The San Francisco call., 1907-02-24

CFrom an article m Appleton's Msea-
zine for March. Copyrighted. 1907. by
d. Appleton & Coz
G HALL none but miIIfonaires con-
duct the American Government?
#. The people OF this nation are face
20 face with this question right
7ow. The increase OF millionsires in
American public life will. II # con-
tinues at the ratio that has been main
tained for the last decade, soon place
the conduct OF national affairs excIu-
sively IN the hands OF the vastly rich.
while It is now an accepted fact that
none but men OF great fortunes can
represent this republic at the cap
stalls OF other great nations Of 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 q dollar; coaceding 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
-ich public mantle question still is
1or the people is to be conducted solely
bt the wealthy class. The question still
remains whether the American people
are ready deliberately 10 shut out from
the conduct of their Government that
great body Of fine legislative and exec
utive ability constantly developing
among the masses. For, excluding
every other reason. one plain prac-
teal cause is producing this result ard
thar 81 lfff1a fhns4ef7f rxF ar1A Al
dom noticed, is the simple one OF the
eXtravagant cost Of living in Washing
ton.
It was nay rare. good fortune TO be
the seatmate Of Senator Hoar at our
daily luncheon in the Senate restau-
rant Speaking of the extravagsnt
plane TO which living had been raised
IN the nations capital, this great man
said 70 me one day:
When came TO washington I had
accumu y I'd. aRonf 100000 from my
practic9 OF the law III compIete an
other term il VIII practically ali be
gone II has besn used up. in addition
70 my Senatorial salary. in the common
expense OF daily living
Menace Of Life in Washington
And yet it was well known that
this most learned as well as one Of the
most useful of men in American public
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 Washing
ton hostelries. He seldom IL ever gave
& dinner. seldom IL ever ~entertafned'
. in any way, seldom IL ever made cam
lpaign contributions. 1t was plain liv-
kg and high thinking with Senator
Eoar from start to last. He rode to
the Capitol in the street cars, and once
Tebuked the extravaganza OF a fellow
Senator because he paid single fares in
stead Of buying tickets. Nevertheless,
this splendid specimen OF American
ststesmsnship, whom the whole nation
loved and honored and whom his State
most properly adored, found himself
in his old age without the money he
had earned before he went into public
life and without a cent of the salary that
had been paid to him during his thirty
years of invaluable public service.
Another example: 1 was Ia 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 watched the
contest Late one evening q certain
critical situation developed. requiring
active warfare on the floor the next day
Of one Of the purest, most courageous
and effective American Senator's man
greatly beloved in hts own State, com
Ynandfng the confidence OF the Senate
and the President; man, in short
whose whole life in the service Of his
country makes his career one upon
which the nation may well look with
pride and admiration.
I happened 70 be connected wsth that
fight. He had no telephone in his
house. and so ] took a common street
cab. which cost me only 70 cents. to
take me to the out OF the way part OF
the city where this really great man
lived. II was a bitterly cold night
such as we rarely see In Washington.
on the way we passed carriage mag
nidcent and yet elegant IN its sumptu-
Gus but subdued richness. II was
drawn by two splendid horses and two
extensively attired men sat on the box
rrilis imposing array was carrying q
certain public man TO some gorgeous
entertainments. Yet the Senator whom
= was going to see was worth, fn HE
practical value to the American peo-
nle. many men like the Midas In his
opulent euuipage.
Arriving at the home OF this noble
.,d devoted public servant. / found
a. gn part Of the city where rents
ere cheapest II was very plain II
was clear that most of his money had
,,aer snerf on books. The sharp cold
OF the swapping winter night height
ened the absence of luxuries In this
t5eaI Americans washington home. In
q moment he came In The crisis OF
the next day and the advisabiiity OF
lis xneaking at the beginning OF the
,,,o,rovu's debate were laid before him.
rrSsre was not an instants hesitation
in HIS answer.
.Verv we'll" he said: 7 agree with
~ou and VIII be prepared
Il was the direct self.sscrificins s... 10 ling
spirit of the Spartan. or OF some or our
ov-r Americans IN our heroic periods.
And vet l happened personally TO know
that he himself was CARRYING the bur
den OF one OF the great legislative
esstxs ~ fhe session: that for many
nights he had been working until far
inso the morning hours on the duties duties
IN ediately before him, and finally
~ fhe critical moment in the affairs
81 which he had charge was almost at
hand. But he assumed the aooi.ional
labor which kept him in his library
nearly ali that night in obeoicnce 70
his sense OF duty 10 the welfare OF the