St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-12
SHERMAN.S MISTAKE
Im Accepting the Senate Presidency
illustrated in Edmunds, Case.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. lit is evident
that Mr.. Sherman has made a mistake in
accepting the Office of the presidency of the
senate. 1t is said that he himself now be-
lieves this. He is practically lost from the
debates of the senate He could hardly be
more retired if he were in private life. The
position of president of the senate is one
which can contribute nothing to the i'm
portance of an obscure man and detracts
greatly from the position of a leading one
The only advantages in it are the increase
of salary, the extra room and the special
staff of clerks. The relative obScurity of
the office is well illustrated in Senator Ed
mundS case. AT the time he accepted the
presidency of the senate he was
THE MOST CONSPICUOUS LEADER
on the Republican side. During his term
as presiding officer of the senate he lost his
position on the senate floor and through his
long enforced silence stories were circulated
to the effect that he was tired of public life
and had lost his old zest for public discuss
siOns. The world of politics moves on with
great rapidity, and the man who is out of
its current is soon left behind. however
prominent he may have been. Mr.. Ed
munds, since he has stepped down from the
presiding officers chair back to the floor.
has given the most conspicuous evidence of
his great ability by the ease with which he
has returned TO his old position as leader.
Within the very short time since the meet
ing of the senate he has put to rout all the
stories which have been circulated about
HIS FAILING POWERS.
Never in mis- best days has he appeared
more alert, more aggressive and more dom
mating in pushing for the ascendency of his
ideas than now. He is always in his seat.
and while he often appears to be rapt in a
brown study of silent abstraction, he VET is
conscious OF every word which is said dur
ing the debate. He shows his readiness in
taking advantage Of any slip which is made.
One of the senators yesterday, who does
not like the Vermont senator, spoke sneer-
ingly of him in connection with the pending
-polygamy bill. He said that the SEN
ate chamber had been turned into taber-
nacle, and that Edmunds was posing as the
high priest of morality. Without intending
it. the senator paid the VermOnter high
compliment. Since Mr.. Edmunds has re-
turned to the floor he has settled very
clearly
THE QUESTION OF HIS REFLECTION.
AS long as he was in the comparative OBJ
security of the acting vice presidency, the
opposition to him in Vermont was able to
make some headway. But the moment he
returned to the floor his enemies are willing
TO admit he will be reelected without a
struggle. His ripe experience on the floor,
his great skill as debater and originality
OF legislation, gives Vermont prominence
IN the senate which she might not obtain
again for century if she were to retire
this veteran and begin experimenting in the
dlrecton OF new and untried men, Sena-
tor Edmunds is very devoted to his family.
He refused several years ago the offer of a
seat upon the bench of the supreme court
because his acceptance would have kept
him from giving his whole time and atten-
ton to an invalid and dy ing daughter. He
has still one daughter living. MI. Ed