Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-24
WILLIAM E. CHANDLER.

William E. Chandler, Chairman Of
the Spanish claims commission, who
acted as intermediary between Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the democratic
senators in the railroad rate contro-
versy, and who ended up by throwing
the senate into turmoil and accusing
the President Of breaking his promises
has had an interesting and stormy ca
reer In the senate of the United States
where he is said to have been dis
turbing element all the time he was a
member Of that body In 1901 he fail
ed to be reelected to the senate by
the New Hampshire legislature and
upon his retirement was appointed
chairman Of the Spanish claims COM
mission by Roosevelt. One newspaper
correspondent speaks of Chandler as
follows:
The human wasp was the title
the senate bestowed upon Chandler
and well he deserved the name. He is
a stormy petrol of politics. Born in
a cyclone he has never ceased to re-
volve,' Numbered David B. Hill on one
momentous occasion defining and de-
nouncing Chandler This outburst
came after Chandler had driven the
usually imperturbable Hill into fit Of
passion approaching the apoplectic.
Chandler seems to take an impish
delight In creating trouble and once he
has set the trouble going he quietly
slips out from the vortex and with dia-
bolic glee watches the frantic strug-
giles of those he has precipitated into
row.
''The whole life of Chandler has been
tumultuous. When Garfield appointed
him solicitor general he had feud on
with congress and had his name re.
jected. Arthur made him secretary of
the navy and he served there until
elected senator in 1887. He served
continuously in the senate until 1901.
There has never been time since he
entered public life that he has not
been embroiled, with the possible ex-
ception of the last four years during
which time he has served on the Span
ish claims commission. That quaint
and slumberous body housed in an an
tique brick headquarters on sleepy
thoroughfare induces serenity and acts
as a deterrent to activity.
"A favorite scheme of Chandler in
his senatorial day was to foment trou-
BILE in that body. He would stand by
the entrance to the senate floor and
listen to the droning procedure. His
eyes would dance with impish mis-
chief and suddenly he would dart in
and ask a question or two. He had
the Instincts Of scavenger. He knew
where the sore spots were. He could
find a wound and tear it open and
start it to bleeding afresh with uner-
ring instinct. Once he had precipitat-
red row and had half dozen senators
wrangling and fighting like wild cats
he would quietly slip out and from
the side watch the struggle go on.
When it was all over the senators
stopped to think what it was all about
and look for the cause Chandler would
be nowhere to be found. @
I'm David B. Hill, however, he met
his match. He made repeated gueril-
Ia attacks on Hill and used to madden
that eminent New York statesman be-
yond control. One day Hill arose in
his seat and he opened on Chandler
horse, foot and dragon. His anger
was cyclonic. his invective vitrolic and
his denunciation scathing. He pilloried
Chandler mercilessly and when the
storm cleared away Hill had Chan
dler's scalp at his belt and his hide
nailed on the senate door. Chandler
left Hill alone after that, and it was
noticed that he was not SO keen in go
Ing after other senators.
1T is peculiar fact that Chandler
and Tillman, today the warmest pos
sible friends, at the outset were nearly
numbering each other on various occa-
sions. When Tillman came to the SEN!
ate at first he was like wild animal.
and waspish little Chandler used to