The Washington herald., 1914-06-28
TANGO M|NGLES
WITHPOLITICS
Politicians Hold Informal P6w-
WOW on Waldorf Roof
Garden.
HAMMOND ON ALL LIPS
Victor in Minnesota Gubernatorial
Primaries Favorite with Demo-
cratic Gophers in Gotham.
HAMMOND ON ALL LIPS
ny FRANCIS n. GEssNER.

ny FRANCIS n. GESsNER.
Special to The Washington Herald.
New York. June 27.-It is far cry fror
the Waldorf ROOT, garden to the prairie
of Minnesota now golden with ripenin
grain. but the Gopher State was give
gracious attention by the evening grou
of wise men gathered high up these heat
ed nights of the week, where the tang
thrills and the highball oft Invites. Tw
one-time residents of the State were i
the group, and two Congressman, includ
ing the iDmaculate Levy, and the Con
gressionsl contingent was responsible 70
bringing Minnesota to the fore as a topic
All this because of the interest in tn
campaign of the Hon. Winfield Scot
Hammond for governor, and the closenes
of the contest had given some anxiety q
his colleagues at Washington.
Word came to New York early in tn,
week that Hammond had won out anC
there was joy in consequence. No pre-
dictions were made as to the outcom,
in November, but the unfailing habit o.
Hammond to win is not forgotten, ant
the evening circle felt confident that h,
would come across as usual even IL thii
is not counted g. very good year fol
Democrats.
He Made No Fuss.
1t was recalled that Hammond has beer
carrying a normally Republican district
in Minnesota for several years and max.
ing no fuss about it. He first defeated his
personal friend. the Hon. ]. T. McCleary
who failed to bend when his constituents
had a spell of tariff revision fever. Nc
Cleary was the standpattest Of all stand
4. H.,
trine of platforms dictated by the other
great standpatter. William Mckinley.
The unbending of McCleary was his pO-
Iitical undoing in two campaigns and he
gave up the fight, also left the State TO
take up business here in New York.
He never cherished any resentment
against Hammond and they continue per-
sonaI friends today, with McCleary glad
of the Hammond victory in the entire
State. During his several terms in the
House Hammond has quietly kept coming
to the front and to leadership, simply by
much and saying little, also say
ing discreetly when his words would have
weight The result his been his steady
going up to high places in Democratic
and he is No. on the Ways and
Means Committee with the names of
seven amiable and ambitious Democrats
below the Hammond name on the list.
Just why Hammond, at the height OF
his Congressional career, should prefer
the uncertainty. of the governorship am
bition was not explained by his Demo-
cratic admirers on the roof garden last
night, but a Republican suggested Ham
mond. as a man of excellent judgment
could see himself about number twenty
one on the Ways and Means Committee
in the next House. when Serene Payne
he hai and Claude Rffrhar
at the head of the minority list. thanks
to the Underwood election as Senator
Only seven Democrats will be accorded
places on Ways and Means under Re
publican rule.
May Barely slip In.
Hammond, coming back to the House,
would barely slip in as one of the seven.
The Democratic members OF the Waldorf
group resented the Republican prediction
and sarcasm with some pungent para
graphs permissible on roof gardens when
the night is hot, and the Democratic
5ophers in the party finally expressed
confidence in the election of Hammond.
thanks to continued factional troubles
among Minnesota Republicans-another
way of saying that Minnesota is really a
Republican State and would get right
lgain when 1t came to the little formality
# giving a majority to Republican Presi-
lential electors two years hence.
However, the Hon. Winfield Scott
hammond would have felt very well con-
ent with life and his standing among his
ellowmen had he heard the good things
aid about him and his career in Con-
Iress by both Republicans and Demo-
rats high In air and serene in their good
opinion on their own political wisdom.
4aI -
Unfamiliar with politics and Washington,
sked about Hammond's personal side
nd learned that he was as mild a man.
ered man as ever made the mistake Of
eing Democrat in a Republican State |
indeed the sarcastic Republican OF the
roup. also a native gopher. inisted that
ad Hammond, going from New England |
o Minnesota, cast his lot with the Re-
ublican organization he would have
Eon much higher honors long before |
his, thanks to his level head and splen- |
i'd poise-
Hammond Is Single.
As Democrat he simply took advan-
age Of an era in Gopher politics when |
he Republicans went wrong for a spell,
epenting later. 1t was told too that
hammond, a single man. lives modestly
nough in Washington at the University
lub and for a long time lived at the1
'ewey. He has passed the fifty mark
nd never gives any sign of worry or
being in a hurry. Referring again
} Mr.. Hammond's modesty It was re-
larked that few Of his Democratic or
epublican associates in Congress knew
lat he was making the campaign for
overnor out home. This is not another
,ay of saying that he was not missed
-om the Congressional circle, but he had
ardly mentioned his ambition and in
sntions to fellow-members on the Ways
nd Means Committee or to his friends
the evening circle at the club. He
ent quietly to the head waters of the
Mississippi and began operations with
ut any flourish.
If he finds himself a priyate citizan
fter March he can find fault only
18th w. s. Hammond as his district
romised TO keep him in Congress as
'ng as he cared to stay.
As TO Dawes Brothers.
The name OF Dawes has not been fire.
tent in the headlines OF late or in the
sending story of politics, but a little
'er dozen years ago Charles Gates
awes was the most powerful figure in
Iashington. next to William Mckinney
mself, and no less powerful in the ma
onal Republican organization even II
ark Hanna was chairman.
The after dinner conferences Of Dawes
ID the President in the liying-room of
e White House. had more TO do with
e politics of the administration than all
e operators of the national chairman,
ID all the members of his committee. |
anna could perform much better than
M the N-oo hx, |