The Washington herald., 1912-12-05
ny THE EX-SENATOR.

The Postmaster Generals campaign
against numerous individuals charged
with using the mails for Illicit purposes
recalls to my mind the action Congress
took in 1880 TO squelch the Louisiana lot
terry.
! One OF the central figures in that fight
was Philetus Sawyer. a Senator from
Wisconsin. although until now the story
Of the part that he took in It has never
been told.
! Senator Sawyer was unique character.
He was first sent to the Senate in 1881.
His opponent was f. f. Reyes. generally
known as Boss Keyes. for many years
potent political force in the Badger
| State. He outgeneraled old Sawlogs'
| in making adherents in the Legislature.
Keyes had the machine and knew
| how to operate it. And although his
| financial resources were very limited. he
got a majority of the legislators. but
| failed to hold them in the wind-up and
! Sawyer was chosen. There were serious
charges made as to the use of money.
but in those days such things were con-
doned and then forgotten.
| 1t was ten years later that I met SEN
ator Sawyer again. while he was serving
his second term. His seat was directly
in front Of mine. Sawyer always wore
| a short coat. the tail OF which swept
the top OF my desk as he passed between
| il and the desk OF Senator Stanford Of
! California. who sat on my left. In
| variably. when Sawyer pushed his pudgy
| body through the narrow space between
the seats. passing to or coming from his
own. the papers or other articles on the
two desks went to the floor. greatly to
! the ANNOYANCE of Stanford One day
| the latter blurted out:
Sawyer. why in Sam Hill don't you
| take OF your coat. the way you used to
in YOUR sawnhnl?"
| I'D like to. replied Sawyer. Its the
| only way man can work in comfort.
I don't like this damn place on that ac-
COunt-too much STYLE"
The two millionaire Senators were old
| men. and frequently fell asleep in their
seats. I was supposed to wake them up.
Sawyer was industrious and method
ical. He was chairman of the Committee
on Pensions. and did a great amount OF
work.
He believed in giving every old soldier
enough money to live on. and the num-
Der of private pension bills he reported
was prOdigious.
Whether he gained his seat in the SEN
ate by the corrupt use of money is
matter about which there were two opin-
ions. Certain il is that he was careful
OF his integrity while he was a Senator.
for on the occasion 10 which have
referred he could have taken a sum close
up TO the million mark by changing
single word or even a punctuation point
In the anti-lottery bill.
As a member of the House. in 1890.
had secured the passage of a bill deny
ing the use Of the mails to the Louis
lana Lottery Company. which was then
seeking to establish itself in Western
State.
When the bill reached the Senate it
was referred to the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads. OF which Sawyer
was a member. He had charge or the
bill. and while it was in his hands an
old friend and sChoolmate called at his
big Bayfield, stone house in Connecticut
Avenue. After an exchange OF friendly
remarks. the visitor said:
Senator you and I have known each
other a great many years. and l want
you to help me. You have charge OF the
anti-lottery bill. ! want You 20 send l.
to conference. The change OF WORD.
the striking out or putting in of comma
by your committee or the Senate. will be
all that is necessary. Won't you do 1t.
for an old friend
And why should it go to conference?
asked Sawyer.
TT will be worth $4,000 to US. Senator.
and ! need the money.
Sawyer looked at his old-time friend
for a moment, and then he replied: Il
thought you knew me too well. sir. to
come here on any such GRAND. | must
ask you to leave my house at once and
never come into il again.
The next day the bill was reported to
the Senate by Matt Quay at Sawyer's re-
quest in the exact form in which 1t had
passed the House, and with the further