Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-02

The Washington correspondence in the
New York Tribune contains the following
Interesting paragraph:
Reports which reach Washington from
the west indicate that the somewhat tickle
and emotional Webster Davis not only has
found congenial environment in the popo-
cratic camp but that great wave of pros
Perty has engulfed him since he foreswore
allegiance to the republican party and es-
poused Organism because the English army
was permitted by this government to overrun
Dom Paul krugers country. Mr.. Davis
vas assistant secretary of the interior, as
well as a republican. until he visited South
Africa. Now he is not only a popocrat of
high degree. but is also rapidly approach
ing the state of that most hateful of all
objects 10 popocracy. to wit, a plutocrat
with big p. He is putting up with his
own money block after block of expensive
buildings in Kansas City. His sudden flight
to affiuence, even better than his experience
in craftsmanship, shows the opportunities
open to young Absaoms in America, pro-
vided. of course. every young Absalom
has the emotional temperament, the silver
tongue and the frugal habits of the Hon.
Webster Davis.
This piece of news will relieve the anxi-
cites of all who of late may have been So
licitous as 10 Mr.. Davis fortunes. On the
face Of things the November result seemed
10 bear more heavily upon him than upon
any other man who had followed the lead
ership Of Mr.. Bryan in that campaign. The
silver democrats have the satisfaction of
feeling that. although again defeated, they
had again registered themselves in favor of
their principles, and that party habita-
ton remained to them. Those gold demo-
Gratis who had supported Mr.. Bryan on the
score of Regularity found comfort in the
record they had made such a sacrifice to
preserve Silver republicans like MI Tel
Ter and Mr.. Towne still preserved their
convictions and the courage of them. Even
Mr.. Bryan was able to solace himself with
the admiration of his friends and the hope
of third campaign
But MIR. Davis appeared to have been
overwhelmed He had lost the respect of
his old friends and had not secured that of
the new. His new friends had used him.
but they plainly had not relished the asso-
citation. His job was gone. He had sur
rendered that in a moment of passionate
devotion to liberty. The salary attached
was larger than he had ever drawn before,
and many people thought, very large
indeed. for him, but not a red cent more
would he draw from a government which
refused to go to with Great Britain
over the complication in South Africa So
without party, without job, without the
respect Of the men who had made him or
of those he had assisted in an effort to I'M
make them, the opinion was justified that
he must be poor indeed.
But now comes the intelligence that Mr.
Davis is far from being poor in purse He
has money to build. if not TO burn and
this wide old world may wag as 1t will
Where did he get it? He has not salts
factorily replied to some accusations made
on the subject in London some weeks ago
and reprinted in this country, and maybe
he takes the ground, as Richard Croker
does, that the size of public mans wal
let. how he fills it, is nobody's business
but his own.