Bismarck Weekly Tribune

WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

Editor Jewell Writes the Usual Interesting and Gossipy Letter From Washington.

Democrats Helpless With the Load of National Government on Their Backs,

Senator Bidlake Awaiting His Appointment as Consul at Barranquilla.

Joe Hare and Andy Blewett In a Friendly Race For Surveyor Generalship.

Captain Braithwaite Watching P's and Q's for a Land Office Appointment.

Myron Hutchinson Seems to be in the Lead in the Matter of Indorsements.

An Exceptionally Mild Winter In Washington-Notes of Foli-tics and Local Life.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-[Special]-The passage of the Wilson tariff bill in the house, and the discussion of the Hawaiian question combined to make the week just passed the most exciting and interesting since the advent of the present administration. The passage of the tariff bill was made the occasion of a great demonstration by a few democrats in the house, but on the outside there is not so much enthusiasm. The election of last fall, and the more recent one in a Tammany stronghold in New York city, wherein Editor Quigg was elected to congress over his democratic adversary, has taken about all the hilarity out of the democratic party, and there is very little crowing on the back seat, so to speak. Coupled with this, is the unpopularity of President Cleveland with the "spoils" wing of his party-by all odds the largest and most formidable portion of it. Unquestionably, the Wilson bill will pass the senate practically as it finally passed the house-income tax and all-and possibly with a free silver rider. Washington just now is comfortably well filled with place-hunters, and it is really amusing to listen to the reasoning of these individuals, and the open frankness with which they confess the weakness of democratic power. Such remarks-one democrat to another-as, "well, we'd better fix ourselves now, for we're not likely to be in it again soon," are so frequently, naturally and honestly made, as to cause little attention or comment. The downright stupidity of the aggregation now in control in congress, and actuating the party everywhere, is a simple index to the utter helplessness and hopelessness of democracy.

I find the south decidedly in the saddle here but not at all pleased with Cleveland. "If we only had a president made of the right kind of stuff," say they "we'd soon revolutionize this government-repeal the robber tariff and curtail the pension thieving." The president is not making appointments fast enough to suit them either, and many democrats openly charge him with holding up appointments awaiting action of congress on matters affecting the policy of the administration as outlined and prefaced by Grover.

Speaking about offices' reminds me that Senator Bidlake is now in the city awaiting his appointment, promised him in person, he says, by Cleveland some months ago. He is booked for the place made vacant-and still vacant--by Johnson Nickeus. Senator Roach went with Bidlake to the president yesterday, with what result I haven't heard. Bidlake says his papers have been made out for a long time and all that is necessary is to take 'em up. He says Cleveland's pigeon-holed desk is full of such cases, but for some reason the president is slow. Jim Brooke, who is scheduled for the Grand Forks land office, is in the same fix. The papers are in-only awaiting the "pleasure" of the president. Senator Roach has become quite impatient, like many other senators who are trying to deal out the "spoils," and says the delays are not only vexatious but positively damaging to the democrats. The workers--the fellows who get out and cause results in party fights--are becoming disgusted. Some say the delays are not so bad as the uncertainty as to who will finally get the offices-loyal, dyed-in-the-wool democrats or republican renegades like Cleveland's right hand man, Secretary Gresham, Wayne MacVeagh and the like. Col. Bidlake tells me the Barranquilla mission is a good one, barring the climate, and that Nickeus made a lot of money out of it-sent his children abroad to be educated, gathered together from $6,000 to $11,000 is now able to go to California to spend the winter-all on account of Barranquilla. It is only a question of time. Bidlake will get the place. He wanted Brazil or South Africa, but couldn't get those.

Joe Hare and Andy Blewett are here both candidates for surveyor general-in a friendly sort of way-roaming together and visiting the sights together. I am satisfied that Senator Roach has not yet decided who is to receive his sanction. I am satisfied also that if Mr. Hare was heartily supported by the united Missouri slope democracy he'd have the inside track. I do not need to tell Bismarckers why he ought to have it. If Hare doesn't get it they know what is likely to happen. Someone told me the other day there was a quiet move on foot in favor of Senator Kinter for the position. If there is anything in this it indicates that the scheme of the populists to get the democrats to agree on Kinter for governor next summer has fallen through--or else he is being side-tracked. It seems likely that many of the schemes hatched during the last few months by democrats and pops will die a bornin', so to speak, but there seems to be something in the plan of Attorney General Standish to get Judge Templeton on the track for the supreme bench in order that he may run for district judge in the Grand Forks district.

