The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-30
Fifty State Senators.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS = THE
MEN WHO MAKE OUR LAWS, AND
HOW THEY ARE DISTINGUISHED
SKETCHES OF THE SoLoNS.

MEN WHO MAKE OUR LAWS, AND
HOW THEY ARE DISTINGUISHED
| SKETCHES OF THE SoLoNS.
| From the Williamsport Gazette & Bulletin. }
OF the fifty senators constituting
| the higher branch of the Pennsyl-
vania legislature, twenty are new
men. Twenty-four members of the
last senate held over, one resigned
and six were reelected. Some of the
ablest and most experienced legisla-
tors, like Dill, Newmyer, Yerker,
Allen, Peale and Corbett, dropped out.
The Democrats suffered most in the
loss of able men and strong debaters,
but their loss is partially compensated
by the election Of such men as VOL
verton, Craig, Hall and others, who
are good lawyers and have had legis-
lative experience. Senator Herr con-
tinues to be the leader on the Repub-
lican side, and Ermentrout will as
sumo the place left vacant on the
other side by the resignation of Dill.
The oldest senator in the present body
is Charles H. Paulson, of Allegheny,
who is sixty-three years of age, and
the youngest is John G. Grady, of
Philadelphia, who is in his thirty
second year. Thirty-nine are natives
of Pennsylvania, three were born in
the state of New York, two in Ohio.
one in New Jersey, one in Maryland,
one in Delaware, two in Ireland and
one in Wales. The lawyers predomi-
nate and constitute almost One-half OF
the membership, there being twenty
two of them out of total of fifty.
The other senators may thus be classi-
fled according to their occupations
Eight are merchants, six farmers, five
manufacturers, three practicing physi-
clans, two artisans, two editors, two
bankers and one detective.
The "grave and reverend Seignior u
who represents the First district is
George Handy Smith, of Philadelphia,
whose suavity of manners and strict
attention to his senatorial duties have
made him many friends and given him
great influence with his fellow sena-
tors. He doesn't always carry his sen.
atorial gravity about him, but relishes
"a little nonsense now and then" He
served Il two years apprenticeship in
the house before he came to the SEN
ate.
John Cochran, the new senator fl ON
the Second, who succeeded the late
David A. Nagle, is Il native of New
Jersey and n lawyer by profession
| Il
phia councils, and comes TO finish his
education in the Pennsylvania legis
lature.
One of the most prominent party
leaders on the Republican side of the
chamber is John Lamon, the capable
and digniiied senator from the Third
He was formerly chief of detectives in
Philadelphia, and was in the house
for three years beginning in 1871.
\ fluent tallSer and painstaking
legislator is Horatio Gates Jones o
the Fourth. For the past two or three
winters he has mainly devoted his
energies to the endcavor to obtain fol
the Seventh Day Baptists relief from
the operations of the Sunday law, but
he leads a forlorn hope, as the support
of the measure in the senate is not en-
couraging to its advocates.
The Fifth is represented by John f.
Reyburn, a man of marked influence
and popularity. He is a lawyer by
profession, and served in the house
four terms. He entered the senate in
1876.
Ex-Sheriff VIM. Elliott succeed,
Colonel Dunllel in the Sixth. He be
gan life as marble cutter; was {
member of the house for several year:
and speaker in 1872. He has had {
great deal of experience in politics anc
public affairs, and wieds considerable
influence at home. He will no doub
make himself felt at Harrisburg thi
winter. He does not pretend to be ;
retormer.
Elliott is sandwiched in betweeI
two lawyers, Reyburn in the Fiftl
and John G. Grady in the Seventh
The latter never held any public otlic'
until he entered the senate in 1876. HI
talks but indiflerently and seldom
claims the floor.
William |. Newell of the Eighth
has been II sea flring man and is
ship chandler. He is an active scna
tor but does not possess the graces
oratory III an eminent degree ant
therefore usually remains quiet.
The eight senators already name'
represent the city of Philadelphia
The next is Thomas V. Cooper, o
Delaware, who was president last ses
sion and who is Que of the ablest de
baters on the Republican side of til
chamber. Senator Cooper is an Obi
f man by nativity. He is the editor q
the Delaware county American an
has had several years of experience il
, both branches Of the general assembly
Joseph Thomas, of Bucks, who rel
resents the Tenth, was a physician
and served in the army as surgeon
but is now a banker. He is II neN
man, not versed in the wiles of Hal
fisburg.
Daniel Ermentrout, who represent
: the rockribbed Democracy of oil
Berks, is good lawyer, an eloquer
), orator, logical DICTATOR and Il fin
+ scholar. He will be the leader on til
@ Democratic side, and was compl
4 mented at the opening of this teri
a with the nomination of his party cal
# Gus for president of the senate.
q DR.. Lewis Roger, of the Twelft
O Montgomery, is a new man, havin
e just made his first appearance in pu
!. lie life, at the age of fifty-seven. II
d was formerly a physician, but is no
J. engaged in the iron business.
q \. II. Mylin, the holding over sci
q ator from Lancaster, is a lawyer al
+ farmer, a faithful worker but qui
a and unobtrusive. He has served fol
90 years in the house and two in the Sc
% ate.
20 c. S. Kaufman, the new senat
N from Lancaster county, who succeed'
% DIR. Roebuck, is an ironmaster
% 1857. He may beput down as an an
II Cameron Republican.
Il The president of the senate, ~.
re- re- Herr, who represents Dauphin coun
I on the floor, was nine years distri
te attorney, two years in the house, al
nj five wears in the senate. He is cl;
steal scholar, IL rhetorical writer, and
m graceful speaker, but is rather mo
| ,lanSih md narGlnGiNa than cnnVil