Six Col. Hepburn is
probably the ablest. He got into national
politics first as solicitor of the treasury,
and he has been a member of seven Con-
crosses. Col Hepburn does not always
get along with his Republican colleagues.
He has views of his own and doesn't hest
tate TO express them, hence he is not par
tculary popular, though all recognize his
ability
This is the sixth Congress for Mr. Hull,
chairman of the Military Committee and
as such one of the leaders on the floor Of
the House, especially during the war times
when the army is given so much consider
alton. Mr.. Hun is essentially a working
member and is an excellent committee
chairman, having the faculty of smooth
ing down the rough edges that appear
particularly Nnen "A nlHlldiy Dill is under
consideration Mr. Hull is known as
Gov. Hull from the fact hat he served sew
eral terms as lieutenant governor of his
state.
This is the fifth Congress for Mr.. Lacey.
who was born in Virginia, but was a staff
officer in the Union Army. He is a law
yer of prominence, the author of several
legal works and in Congress has been
member of real worth.
The Orators From Town.
The orators of the Iowa delegation are
two of its youngest members, though they
have seen several terms of service Dol
liver is a big fellow, whom the Republi-
cans sick on the Democrats whenever
things get particularly warm, politically
He has a funny way of punctuating his
sentences by a forward movement of his
head which reminds one as much of a
fighting cock as it does of anything else
He makes a first-rate hurrah speech OF
the campaign order
Bob" Cousins is more the finished ora
tor than Dolliver. He is a big, tail, good
looking young chap who has a drawl and
other mannerisms much like those of for
mer Speaker Reed, so much like him. In
fact, that he has been accused of initiating
the big man from Maine. This is hardly
just, however. AS a matter of fact, Cous-
ins is a man of strong individuality and
one who adds real strength to the delega-
ton.