Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-23
La Toilette and Senator Sawyer


time before learned how thoroughly
all these interests worked together
each serving the other.
/ lt was In my second term that
/ crossed the trail Of the national or
Eanixations Of both parties meddline
In legislation for corporate interests
In the session before the presidential
campaign Of 1888 an effort was made
to pass the Nicaraguan canal bill. Con-
gresham HarEen and had been ac-
tive in opposing this bill. One day we
received an invitation to visit Senator
Sawyer In his committee room at the
senate end Of tho capitol and did so
When we arrived we found Senator
Sawyer and the famous Colonel Will
liam w. Dudley alone together. Dudley
was chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the national republican COM
mittee. He was a most genial man
personally, a brave soldier Of the civil
war, who left leg at Gettysburg. But
lie was an old school politician-and
practical. 1t was in the following
campaign that the colonel acquired the
title Of Blocks Of five Dudley" thru
the publication Of letter to an Indiana
follower giving minute instructions as
to how voters should he rounded up,
watched by faithful lieutenants and
voted in blocks Of five.''
When we entered the room Sawyer
said:
II have called you boys over here to
talk with you about the Nicaragua
canal bill. hear you are ag'in' it.
Now that bill is all right, and ought to
pass. Dudley here knows all about it.
I YA,,S S>NS ~
Colonel Dudley argued that it was
very essential that the measure then
on the house calendar should pass be-
! fore the adjournment Of the session.
Not meeting with any favorable re-
Spouse from Haugen and myself. he
finally appealed to us In the interests
OF the republican party, and stated
that if the bill was permitted to pass
before the adjournment OF congress.
the parties interested in the canal
would contribute 100000 to the repub-
lican campaign fund. Having under
stood that Phil Thompson. prominent
democrat ard ex-rep1 sentative who
had the privilege of the floor, was ac-
tive in behalf OF the same measure. ]
asked Dudley what the democrats ex-
pected If the bill passed, and he frank
liar amount contributed to the demo-
cratic national com rnittee. tokinglE
suggested that II the democrats were
to receive like contribution. one
would offset the other. Dudley replied
in the same vein. that republicans had
a lot more sense than democrats in
spending their campaign funds, and
then proceeded seriously to explain
&1o hwy o.
rrblicans hoped to carry Delaware:
that in Delaware at that time only
persons owning real estate could vote,
and that it was proposed to use this
fund or part Of the fund to buy a
tract Of swamp land, and parcel it out
among the laboring men so as to quail
~ them as voters. We stated that 1t
was n matter OF principle with US. and
that we should not withdraw our OPP
position to the bill.
The bill did not pass at that session.
1t did pass with some amendments in
1889.
A striking incident which occurred
near the end of my service in congress.
wildly illustrated the relationship be-
tween private interests in various
parts of the country in seeking legisla-
ton for special privilege.
4 ship subsidy bill was pending in
the house, 80 sweeping in its provis-
ions. that one OF its opponents some
w7et extrava eantlv said, 1t would sub
sidize every fishing smack in New
ENGLAND waters. It was fragrant eff
fort on the part Of private interests to
get into the public treasury The demo-
cra.s were generally opposed to the
measure. The republicans we're then
in control Of the house and generally
supported it. was opposed to it be-
cause It granted privilege to private
interests. Therefore began to can
vass among my republican friends to
see II could not persuade enough OF
them to join in voting with the demo-
Gratis to defeat the bill These first
tests Of strength came few days be-
fore the close OF the session, about 2
O'Clock in the morning. Enough re-
puhlicans voted with the democrats to
defeat it bv n narrow margin of five
votes. While the clerk recapitulates
the roll call on a close vote. effort is
often made to get enough members to
change their votes to reverse the re-
suit. There was great busting about
bv the lie" ding supporters Of the meas
ure. seeking ont members who might
be induced 70 change their votes. saw
what was afoot. Myron McCord was a
republican member. Of the Wisconsin
delegation. with whom I had discussed
the measure and who had voted
agai inst the bill. Suddenly I saw a
group Of members com ing out of the
cloak room, urging. almost pushing
McCord down the aisle He called out.
"Mr. Speaker-Mr. Speaker" Obvious
emit,