Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-17

umph a story was circulated that Cleveland
had turned his back on whitney. Many
In the inner circle OF the democratic party
believe that yarn to this daE.
As a matter OF fact Cleveland wrote a
letter TO whitney offering him any place
within his gift either AZ home or abroad"
Whitney couldn't speak OF the letter for
publication, but he showed Il TO German.
whose only reply wasi
II didn't think old Pepperpod had II In
him to write such a letter"
Later on German told the story OF Cleve-
lands ofrer to whitney TO a few OF his
intiInates.
Raymond. Washington correspondent Of
the Chicago Tribune, claims that German
was FIRST to see the probabilities OF sue
cess with Cleveland in 1854 THE Buffalo
sheriff was more or less unknown in 1881
when German began his service in the
United States senate. 1t was the Mary
land senator who hrst and most definitely
recognized in Cleveland the coming demo-
cratic Moses. There were scores of great
men in the democratic party at that time,
any one of whom would have been a re-
putable candidate for the presidency. They
had labored for the party in season and
out OF season, and fairly were entitled
to reoognition-Dave Hill. Allen q. Thur
man, Dan voorhees,, silver Dollar Bland,
General Bragg, Bayard. Carlisle-the
democratic woods we're full Of available
war horses in training for the presidency.
During the preliminary campaign OF 1884
German threw the weight OF his growing
political influence not toward Hin, an old
time New York leader, but TO Cleveland,
a new man. a comparative greenhorn in
politics. Cleveland was nomipated and
German became the chairman OF the
| democratic national committee which
wrought out victory in the face OF the
immense personal popularity Of the plumed
knight himself. II was German above all
| others, perhaps, who found means OF max.
ing use of mugwump opposition In New
| York state, and Il possibly was German
who engineered what frauds there were ir
the Tammany hall ballot boxes in New
York, by means Of which perhaps Cleve.
land achieved the presidency"
A Famous Deh.
Senator German was the star In a re-
markable scene in the senate chamber
| July %, 1894, when he delivered his IA
nous def against President Cleveland. L
| was a speech in defense Of the senat,
amendments to the Wilson tariff bill, which
amendments Cleveland had denounced al
reeklng with ''perhdy and dishonor." witt
amazing frankness, Senator German dis
cussed party secrets, opened the door Il
party caucuses and flashed his search
light into the dark corners OF party his
tory. The president was assailed Will
keenness and vigor by the leader OF hi
party on the floor of the senate. He de
Tended the senate tariff bill and its prepa
ration, and charged that both Mr.. Carlisl
and Mr. Cleveland were not only awar
Of the concessions made in that bill L
procure its passage through the senate, bu
Mr. Carlisle had been consulted at ever
step, and that Mr.. Cleveland had sane
toned all that was done. One by one h
called Senator Vest Senator Jones an
Senator Harris as witnesses to the trut
of his statements. Then, having free
himself from all restraint he told tn
inside history Of the conference over tn
tariff bill His personal attack on th
president was full OF the most sensations
chara cterizat lions. He told how he ha
dared, when other men faltered, to wal
with Cleveland through the filth and slim
OF the campaign of 1884; how he and HI
colleagues had fought for tariff reforl
|
show their heads" how Mr.. CIevelan
had tried to "gibbet the senate before II
eyes OF the country" and said that h
action must be attributed TO "consumiu
vanity'-an action that was echoed b
those who "chirped when they talked"
No Tnint of Graft.
! There have been people and there wi
be people who fan to recognize politi,
ever as a legitimate profession" sa,
! Raymond. '"They have pointed to Il
fact that German died q millionaire, a
though he never had a large salary
his life, as evidence OF constant crooks
a ness But one could hardly talk half I
: hour to the Maryland senator, who
4 the way was one of the most charmiI
o companions have ever met without fes
ing he had distinctly different point
view. He would tell you OF the opportur
, ties for investment which came 10 hi
n not by use OF any illegitlmate informati
n but by his association with men of q
!, fairs and his being on the ground at
a time when II was wise to put a few d.
lars in the particular direction where tn
n were certain to be returned TO him m,
! tiplied He began his work as a page |
a fore the civil war broke out and ne n
been IN public life ever since.
During all that time, although he I
n die millionaire and although he new
p did have a big salary, no one ever chars
n him with direct participation In wick
N gain He held his head high and,
~ though he was a politician by trade fr,
N his childhood there was scarcely a m
N in the Ufl4ted States senate who W
~ personally more respected or more
m loved and there was certainly no q
y whose word unsupported by his bond W,
=, farther"
m