The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-02
The Social Triumph of the Washing
ton Season,
SENATOR CLARK THE AMER CAN ALADDIN
Southern Girl Refuses TO Marry Multi Milton
aire Because Of Devotion to Her Father.
Senator VeS,'s Falling Health
The Force Bill.
Especial Correspondence


week was one of the most successful
social events Of the season. Washington
society is more Southern than Northern.
We heard a distinguished Southern
Senator make the remark that North
erners coming to Congress imbibe South
ern ideas and ways instead of South
ern Congressman becoming Yankeeized
by a soourn at the Nations capitol.
This IS largely true, Before the war,
Southerners ruled the social world here,
and they do still. The Southern woman
can't be approached by her Northern
sister in those qualities which go into
the makeup of social success. Other
entertainments and functions here have
been much more elaborate and costly
than our Southern ball, but they lacked
the charm of Dixie, and the latter is
spoken of by Northerners as we'll as
Southerners as the social success of the
season
A unique fgurein public life is Sena-
tor VIM. A. Clark, of Montana. He
was born on a farm in Pennsylvania,
worked as farm hand in Iowa, went to
Montana in 1868, where he began his
career as g. miner with pick and shovel,
having toted all his earthly possessions
on his back. He struck it RICH and now
he is the copper king of the world.
counting his wealth by the hundreds OF
millions. Some estimate his wealth at
$500 600 900. but this is problematic. He
is said to have a larger income now than
any other man on earth. Senator Clark
has had stormy political career. He.
, was elected To the Senate in 1890. but 4
; Republican contestant was seated. He
was again elected Senator in 1899, but it
was charged that he secured his cleo
ton by bribery, and he resigned to
escape being turned cut. He was finally
, elected in 1901 and is now serving his
term in peace. Senator Clark had a
great rival in the affections Of the Demo
Gratis of his State in the person Of
Marcus DAILY, at one time his business
partner, and then his bitter enemy until
his death. 1t is said the fight between
these millionaire enemies for control in
the State convention of Montana in 1900
was one of the fiercest ever waged in
American politics. 1t resulted in two
, sets of candidates and contesting dele
cations to Kansas City. When the
Democratic National Convention seated
the Clark delegation, the sucIScs of his
rival broke Days heart and he died,
, which was probably fortunate for the
Democratic party, as Bryan carried
Montana and two Democrats were elect"
ed to the Senate, and this might not
have occurred had Daily lived and kept
up his fight Senator Clark is not only
a member of the Senate himself, but he,
dictated the election of his colleague.
Seator Gibson. They sit side by SIDE
, in the Senate, and it is safe to predict
, that the two Montana votes will be cast
together on all roll calls.
Notwithstanding his great wealth,
Senator Clark is plain man of the peo-
ple-modest, unassuming, approachable.
He is simple in his tastes and temper
ate in his habits. He would make a
great Democratic candidate for Vice
i President in 1904.
A tale of devotion to father and of
fidelity to a promise to dying mother
is told of the beautiful and accomplished
daughter of a Southern Senator, who re-
fused to marry a multi millionaire col
league of her father, because she prom
Used her mother on her deathbed never
to leave her father while he lived, This
is SAID to be true story of the devoted
daughter of one of the leaders on the
! Democratic side of the Senate.
| A pathetic sight is to see Senator Vest
! of Missouri almost carried to his seat
every morning by his son and secretary
! His small form is emaciated and feeble
| but this veteran of many hard fought
battle between the parties in the Senate
! has all his mental faculties unimpaired.
He is still the same strong minded,
ulick-witted Vest that he was in the
eighties and the early nineties, when he
was such a power against the Cleveland
! influence in the Democratic party. Sena-
tor Vest would resign but for what he
conceives to be his duty to his friends
he does not want to precipitate a contest
for the succession until the expiration of
i his term, when it is we'll known that he
will retire. Any other man in his condi-
| ticn would absent himself from the Sem
ate. but Vests sense of duty to the peo-
pie of Missouri who have honored and
/ trusted him so long, Will not permit him
to draw his salary without earning it.
Like the great Calhoun, he is daily al
most carried to his seat. He is the last
surviving member of the Confederate
! Senate.
] Federal election law, the ghost
which has haunted Southern dreams of
peace and development since the war is
again proposed in Congress-, and this
time by Southern men CRepublcans)
Back in the early seventies, q force
bill" was killed by the parliamentary
knowledge of Samuel ]. Randall. backed
by the secret friendly aid of James G
Blaine. then Speaker of the House OF
! Representatives and, again in 1890. the
efforts of the Republican majority. des-
lperatc to perpetuate itself in power, un
der the leadership of Thomas Is. Rcec
and Henry Cabot Lodge, the preseH