Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-26

the American government? The peo-
pie Of this nation are face to face with
this question right now. The increase
of miilionaires in American public life
will, if it continues at the ratio that
has been maintained for the past de-
cade, soon place the conduct of ma
tional affairs exclusively in the hands
of the vastly rich; while it is now an
accepted fact that none but men of
great fortunes can represent this re-
public at the capitals of other great
nations today.
Supposing that the ever-swelling
number of the greatly rich, who are
now crowding into American public
life, get their Offices without improper
use OF dollar; conceding that they
are able, patriotic, and would run the
government we'll; agreeing that every.
thing good that could be said of any
public man could also be said OF the
rich public mantle question still IS
whether this government of, by and
for the people is to be conducted solely
by the wealthy class. The question
still remains whether the American
people are ready deliberately to shut
out from the conduct of their govern
ment that great body of fine, legisla-
tive, and executive ability constantly
developing among the masses. For,
excluding every other reason, one
plain practical cause is producing this
result; and that cause, SO little
thought of and seldom noticed, is the
simple one of the extravagant cost OF
living in Washington.
he 1t was my rare good fortune, to be
the seatmate of Senator Hoar at our
daily luncheon in the senate restaur-
ant. Speaking of the extravagant
plane to which living had been raised
in the nations capital, this great man
said to me one day:
esWhen came to Washington had
accumulated about a hundred thousand
dollars from my practice OF the law.
ne I complete another term, 1t will
practically all be gone. It has been
used up, in addition to my senatorial
salary, in the common expenses OF
daily living. 5ss
And yet it was well known that
this most learned as we'll as one OF
the most useful of men in American
pubIc life lived in extreme simplicity.
He and his wife occupied two rooms
IN a modest hotel whose prices are
very far below those of the great
Washington obstetrics. He seldom if
ever gave dinner seldom II ever
entertained \ in ansssts seldom il
ever made campaig n contributions. It
was .splain living and high thinking
with Senator Hoar from start to last.
He rode to the capitol in the street
cars and once rebuked the extraya,
gance Of fellow-senator because ne ne
paid single fares instead OF buying
tickets. Nevertheless this splendid
specimen of American craftsmanship,
whom the whole nation loved and hon
ored. and whom his state most prop
erly adored, found himself in his old
age Without the money he had earned
before he went into public life and
without cent of the salary that had
been paid to him during his thirty
years OF invaluable public service. 81
Another example: 1t was in the very
thick Of one Of those desperate strug
giles in the senate some three years
ago. which was so fierce that the
whole country from day to day watch
ed the contest. Late one evening q
certain critical situation developed re
quiring active warfare, on the fooI
Z the next day, of one Of the purest
most courageous, and effective Ameri.
can senators "a man greatly beloved
\ in his own state, commanding the con
n fidence of the senate and the presi,
Y dent; manTin short whose whole life
in the service Of his country makes
Il 1l1S 7S6tIGCItSOiS upOll 1hiSn stAAS AAeSSAoh
may Weel look with pride and admira
4 ton
ssf / happened to be connected with
d that fight. He had no telephone in his
house: and so i took, a common street
cab, which cost me only seventy-ive
b cents, to take me to the -the-was
part Of the city where this really great
4 man lived. 1t was a bitterly cold
night, such as we rarely see in Wash
ington. On the way we passed a car
rage magnificent and vet elegant il
4 its sumptuous but subdued richness. 4
( was drawn by two splendid horses;
Z and two expensively attired men sal
( on the box. This imposing array Was
carrying certain public man to some
/ gorgeous entertainm ent. Yet the sen
ator whom i was going to see was
worth, in his practical value to the
American people, many men like the
Midas in his opulent equipage.
Arriving at the home Of this noble