Evening star., 1900-02-10
CAPITOL GOSSIP.


1t was a royal reception that was ac-
corded to Gen. Daniel E. Sickles upon his
visit to the House of Representatives the
other day. He came to urge legislation in
the interest of the surviving veterans of
the civil war. Members of the House. not
few with whom he had served, hocked
about him and shook his hand with a
warmth that bespoke a lasting friendship.
Few men have had the experience. have
been through as much in this world as Gen.
Sickles. He was a member of Congress be-
fore the war between the north and the
south. Out of the entire membership of the
present House of Representatives the only
person who was a colleague in those far
off days is GaMsha A. Grow, the patri-
archal-looking Pennsylvania, who was at
the time Speaker.
Despite that he has hobbled along for
more than a third Of century with only
one leg, the loss of the other being due to
a rebel missile at the battle of Gettysburg
in which he bore a conspicuous part. Gen.
Sickes is as straight as an arrow. On this
last visit to the capital he wore a wide
brimmed felt hat. carefully creased. which
gave him the appearance of Texas gentle
man of leisure.
Gen. Sickles' career began in New York.
was already lawyer and a politician of
recognized ability when, in 1873, he married
the daughter of an italian musician. When
Buchanan was appointed minister to Eng
land he tock Sickies along with him as sec
retary of the legation. At that time Sickles
was corporation attorney of New York
city. Returning to America, he was elected
to Congress. His home here was in Lafay-
cite Square. His hospitality was generous.
and his wife added charm to it
The killing of Philip Barton Key by Cen
Sickles for debauciling his home is remem-
hered well by older Washingtonians In
Jail Sickles received the visits of members
Of the abinet and eminent perSonageS, and
President Buchanan sent message of con-
dolence. The trial. which excited world
wide interest, resulted in a verdict of not
guilty.
sented his district in Congress. His friends
in Washington counted by the score
He evinceS A deep interest in all matters
pertaining to the welfare of the boys who
fought Tor the preservation of the Union
His home in 9Th avenue New York scarcely
a stones throw from the classical Wash
inston arch is always open to his friends
and is rendezvous for old soldiers.
Information comes from Alabama that
ex-Representative Milford w Howard has
announced his determination to be a can
didate for United States senator to succeed
John Tyler Morgan. Should Mr. Howard
succeed, he would be one Of the youngest
members of the upper branch of Congress
He is native of Georgia, and has just
rounded his thirty-ninth year. He removed
to Alabama when a child, and was elected
from the seventh district to the Fifty
fourth and Fffty-fifth Congresses as a pop
ulist- He declined to be a candidate for the
present Congress, and was succeeded oy
John L. Burnett, democrat
Personally he is man of many fasci-
mating qualities of heart and brain He is
accredited one of the best stump orators in
Alabama, and is of superb appearance and
dignifed bearing. In Washington he made
many friends outside of the legislative con-
tingent. and they have learned of his sena-
torial ambitions with mere than ordinary
interest.
Senator Morgan, who is one of the strong
est and brainiest men in the Senate, will be
candidate to succeed himself and it is
not unlikely that he may be returned. In
any event, there promises to be an interest
ing contest in Alabama. Governor johnson
yearns for senatorial honors. and if he sue
ceeds in dividing the democratic vote How
ard may be the winner. That is what he is
said to be counting on.
Alabama has for years sent to the United
States Senate men of mature years-men of
recognized ability and integrity. Senator
Edmund W. Pettus is in his seventy-ninth
year, despite that he might be taken for
much younger. Judge Pugh is another ex-
ample of the class of men Alabama has
sent to the upper branch of Congress. He
was leader and at one time was chairman
of the Senate Judiciary committee.
Representative Southard of the Toledo
tOhio) district will soon request Congress
to appropriate $4,000 to provide statue Of
the late Chief Justice Salmon p Chase, to
grace scme one of the present vacant in
to rSection parks Of the capital.
Chase was a native of one of the New
England states, but went to Ohio when a
boy. The free soil movement which had its
inception in Ohio, brought Chase into public
life. He came to the United States Senate
fifty years ago, his election being effected
by two free soil legislators who held the
balance of power in the general assembly,
the democrats and wings being evenly
divided Before the war he served as gov
ernor of the state. and was Secretary of the
Treasury during one of the most trying
periods of the countrys history.
Outside of the Capitol building. Ohio is
represented in Washington by only two
statueS-those of Garfield, the funds for
which were raised by the Army of the
Cumberland. and Gen. Mcpherson. The
representation will be more complete when
the statues of Grant. Sherman and Sheri-
dan are created.
A Washington woman, who has quite a
local reputation because of her dislike of
hirsute decorations for men, feels much
better since a visit paid to statuary hall
one day last week. She spent an hour gaz-
ing at the memorials in marble and bronze
of men who have been illIstrious contribu-
tors to the history of the country.
..It only goes to show that what I have
maintained all along is correct she was
heard to say to her companion. who was an
attentive listener. "Out of nearly thirty
statues there all but seven are men with
smooth faces. The beardless men are the
ones of ability"
1t Is a coincidence that so many of the
great men represented in the collection
are bereft OF hirsute adornment, but it