Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-26

Kinley was shot have combined to
isolate him from his colleagues in the
senate, and he cuts lonely figure. He
stood at his desk for some time the
other day awaiting recognition to in
troduce some bills and the Indifference
manifested by the presiding officer
toward him is a fair illustration of the
way he is given the cold shoulder all
around. The statement has been
made that Wellington will be sincerely
relieved when his term is up, and it is
probably true, for he is obliged to flock
by himself.
1t has never been definitely estab-
lished that Wellington said, as report
ed, that the assassination of the presi-
dent was "a matter of Indifference" to
him. He declined to deny or affirm it
and Maryland republicans proceeded
to punish him by expelling him from
their CLUBS. When the feeling of indig-
nation was at its height friend of the
senator gave out a presumably in
spired statement that his words had
been garbled, but the explanation was
not decisive. Wellington has become
a pessimest, and he has pride enough
neither to try to justify himself nor
to regain the favor he has SO complete
ly lost, His state will welcome even
German in his place.
On the other hand the democrats are
giving Senator McLaurin the cold
shoulder since he began to organize a
semi-republican party in South Caro-
lima. McLaurin is not in the same
boat as Wellington, however, but he
now must look to the republicans for
any favors he is to get in the senate
organization.
Wellington has had peculiar career
in national politics A few years ago
he was teller in Cumberland bank
of which Lloyd Lowndes was presi-
dent. Lowndes saw that he was a
bright young man and decided to push
him ahead in republican politics, the
primary object being to have friend
at court who could swing the county
funds into the bank for deposit. Well
ington got on well and finally secured
control OF the county machine and had
all the say about the patronage He
played his cards well and was nomi-
mated for congress. This was in 1894,
and there was republican landslide
which elected him. Encouraged by
their success the republicans went
ahead and carried the legislature, in
curing the downfall of Senator Cor
man. Wellington captured the plum,
too, and for several years was the cock
OF the walk in Maryland politics Mean
time Lowndes had been elected COVER
nor and had made Wellington chair
man OF the state committee. The lat
ter quarreled with his former employ
or, however, and since then has waged
a deadly war on him. In order to in
jure Lowndes he has started a rival
bank at Cumberland. Furthermore.
Wellington has sworn to ruin Lowndes
politically, but the senator's influence
in that direction is now at the zero
point.
Wellington nursed a deep grudge
against Mckinley over patronage
matter, and it was this as much as
anything which led him to leave the re-
publican party and support Bryan last
year. He did not make much of hit
with the democrats, however, and they
now seem to have as little use for him
as have the republicans Wellington's
term expires in 1903, and he will not
be sorry when the time arrives to step
out. The role Of "the ancient mariner"
is not pleasant one.