The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-09
WHAT FUTURE FOR GoRMAN?
NO SENATOR EVER SURPASSED HIM
AS A LEADER.

tails Thoroughly. and Besides, Has
Political re-Science-Believes in
the Machine - Isn't an Orator,
works Quietly and Is StiII Young
Enough to Come Again to the
Front.
Washington. April I'm the last thirty
years there has been no man on the Dem
ocratic side of the United States Senate
who surpassed Arthur Pue German Il
Maryland in qualities Of parliamentary
leadership During the later years # bis
service nobody was so rash as 10 venture
to challenge his control OF the party on thu
floor. and now that he is no longer mem
her Of the Senate he is missed daily. There
have been few men in the history o. Con-
gress if any, TO whom legislation has lie
come so much a habit Of life as Gorm1n.
From the day when he secured an APP
pointment as page, when a boy. until the
Ah of March, 1899, when a change in the
party control of Marylaud brought his
service as sena Tor to a close, he dwelt al
most continuously in the atmosphere of
the Capitol. Problems of government md
parliamentary procedure have been faml-
lar 10 him from the beginning. and he IS
as thoroughly STEPPED in the atmosphere
of national politics as the man of business
in the atmosphere of the counting room
He is familiar with the multitude Of de-
tails which play so important though in
conspicuous a part in legislative machin-
cry and when in the Senate he could
touch unerringly the hidden springs upoA
which congressional action depended.
Germans strength has lain not entirely
in this. There have been other men who
by long service in one or the other
branches of Congress have become init
mately acquainted with the uiceties of leg
islatve procedure. and have become
adepts i'll the work of framing and passing
bills without attaining the nights of lead
ership. German has political pTescience as
well, and it is this which has given him
his mastery. He is one of those who can
unders land motives and sense popular
feeling. He understands the science OF
organization and realizes how indispensa-
BILE it is to party success. He had the rare
faculty of inspiring confidence among
those whom he would lead, so that where
he marks the way few hesitate TO follow.
German believes thoroughly in the
machine" He is one of the political lead
ers who have been distinguished with the
title of boss, and in the minds of many
it is undoubtedly true that this phase of
his character has been more conspicuous
than any cther-so conspicuous, indeed
as to throw all others in the shade But
there is a broader side of his character
with which those who have served with
him in Congress, whether of his own po-
Htcal 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 the study Of which he did
not devote himself and concerning which
he cid not have well defined ideas. One
who is so far removed from the former
Maryland Senator in political belief and
method as Senator Hoar has said that If
a Democrat were to be elected President,
Gotman is the man upon whom his per-
sonal choice would fall this on the
theory that German in the White House
would be conservative and safe.
There has been no man in the Senate
in my day says Mr.. Hoar, who was
more thoroughly conversant with ,the
problems of government, and TO whom the
rcins of administration could be entrusted
with greater confidence"
German is not an orator. By long prac-
tice and by necessity he has become
fairly effective speaker on occasions when
it became essential that he should speak,
a well as act, but he is altogether lack
a
conspicuous on the platform. He is a good
debater. because he 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
ne 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 an opposing faith. There was no
Democratic senator whose word could Sc
cure more on the Republican side, or who,
for personal reasons, could secure more
concessions in matters in which he was
Individually interested.
German works quietly More often than
not his hand remains unseen until the
results he wishes TO accomplish become
obvious, and then II is revealed for the
first time that he has been fashioning
end moulding the event. There are those
who call him jesuitical, and there is some
thing in his method which makes the ad-
jective not altogether inapt But it can
not truthfully be applied to him In an Of
fensive sense. Nobody ever yet charged
him with falsehood, and If those who
oppose him are deceived for a time as to
his intentions 1t is not his fault If they
lack keenness of perception, 1t is mol his
business 10 sharpen their wits, and they
certainly can not expect 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 or a diplo-
mat, with his smoothly shaver face. his
finely chiseled features, his thin lips close
ly pressed together ana a gray eye that
IS keen and searching in its gaze. One of
his greatest charms is a smile that is
winning and confidential even when some
political scheme is lurking beneath 1t. No
body can retain personal enmity for Cor
man after coming in close contact with
him German is almost as much a resi-
dent of Washington as he is of Mary
land, and his Washington house is open
almost the year round. even now, when
he is no longer a member of the Senate.
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 on 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 polite
fans go, having only sixty years to his
credit, and many things may happen be-
fore his final retirement from the politl-
cal field.