Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-16
IOWA sTRoNGEsr IN THE CAPITOL
Names ssIsig Four,' Succeeded by Wes-
tern stRi. Five, in the House.

IOWA STR ONG EST IN THE CAPITOL
Names sslsig Four,' Succeeded by Yves.
tern stRis Five, In the House.
Special Washington Dispatch to the
New York Evening World: What
state has the strongest delegation in
congress, now that Maine has fallen
from her proud estate? The question
is being considerably discussed nova
days, altho there is very little differ
ence of opinion upon the subject.
Maine is still very strong in the senate,
where it has Mr.. Frye, president pro
tem., who is chairman of the commit
tee on commerce, second man upon the
foreign relations and member of
other important committees, and Mr..
Hale, who is chairman of the naval
committee, second man on appropria-
tons and who holds other important
committee places; but in the house
Names strength is gone with the pass
ing of the "Big Four"
1t would be natural to look to New
York or Pennsylvania or Ohio, but the
distinction belongs to none of these
The tide of empire has been travelling
westward for these many years, and
now it is state west of the Missis-
sippi which can boast the strongest
delegation
With Senators Allison and Gear to
hold up things at the senate end, Iowa
has very strong delegation in the
house, Senator Allison is one of the
ablest men of the senate-one of the
men most influential in shaping legisla-
ton. He has Tor long time been at
the head of the appropriations commit
tee and on finance, and he is one of the
marked men of congress. His col
league, Senator Gear, is less prominent,
for he is still in the midst of his first
term, and he is one of those senator's
handicapned by brilliant colleague.
He has, however, been governor of his
state. several times member of con-
gress, assistant secretary of the treas
ury. under Harrison, and has taken
a prominent place in the senate.
MN
In the house Iowa has not only the
speaker, but five other members of
real prominence out of eleven. Mr..
Henderson has not always been re-
garded as the most prominent member
of the Iowa delegation, because he was
not as active in the routine affairs of
TIL. house as Mr.. Hepburn or Mr.. Hull,
nor was he the orator that Mr.. Dolli-
Yer and Mr.. Cousins are. He, however,
combines with the qualities which make
each of these men prominent, a per-
sonal popularity which none of the
others have, and was really the best
candidate for the speakership.
OF Iowa's big six, Colonel Hepburn is
probably the ablest. He got into ma
tional politics first as solicitor of the
treasury, and has been a member of
seven congresses. He has views of his
own and does not hesitate to express
them; hence he is not particularly pop
ular, tho all recognize his ability.
This is the sixth congress for Mr..
Hull, chairman of the military commit
tee, and as such is one of the leaders
on the floor of the house, and especial
ly during war times, when the army is
given so much consideration. He is
essentially working member, and is
an excellent committee chairman, hav-
ing the faculty Of smoothing down the
rough edges that appear, particularly
when military BILLS under considera-
ton. 81 BIS
This is the fifth congress for AR.
14dCCJ, WIZ wis UOIA III VII Dul
was staff officer in the Union army
He is a lawyer of prominence, the au-
thor of several legal works and in
congress has been member Of real
worth.
The orators of the Iowa delegation
are two of its youngest members, tho
they have seen several terms of serv-
ice. Dolliver is big fellow, whom the
republicans s'sic" on the democrats
whenever things get particularly warm
politically. He has funny way OF
punctuating his sentences by for
ward movement of his head, which re
minds one as much of a fighting cock
as it does of anything else. He makes
first rate hurrah speech of the cam.
paign order.
eBob' Cousins is more the finished
orator than Dolliver. He is big, tall
good looking young chap, who has a
drawl and other mannerisms, much
like those of former Speaker Red-sc
much like him, in fact, that he has
been accused of initiating the big man
from Maine. This is hardly just, how.
ever. As matter of fact, Cousins is
man oflstrong personality and one
who adds real strength to the delega.
ton.