Capt. Braithwaite arrived from St. Louis a few days ago and it is an open secret that he is after one of the land office positions with fair prospects of success. It also appears that Myron Hutchinson, who has been so long in the office as chief clerk, has the strongest and most formidable backing for one of the Bismarck positions of any candidate for office in North Dakota. It is not a question of who endorses him but rather who does not endorse him. There is a disposition on the part of the old grizzly war horses who have put in a lifetime fighting the G. O. P., however, to crowd the young bucks to the rear until after they have had a turn at the government crib. Myron is in danger.

Senator Roach wants the Bismarck democrats to agree on a candidate for postmaster. What a preposterous proposition. How can Bismarck democrats be expected to agree when divisions and splits are rampant everywhere? I guess the young lady will remain in charge for awhile. The only objection raised to her is that she is not a man-not a party or ward politician, who can get out and "whoop her up" for Bourbonism, when occasion requires.

Senator Hansbrough is striving to get national legislation and national help to combat the Russian thistle in North Dakota, and I am surprised that he is not more earnestly supported by his constituents. I notice that some newspapers are so blind to the state's interests as to declare that the Russian thistle is not a bad thing, and that sheep thrive on it. With free wool I do not believe North Dakotans will favor the sheep pasture scheme. Senator Hansbrough ought to be backed up by resolutions of county boards, and other organizations in favor of national aid in exterminating this pest-not alone existing in North Dakota, but in several of the northwestern states. There is by no means too much farmer legislation here. The farmers ought to encourage what little is pending.

McKenzie was over from New York on some bond matters, the other day and his old associate, Coffin, after a brief visit to the Cherokee country-on that $3,500,000 bond proposition-hurried back to London. He'll be back again in a few weeks. I understand he has made a great deal of money since leaving Bismarck, and now lives in grand style in London.

F. Jay Haynes is still here. He is arranging Yellowstone Park leases with the secretary of the interior and, he tells me everything is going his way. I rejoice with Haynes in his good fortune because none are more deserving. By the way I learn that the geological survey people here consider Haynes' Yellowstone Park and Alaska views equal or better to those of any other artist. Haynes makes it pay. He cleaned up $15,000 last year.

Capt. McCormack and a few friends left for Old Mexico a few days ago to put in a couple of months or so during the "frigid spell" in the north.

Harvey Wilson, who will be remembered as chief clerk to Capt. McCormack as secretary in territorial days, has just been appointed assistant librarian of the house, a very comfortable position, giving him the freedom of the house floor--a very important privilege for a newspaper man-and $5 a day, rain or shine.

I have met ex-Secretary Flittie but two or three times. I am told he has become a regular "book worm" and is a familiar figure around all the old bookstores. He denies the report that he is writing a history of North Dakota. He thinks a true history would not look well in print and few would buy it. He goes to Norway in a week or two on a brief visit.

Dollanmayer is doing good work here for the Minneapolis Tribune, and Van Antwerp of the Journal, and Frank Mead of the St. Paul Globe, are among the most popular of the hard working army in "newspaper row."

Washington has been singularly free from storms thus far this winter. It rains occasionally-genuine wet, drizzly rain-but that's all. Mercury seldom reaches freezing point. I am told this is a marked contrast to last winter, which was an exceptionally severe one for this climate. North Dakotans here experience some difficulty in adapting themselves to the humidity of the atmosphere. The sun is a stranger and, the moon-I don't believe they have one in this part of the country.

[Note: Possible OCR fragment 'ner-has' appears to be incomplete; preserved as is.] ner-has opened an office in this city, in the Inventive Age building, and is already receiving many patent and claim cases. He says Williams can attend to matters at that end of the line all right without him and the Washington end promises well, even during the present depression.

By the way the Inventive Age a monthly magazine on the order of the Scientific American, celebrated the opening of its fifth year by changing management and donning a new dress. A friend of mine got me interested in the enterprise and I will remain here some time yet-there really being little need of me at home and the Tribune seems to be more interesting when I am away than when I am there. Its advertising columns are not, however, a good advertisement for the capital city.

The Co-operative Townsite company, an organization owning lands and townsites in Tennessee, has an office in the "Inventive Age" building. I was surprised to learn that the late superintendent of the census, Porter, is at the head of this scheme, and Senator Hansbrough is one of the directors. Porter, by the way, is a cousin of Auditor Porter of Bismarck, and decidedly in it down here. The secretary of the company tells me the company has made a great deal of money, but the present business depression has brought town-building to a standstill. The Wilson bill is a blow to manufacturing towns or townsites with manufacturing possibilities.

I have extended this letter to an unreasonable-I am but sure, not uninteresting degree.