The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-06-09
GoRMAN A TYPE.

The late Senator German was a
type of politician that is by no means
SO common now as twenty years ago.
He belonged to the old school of poll
ticians who looked upon party organi-
cation chiefly as a means by which lead
ers attained to Office In that class of
politicians German was decided sue
cess. He was shrewd and successful
manipulation. He knew from beginning
to end the means by which party or
CARNATIONS were able to deceive the vo-
tiers. AS a boy he was a page in the
United States Senate. He commenced
to learn his politics at an early age and
at the very top of the ladder AS a
manager of a caucus, the director and
leader of convention or the manager
OF campaign he was a decided sue
cess, but he never became statesman,
because he never learned to lead peo-
pie by open and direct means When
the Democrats were in the minority in
the United States Senate Conan was
great success at blocking his oppon-
ents. His greatest achievement ger
haps was his success in defeating the
Force Bill. When the Democrats
gained control of the United States
Senate in Clevelands second admins
tration German did not show to such
great advantage. The reason is not
hard to find. A minority party is chief
ly occupied with opposing what the
majority proposes. In that capacity
German was an adept. But when
party is in the majority it is charged
with the responsibility of initiating new
things. 1t has the affirmative of cues
tions to uphold and defend. In that
capacity German signally failed. 1t will
be remembered that he was RESPONSE
Bile for so emasculating the Wilson
Tariff Bill that President Cleveland re-
fused to sign it. Soon afterwards Cor
man was defeated for the United States
Senate, and it was thought that his
politfca; career had ended He sur
vived the Bryan campaign success
fully to return to the Senate in 1903
and was chosen leader of the Demo-
cratic minority. 1t was then expected
that German would show his old time
shrewdness as q minority leader but
that expectation was not realized.
Times had changed. The methods that
German was accustomed to were no
longer potent. New forces and new
opinions were asserting themselves.
The fever of reform had seized even
upon the Senate and the instinct of in
dependence was prevalent The Demo-
cratic minority was torn into a dozen
factions and German found that he
was powerless by his old methods to
bring them together.
He was q pleasant, genial man and
his personal qualities made him great
favorite with his colleagues in the Sem
ate. No doubt there will be more uni
versal sorrow in the United States Sem
ate over his death than there has been
for long time. 1t is probable that no
other member was personally so well
liked as the senior senator from Mary
land. He was a parliamentarian of
consummate skill and his dexterity at
political chess playing had become pro-
verbal. He never seemed to grasp the
trend of public sentiment. He was
able to take partisan advantage of the
mistakes of his opponents. On the
other hand his influence was at times
great factor for public good. Perhaps
his greatest achievement was his sue
cessful fight against the Force Bill.
quite grasped the trend of affairs it is
also true that he was never carried
away by public clamor or excite
nent He was always cool and tenn
perate in action and in speech. At the
time. of his death, he was the oldest ac-
tive leader in Democratic politics but
he died at time when he was out of
tune with his party and with public
sentiment. His long service, during
most of which time he was an acknowl-
edged leader In the party organization,
has earned for him lasting place in
history.
A member of the New York assem-
bly, elected on the Hearst ticket last