The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-03

sey for the seat of trust empire. was passed
for concurrence. where 1t was advanced to
second reading before its iniquittes were
discovered and exposed by The St Louis
Republic. caucus of Democrats followed
the expose; the bill was denounced and the
mask torn from its face. This killed it. but
the Republican Steering Committee and
Speaker Sherman did not propose to give
the Democrats a chance to make any cap
ital with the people. and 1t became q matter
Of grave Importance to inter the remains
without ostentation or display.
Notwithstanding interest was great and
every movement of the House watched by
the score OF reporters. as well as all the
members. the Journal was made to show
the same day of the Democratic caucus
that this bill. on motion OF a Republican
favorite Of the Speaker. had been referred
to a committee controlled by Speaker Sher-
man; Nobody believed. and nobody ever
in open House; But the Journal had it. and
AT the recent session. during the last days
Of the House. a committee report went
through in the same manner. giving to Ger:
tain individuals money TO the amount of
over H.0o. of which one man got 81 o00.
Not 10 per cent of the House is aware to
this day that this action was taken. But
the N.OOO was In the pocket of the individ-
ual. for whom II was Intended. before prac-
ticaIly any OF the members knew 1t. He
secured certified copy of the journal from
the Clerk OF the House early In the MORN
ing and presented II 70 the State Auditor.
demanding a warrant. which was given to
MIN ana lmmeOldtely C0SneQ Dy tne STATE
Treasurer. This was done before the House
opened its morning session.
Time and again it is impossible to guess
Speaker have extricated the Republican
party from the tar into which II has been
precipitated by this provisions authorizing
nois courts, I believe. foeve refused to 20
behind the legislative Journals for evidence
Democrats Denied . Voice.
The House was ruled by the rod of q
Car in the Speakers chair. and in the
hands Of such a bitter partisan as Speaker
little gavel became a ponderous engine of
destruction to everything that did not re-
sUeaRer Jns MeyeG xaye Demo-
Gratis a shadow Of a chance in 1895. Mr.
Curtis was the mere agent Of Governor
Tanner in 1897 and Judge Sherman likewise
followed orders from the executive Once
in 1899. In eighteen years experience in
politics and legislative matters l never met
John r. Tanner and Lawrence Y. Sherman
in their revengeful, unforgivng, unrelent-
ing. implacsble hatred Of Democracy and
The prescription of Democrats began
under Curtis. and Sherman continued II. As
an Illustration, l cite the shumway bill to
passed the Senate. and it emerged from a
House committee i;s with amendments ann s as "a
Allen law. and by threats Of personal vio-
lence in the House judiciary Committee
forced action on the bill of D. E. Sullivan;
a Democrat. yet the bill never got beyond
given the risht-of-way. and passing both
branches. l might cite many other in
The Senate proceedings differed only in
detail and method from the House. The re-
were not ostracized In SO fragrant man
ner.
In both Houses It required an overwhelm-
measure of Importance to a vote Occasion
ally, to prevent a rough house during the
session. bill would be given a lease OF life.
unless the dictators were willing
The Republican Senate Steering Commit
tee usually met in the rooms in the Leland
in the evening. and the programme for the
next day was discussed and agreed upon.
Only the main points were considered: The
oped were left to the Judgment of the floor
leader. This was particularly true in 1893.
In the recent session the Senate Steering
responsibilities attached thereto to the
chairman. Daniel A. Campbell. Unlimited
confidence in Mr.. Campbell's ability to ham
die the legislative business Of the Senate
was implied. and frequently expressed by
Republican Senators.
Case Of One-Maa Power.
doubt II the Senate Steering Committee
met once during the session, after the I-egis-
islature opened. for business Two months
after the opening day I had great difficulty
In learning the names OF this Steering Com
mittee. No Republican Senator could give
me the list-not even Senator Campbell. and
the Information was finally collected by ask
ing each individual Senator n he was n
member Of the Steering Committee. and in
the end some OF them were not sure of it. I
mention this as important and empha sizing
the power Chairman Compbell, who did not
recall his colleagues on this influential
committee. and who was as much the
whole thing" as Speaker Sherman-nay
more. for Sherman kept up the meetings Of
his Steering Committee from the first day
to final adjournment.
The Senate Committee was q phantom.
Its genius and spirit and power were ali
embodied In Campbell. Conceived as an oli-
Earchy. II had swallowed itself excepting
the head. end was reduced to an autocracy
and Daniel A. Campbell was the aufocrat
Mr.. Campbelrs partner. Senator Busse had
ambitions last yeaf in the line of the State
Treasury-and they still exist. but are dor
mant. Within a year they will waken to
activity. and he will likely be a candidate
This explains why he was willing In the
recent session to take a seat on the bleach
ers Senator Pleasant Thomas Chapman.
who has taken all the degrees In leader
ship In the Senate. also voluntarily retired
from active duty on the Steering Commit
tee. he aspires to a congressional term. A
dread OF losing ground with party leaders
by arbitrarily disposing of favorite per
the retirement of these tive from the COM
mittee.
As II turned out, Busse and CHAPMAN
might have accepted the honor. for il was
rs empty as gourd-but they consented
and eonnived at this condition. Senator
Dams" views or position on all matters
were frequent, and his decisions were never