White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-13
SENATOR MEWlANDs
STATES GREATEST MAN

iei'us nise ret out TO capture the suD-
port OF the president and watched his
moves with interest. The writer was
perhaps. as close to Mr.. Newlands as
any man IN White Pine county and
throughout the services of Mr.. New
lands In both the senate end house.
which EXTENDED for over twenty years.
watched his movements carefully,
FROM close observation of the Nevada
statesman h writer believes that he
can safely say that Mr.. Newlands
spent five dollars To advance the
cause OF his party for every dollar
mat he spent to secure his own cleo
ton.
One of the first moves made by Mr..
Newlands after his first election to
congress, and n which made him
popular at the national capital, was
The construction of al electric rail
way connecting Washington with
Chevy Chase, a fashionable suburb a
few miles distant. Prior TO securing
a right OF way for the proposed line
he quietly tipped on q number OF his
new converts 10 bimetallism. who
were also close friends OF President
Cleveland. These men were thus en-
abled to buy up a large tract of land
at hat time virtually worthless but
which was sure to become valuable
after the completion OF the trolley
line. A syndicate was formed for the
purchase OF the land and after a right
Of way had been sold TO Mr.. Newlands
the balance of the tract was subdi-
vided and sold by the spectators at
a handsome profit. BY a small in
,estment In the syndicate President
IA u xaA -nAl. 4.
profit of $4,000. but it failed 10
affect his belief against free silver.
Before the construction of the
trolley line Chevy Chase was almost
deserted but the suburb took on new
life after the electric line was placed
in operation. Mr.. Newlands also at
the same time purchased the famous
old Chevy Chase inn and after reno
waiting the property and installing all
modern conveniencas presented IL 10
the Daughters OF the American Rev
olution or some other such patriotic
society. the name not being clear In
The memory of the writer. This ac.
ton. needless to ay. made the Ne
yada congressman one of the most
popular men in the national capital
The popularity OF Mr.. Newlands
was not confined. however, TO the peo-
pie OF the national capital. as he soon
had a large following among mem
bers of the house and in a short time
was able to secure the support of the
solid south in any undertaking he
cared to start. With this support TO
aid him he at once began a battle &c
secure government aid for the irri.
cation and development OF the arid
lands OF the west and the Newiands
reclamation act. probably the most
forward-looking legislation ever en-
acted to aid the west. will always re-
main as q monument TO his ability
and farsightedness as a statesman
While the reclamation act Was in
tended TO benefit the entire west Mr.
Sewlands did not lose sight OF his
W states needs. and OF the first
money appropriated under the act he
secured $4,000. 600 to be expended III
Nevada. this being. l believe. the first
federal money that was eser expend-
ed in aid OF the states development.
The magnetism of Mr.. Sewlands
won the friendship OF Mr.. Roosevelt
when the latter became president.
and Colonel Roosevelt threw all the
weight of his influence behind the
movement of the reclamation OF arid
lands In the west. While Mr.. New
lands Was the father of the idea and
worked increasingly for years 10 see
that the law was placed on the stat
ute books. President Roosevelt has
been given most of the credit when
II came To naming towns, dam sites
and other improvements which were
the outgrowth of the reclamation
work. Thus IL Is that the west Ia
dotted with towns. streets.
aud hotels named after Roosevelt.
while the name of Newlands has been
too little honored. Mr.. Newlands,
however. was not seeking fame as a
result of his efforts. being content
that his work should benefit the
west. which had been his home.
While the writer was in the national
capital in the late Dos the manager
Of the New Willard hotel. where Mr.,
Ncwlands made his home for many
years. remarked that II the Nevada
senator we're from New York or Ohio
he would he the biggest nan In con
Eress. and this about sums up the
general opinion held by many OF the
residents OF the national capital.
Mr.. Newlands, after serving for
ten years in the lower branch OF con
gress. was elected to the senate In
1908 and served continuously there
until his death in December. 1917.
During his service In the upper
branch of congress he came to be
recognized as one OF the foremost
leaders Of the democratic party. a po-
sition he had won by his broad states
manship and far visioning OF the
needs OF the nation. Probably 40
other man In the senate was closer
Ia the confidence OF President Will
SON. who called him to direct much
Of the nations important work In the
early days of the world war. He was
a recognized authority not only On
financial Affairs OF the United States
but was also we'll Informed on all
matters of International import and
was particularly well posted oil the
railroads OF this country.
II was due to this latter knowledge
that he was called on by President
Wilson TO investigate and report on
the feasibility OF the United States
taking over the permanent control