The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-30
CULLoM YIELDS TO PRESSURE.
n" Longer. Aspires to Head the For
eIsn Relation. Committee.

An interesting story regarding Senator
Cullom's cfushed ambition to be made
Chairman of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee has Just leaked out. Intimate
friends of the Illinoisan know that for
years he has coveted the Foreign Rela-
ions craftsmanship and that he made a
struggle for it when the last rearransc-
ment of committees was made in the
Senate. When Senator Davis death was
seen to be inevitable. it is said. Senator
Culiom took up with a number Of his
friends in the Senate the subject of his
succeeding tn the craftsmanship so long
held by the Minnesotan Senator Cullom
was FULLY aware that Senator Frye did
not want the place. and as the Maine
statesman was the only one who ranked
him he naturally felt that his chances of
securing the prize were of the first class.
But this hope was short lived
Wednesday morning Senator Cullom was
visited by the Representatives" conf
monty known as the lobbyists, of two
powerful railroads. A collcquy to this
effect ensued:
Senator, we have called to tell you
that you must not take the chairma nship
OF the Foreign Relations Committee" said
the railroad men,
Must is strong word for gentlemen
OF your station to use to a member Of the
Senate replied Senator Cullom, hotly.
That may be, but we want to warn you
that 1t will be better for you to forego
your ambition in that direction. at least
for the present.
This only increased Senator Cul'om's
wrath. He paced the floor in silence for
moment. and then. as if about to order
the lobbyists from his room. he endured:
What do you mean by this insolenre.
anyway"
IF you should go to the head of Foreign
Affairs you would have to resign the
Craftsmanship of the Committee ON Inter
state Commerce. would you not?''
Senator Cullom admitted that he would.
Now said the railroad representa-
tives. that man Chandler of New Hamp-
shire is second on the Interstate Com
merce Committee, and II you should leave
the Craftsmanship all h could not keep
him out of it. provided. of course. he Sc
cures reelection to the Senate
This, it is related. set Senator Cullon
to thinking in somewhat calmer mood.
Then. the point Is" he suggested ten
tatively. that Chandler would not make
good chairman OF the Interstate Com
merce Committee
Exactly" came the response.
Forthwith Senator Cu.lom's name was
withdrawn from the list of applicants for
the important post made vacant by the
death of Senator Cushnian Kellogg Davis
The point of the story is in the appiica-
ton of 1t. 1t is conceded on all hands
that il Senator Chandler gets back to the
Senate over the protest of the Bost IN and
Maine Railroad, and its vast allied in
terests. he will feel in no good hu!nor to-
ward railroads in general. The Interstate
Commerce Committee deals with nearly
all measures in the Senate that have a
bearing upon the railroads. If Senator
Chandler should get at the head af the
committee the railroads would either
have to prepare for peck of fresh trou-
bles, or bills affecting their interests
would have to be referred to some other
committee Obviously. therefore, the |
easiest way out of the Threatened diff
Guilty is for no change to be made at the |
head of the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee. This proposition carries with it |
the reelection of Senator Cullom, because |
il the Legislature at Springfield should |
reject him this winter and the Legisla- |
ture at Concord should re-elect Senator !
Chandler the very danger the railroads |
are trying to avert would be upon them in |
full force. The inference also is plain |
that the Boston and Maine is not the My |
railroad in the country interested in Sena-
tor Chambers defeat. 1t is suspected, |
therefore. that there are now at work in
New Hampshire against the recalcitrant
Chandler influences of which the leople
and the members elect of the Legislature
are not aware. Per contra, it is not i'm
possible that there are at work in I'LL
nois at this moment influences which the
Tannerites cannot well overcome in their
wicked fight on Senator Cullom.