Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-20
Washington Topics
Edgar c. Snyder,
The Ree,a Special Washington Correspondent.

The Bees Special Washington Correspondent.
Congressman hereabouts find the vote for
Hughes in Nebraska one OF the liyeliest subjects
for conversation in cloak rooms, in lobbes and in
their offices. They cannot help but talk about the
popular demand shown by sixteen thousand voters
in Nebraska taking the pains to write in Justice
Hughes name on their ballots When that SEN
tment is considered, an interesting situation
arises, for members Of congress have their ears
10 the ground probably much more largely than
any other class OF politicians They do not hes
itate TO say that the handsome vote which Justice
Hughes received in Nebraska is liable 10 assist
materially the delegates from that state in shap-
ing the presidential nomination. The outcome Of
the convention next month in Chicago viii be
watched with more intense interest throughout
the United States than usual for in all my expe
rience as a Washington correspondent ! have
never heard OF so many people planning 10 go to
a national convention as TO Chicago this year and
they are looking forward to one Of the most in
teresting and one Of the most far-reaehng con-
ventions in the history Of the United States,
What lonesome figure Cyclone" Davis is
cutting in the halls Of congressl You recall how
the stage was set one day in the early winter for
speech by this antique character lie was
granted an hours time and, for the first twenty
minutes, was novelty because Of the manner in
which he approached and developed his diatribe
but, after that time, platitudes, sophstry and
demagogy took the place OF dispassionate reason
ing and Cyclone" Davis sun had set Ee made
the same speech that had been heard on the
plains Of Nebraska and Kansas quarter Of
century ago He had not advanced with the ad-
yancement OF the nation 1t was the same old
criticism, made in the same old way that was
heard when the populist party was sweeping the
prairies like a FIRE and now, as he sits in the
lobby OF the house OF representatives, he is found
reminiscing and living wholly in the past. What
a sorry figure would other representatives Of the
pop" party Of other days cut in these stressfu
times.
During the course Of conversation with
Representative Sloan Of Nebraska the talk
drifted to the rather phenomenal character Of
Parker Willis, formerly an economic writer for
New York newspaper, later attached to the
Department OF Agriculture, still later secretary
Of the federal reserve board and now president
OF branch reserve bank, being organized in
the Philippines under the direction Of the federal
board.
Parker Willis shows in his life the power Of
concentration. When the democratic party met
in Baltimore among other panks the party was
pledged TO revise the currency According to
prominent New York banker, President Wilson
was an early supporter Of the Adrich-Vreelan1
currency bill, but il was found necessary to
change that measure, and its accomplishment
reads like a romance.
II appears that there was no man in CON
gress Just exactly fitted to revise the Aldrich-
Vreeand bill without changing the spirit, and
in casting about for man to do the work the
president became impressed with the ability Of
Parker Willis who had been writing upon eco.
nomic subjects for the New York Commercial
Advertiser, and he was selected TO perform the
surgical operation, with the result that bill
presented To congress the similarity between the
Aldrich-Vreeland bill and the present law being
specifically concealed and for that bit OF expert
surgery Parker Willis drew S4Sl700 out of the
contingent funds of the house. No democratic
congressman was ever permitted to draw any
thing like such out Of the Golfers of the
house for the performance OF clerical services.
When the reserve board was being organ
lied Parker Willis loomed large upon the hori-
zon as an expert mechanician and he was made
secretary. After the organization OF the board
successful had been his powers OF ingratation
that the board decided to create a branch bank
in the Philippines and they made Mr. Parker
Willis lis president at prncely salary
This story might be easily called "The Rise
OF Parker Willis"
"Straws indicate the direction OF the wind
is an old-fashoncd saying, very much to the
point in the recent second West Virginia by
ground, is the old district which sent William L.
Wilson, the father Of the Wilson tariff bill of
1892 to congress Since that time IT has altet-
mated from democratic to republican and vice
versa.
In the democratic landslide OF 1910 the late
William g. Brown, jr., was elected and twice re-
elected to congress, his death in the early spring
necessitatng the election of his successor for
the remainder Of the sixty-ourth congress This
district contains plains, valleys and mountains
rich in agriculture we'll supplied with timber,
highly endowed with mines aud in some OF the
larger towns there are modest industries pur.
sued. so that every phase OF American tie is
presented in this West Virginia congressional
riding
With the death OF Representative Brown an
election was called and the strongest democrat
IN the district was nominated, George Bowers
former commissioners OF hsherits in the TAFT adj
mnistration, who had been defeated by Repre-
sentative Brown IN the campaign OF 1914 was
selected as the republican standard bearer Mr.
Bowers was not especially strong or especially
popular. but the tariff question became the prom.
insnt subject ior debate between the followers
ol democracy and The grand old PARTY" The
democrats flooded the district with cabinet ot.
Hccrs senator's Representatives and local ora
tors and . special appeal vas made 10 elect Mf
Woods ihE democratic candidate. who was de-