The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-02-07
lust after the election of David
B. Hill to the United States
- Senate there appeared a car

- II
~ Senate there appeared car
toon in a New York paper
which, because of the faithful CO.
gency with which it mirrored gener-
al opinion, attracted wide attention.
The central figure was "Governor
David B. Hill Of New York, (which
position he held at that time-an
imposing figure seated in the guber-
material chair, which was easily and
comfortable filed thereby. Down
in the right hand corner was pitt
ful pigmy clutching the arms of a
huge chair under which was the
comment, "Senator David B. Hill
of the United States"
Hill the adroit and, if need be,
illegal manipulation of votes; Hill
the crafty steersman for party and
personal measures; Hill the machine
politician; Hill, some few grades
above the ward heeler in finer in
telligence and ability, and on par
50 far as purity of motive was in
volved; Hill the supposed consort
of the lantern'jawed, plug hated,
bull necked alderman and boss;
Hill of whom it was told that the
gubernatorial residence at Albany
was so befouled and besotted by
midnight orgies after his retirement
that the wife of his successor would
not move her belongings into it un-
til it was renovated and fumigated-
this was the Hill formed by popular
conception previous to his Washing
ton advent. Mind you, popular
conception; for some there were
who knew the man and therefore
better-Tom Reed among them
for the ..infamous Gear rules were
Of Hill's framing while in Albany.
But the great New York City press
had for years served to put before
millions, with the malignant men
daclty of yellow journalism, this
distorted picture of the man, owing
to the fact that with single and
not powerful exception the Demo-
cratic papers were for Tammany
and therefore as inimical as the Re-
publican organs. Iventure no man
ever assumed the Senatorial toga in
Washington whom So deep seated,
wide spread and i'll judged prejudice
preceded.
He entered the councils and was
by ancient and lnvioliable right ad-
mitted to the courtesies and social
prerogatives of "thc finest, greatest
club in the world" Then followed
startling discoveries. His private
habits put to shame the wine bib
bers and late-hour jewellers and
"members with influence for lady
clerks" of which there are not a
few in the Senate. He was simple
to austerity-neither drank, smok-
ed, chewed, swofe, nor smacked
gourmet lips over "Terrapin Tom"
Murray's feasts. His poise was
easy, refined, dignifed; his manner,
usually contained and elevated,
could bend to Chesterheldian suav-
ity. His is fine figure and face
of power. While not openly averse
to the society of women it was pres
emily known that he was slngularly
proof against the Establishments of
the attractive young lady seeking an
easy and lucrative government berth,
as we'll as the subtler seductiveness
of the higher-sphered feminine wire
puller.
He was presently quoted here and
there with pregnant utterance; he
began to be sought as a minor
power in the subterranean workings.
He did it quietly; for, following the
ancient law, he must blde certain
time before bidding for popular au-
dience from the floor. Then came
his coup d'etaf. Nobody knows just
how it came about, but be was made
chairman of the judiciary commit
tee, an almost unprecedentedly rapid
attainment.
The Cleveland Hill feud had been
bitter in New York. 1t arose when
Cleveland was Governor and Hill
Lieutenant Governor. Two such
personalities must needs clash, for
Cleveland has determination to