Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-01-06
Plumb Kept Tab on Kansas

would have placed him as a plain
farmer
Again, ingalls, was not especially in.
terested in political patronage, or in
any of the minor political duties with
which senators are so often burdened.
In patronage and the details that it's
distribution brings, Plumb was deeply
interested, and in this connection his
intimate knowledge of his own state
was constantly a source of wonder to
his colleagues, and a good deal Of
mystery. Why" said Senator Frye
of Maine to me, in the autumn of 1884,
Senator Plumb seems to know every
man in the state of Kansas either by
name or sight. And what's more, he
has the entire statistics, as well as
the latest thought, Of the state at his
tongues end. How he does it all l
can't quite comprehend"
A little later I had occasion to call
upon Senator Plumb one evening at
his rooms. When 1 opened the door
and walked in in response to a loud
and hearty summons to enter, l at
first saw no one. But had never be-
fore seen such a collection of news
papers and unbound documents as the
room contained, not even in the office
of a newspaper exchange editor. They
were scattered abouAeverywhere; the
floor was literally carpeted with them,
and they were stacked up in the cor
ners and on shelves placed against the
walls. For a few moments l gazed
about me in silent wonder. Then,
hearing a rustling in AN alcOve of the
room, as Of some one turning over a
newspaper, l walked thither and dis
covered Senator Plumb all but hidden
behind an opened newspaper and dash
| ing through it at breakneck speed,
seemingly taking in an entire column
at single glance of the eye.
well, Senator l said, in my sur
prise, this is somewhat unusual"
He smiled This Is where and how
I keep in touch with my state" he
said. 81 have every newspaper pub
lished in Kansas, daily or weekly, sent
to me here read every one of them
faithfully l do not look at the Asso-
ciated Press reports or at the reprint
matter, but 1 read carefully and fully
the local news, and / am especially
particular to scan the columns con-
tributed by what are called the coun,
try correspondents, who are never SO
happy as when they are telling all
they know about everybody they know
Through them l have come to know
about their neighbors just as much as
they do themselves.
II also read the editorials very care
fully. l am especially careful to read
the editorials of the Democratic pa
pers In this way l am able to keep
abreast of the latest twist in Kansas
thought, just as from the local news
columns and the letters of the coun
try correspondents learn of the lat
est happenings to and views of John
Smith and John Jones.
They say in the senate, I believe
that l know everything worth know
ing about Kansas. Well, l try to learn
all about it that is worth knowing;
and it is only by taking and reading
thoroughly the papers of the state
that have been able to keep in touch
with it. its people and its prevailing
opinions. But it's job. 1t keeps me
busy evening after evening; it turn,
my quarters into an old paper SCRAP
heap" And the Junior senator from
the Sunfiower State looked ruefully a.
the mass Of discarded papers hiding
the carpet completely.
Copyright, 1910, by E J. Edwards. Al
Rights Reserved.)