Evening star., 1900-04-07

Arthur Pue German.
From a Photograph by Frances Benjamin johnston
oughly stepped in the atmosphere of ma +,
tional politics the man of business in the
atmosphere of the counting room. He Ia !
familiar with the multitude of details which,
play so important though inconspicuous al
part in legislative machinery, and when IN
the Senate he could touch unerringly thsi
hidden springs upon which congressional
action depended.
Where Strength Lies.
Germans strength has lain not entirely fui
this. There have been other men who byl
long service in one or the other branches of
Congress have become intimately acquaint-
ed with the niceties of Legislative procedure. ,
and have become adopts in the work Of !
framing and passing bills without attaining
the heights of leadership. German has pos
litical prescience well, and it is this
which has given him his mastery. He is
one of those who can understand motives
and sense popular feeling. He understands
| the science of organization and rea Lies how
| indispensable 1t is to party success. He had
| the rare faculty of inspiring confidencei
among those whom he would lead, SO that
where he marks the way few hesitate to'
follow.
German believes thoroughly in The MAJ,
chine" He is one of the political leaders
| who have been distinguished with the title
| OF boss, and in the minds Of many ii Isl
undoubtedly true that this phase of his
character has been more conspicuous than
| throw all others in the shade. But there is
a broader side of his character with which
those who have served with him in Cons
gress. whether of his own political faith or,
not, have been familiar. He is a master of
| political methods. but he is a student OF
governmental policies as well. There were
few questions which came before Congress-
during his term in the Senate to ;he study
of which ne did not devote hirse.f and
concerning which he did not have well-de.'
fined ideas. One who is so far removed
from the former Maryland senator in po.
itical belief and method as Senator Hoar
has said that if democrat were to be
elected President German is the man upofi'
whom his personal choice would fall-this{
on the theory that German in the White
House would be conservative and safe.
What senator Hoar Says.
There has been no man in the Senate
in my day." says Mr.. Hoar, who was more
thoroughly conversant with the problems pf
government, and to whom the reins OF add
ministration could be intrusted with greatS
er confidence"
German is not an orator. BY long prac>
tice and by necessity he has become q
fairly effective speaker on occasions when
1t became essential that he Should speak,
as well act but he is altogether lacking
in the qualities which make a man con-
spicuous on the platform. He is a good
debater, because ne always understands
his subject thoroughly and can appreciate
the points which will tell on the instant
for the proposition in behalf of which he
contends. He has few popular qualities.
There is nothing magnetic or dramatic
about him, but this does not mean that he
lacks the faculty of making friends. The
associations he formed in the Senate were
very close, not only with men Of his own
political following, but also with those OF
opposing faith. There was demo-
cratic senator whose word could secure
more on the republican side. or who, for
personal reasons, could secure more cohS
cessions in matters in which he was indi<
vidually interested.
The Unseen Hand.
German works quietly. More often than
not his hand remains unseen until the re.
suits he wishes to accomplish become OBJ.
vious and then 1t is revealed for the first
time that he has been fashioning and mold
ing the event. There are those who call
him jesuitical, and there is something In
his method which makes the adjective not
altogether inapt- But it cannot truthfully
be applied to him in an offensive sense
Nobody ever yet charged him with falseS
hood, and IL those who oppose him are
deceived for a time to his intentions It
is not his fault. If they lack keeuuess Of
perception. 1t is not his business to sharpen
their wits, and they certainly cannot ex.
pect him to take them into his confidence.
1t is simply not his habit to carry his
heart on his sleeve.
German looks like a priest diplo-
mat, with his smoothly shaven face, his
finely chse!ed features. his thin lips close
ly pressed together and a gray eye that is
keen and searching in its gaze, One of
his greatest charms is a smile that is win.
ming and confidential, even when some po-
ltical scheme is lurking beneath it, Nos
body can retain personal enmity for Cor
man after coming in close contact with
him. German is almost much a resident
of Washington as ne is of Maryland. and
his Washington house is open almost the
year round. even now, when he is no longer
a member of the Senate.
still poIffGcanv Active
He has lost none of his political activity,
although for the first time since the war
he no longer holds any Office. He still
keeps his finger the party machinery
and looks ahead to the day when he and
those who think with him will be in com.
plete control. He is young yet as poll
ticians go. having only sixty years to his
credit. and many things may happen before
his final retirement from the political field,
There are Al different languages spoken
in America