The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-13
new SENATORIAL BLOOD.
Seventeen and Probably More Brand
New Men Will Answer
Roll Call.
Old Timers Trembling for Their
Fogy Traditions and Ven
cradle Customs.
eare Old Reagan, Who Held ofico Under
Five Forms OF Government and
Four Flags.

WASHINGTON, May 12.-When the United
States senate reconvenes it will contain
more rev faces than were ever before seen
in it's history. There will be no less than
seventeen brand new men. and there may
be more. Such III injection of fresh blood
auggests possibilities OF change in senator
ial methods and tradition that is already
causing concern among the older heads.
The senate has always been a close corpor-
asion-too close, in fact, to please the pro-
Rressive genius of the country and the sud
den influx of new and untried elements rep
resented BY the PETERS, the Kyles and the
Irbys has already thrown the old-time lead
ers In the unfolding of senatorial dignity
and senatorial courtesy into something of q
panic. No wonder that Edmunds ven out
In q moment of pique and that Reagan read
also the handwriting on the wall.
The resignation of the venerable Reagan,
of Texas, was a genuine surprise. h of
Edmunds had been foreshadowed, but when
the amiable old gentleman from Texas and
his wife both voluntarily relinquished their
hold upon the treasury it caused a general
elevation OF eyebrows. OF course the old
pub. func. of fifty years. standing did not
relinquish a good thing until he saw n bet
ter in his grasp; but the idea that a better
thing than a United States senatorship and
6 per day to his wife could ever
come to a man of R~eagan's age is what
gives the resignation the element of n SEN
sation. The old gentleman has been called
home to serve his people III a state capacity
at $10,0 0 a year and presumably with an
increased compensation for his wife. Moth
ing else would have ever caused a govern
mental %stipendary of half a century's ex,
p~erience to relax his tentacles upon a good
thing.
A rare old bird is Senator Reagan. Next
TO Ingalls, the old Texan was the observed
of the galleries. Everybody wanted to see
q man who had actually been in jeff Davis
cabinet. Then there were plenty more who
had a curiosity to see an American legisla-
tor who, within the boundaries of his own
country, had held public Office under five
different forms of government and sworn
allegiance TO three constitutions and three
flags. 1t has been the boast of Reagan and
his friends that he has done all this. He
was q public official under the Mexican |
government when that power had control
OF Texas. He was next a public officer un.
der the republic of Texas; then an ofioibI
uAAc II NVatC5 WICA
into the union, and represented the new
state in congress in 1857. In 1861 he be-
came an officer in the provisional govern
ment of the confedefacy, and in 1862, I'M
der what was knownVs the permanent con-
federate government, became postmaster |
general and acting secretary of Mr.. Davis
swept-out treasury. No born American
has ever had such a record-and lived to
tell is and still accept new honors.
Next to the interest-not to speak of the
Ratisfacsion-felt at Mr.. keagan's volun-
tary retirement is that aroused by the ap-
~pointment of his successor, Horace Chiffon. |
The idea of = man but 81 years old coming |
to the senate from Texas ls one which less
shan half a century ago would have in
spired a revolution in that revolutionary
bailiwick. The venerable and oily and
polished pate of Richard Coke, it is said,
took on a pinkish hue when he learned the
news.
Horace Chiffon is a born %rexan-that is,
q Texan born under the stars and stripes.
He is q lawyer living in Tyler, in the east
ern part of the state, in a section belted
by railroads. He is represented by promi-
nent Texans here as being one of the ablest
lawyers in the state and a fluent speaker.
His father, Thomas Chiffon, was a member
OF the Iwenty-f1st congress sixty years
lucky, but served only one term, afterward
moving to Alabama and thence to Texas.
The new senator was a delegate to the last
national democratic convention, and was a
warm supporter of Gov. Gray, of Indiana,
for the nomination of vice-president. This
classes him among the opponents of MI.
Cleveland. His personal claims upon the
governor, which have carried him by ap-
pointment into the senatorial chair, are
said to be largely based on the fact that
he made the speech which carried the nomi-
nation for governor at the last state CON
vention.
The Chiltons are a Virginia family; one
of them. Gen. Il. H. Chiffon, a graduate of
West Point, was an officer in the Mexican
war and chief of staff at one time to Gen.
X. Z. Lee during the civil war. Another
was chief justice of the supreme court of
Alabama, and nearly related 30 Jesse
Bledsoe, once United States senator from
Kentucky, the distinguished orator and
jurist who married Miss Gist, a daughter Of
Gov. Gist, Of Kentucky. who was a sister of
Mrs. Francis P. Blair. 1t is good blood.
Everybody will await with interest the ad-
vent of young MIR. Chiffon in the senate.
Meanwhile Roger z. Mills will pursue his
speakershlp industry with renewed effort
and with a side SNAIL at Gov. Hogg which
in the near future may cause tina states
man to squeal under Il gate.
Poor MIR. Blair, whose western tour was
30 rudely interrupted. is still in Washing
ton. While there is Il great laugh at Mr..
Blair as a "diplomate,' there is yet a feel
ing of regret at the old Rentleman's dis
comtiture. He has ne salary yet, though
clothed with the authority to draw it when
he relieves his predecessor. Like a
great many New Hampshire men,
he is poor. The $4,000 salary in
China came to him like a bushel of mama
after his failure of collection to the senate.
When the appointment was offered him it
was coupled with but one regrettul thought.
The old man dld not have ready money
enough to pay his fare and the other ex-
penses of transporting himself and his
family to the orient. The government never
does this. MIR. Blair took ex-senator
Spooner into his confidence and the result
was that Senator sawyer Endorsed Blair's
note for four months in one of the Wash
ington banks. With that money he made
his preparations to go abroad, but even
then the old man did not have funds enough
to take his family. His sudden recall dis
turbs everything, and now he will have to
go somewhere IN order to he able to recoup
Senator Sawyer, who IS veil known to have
p keen eye Tor any paper obligations that
may help to line his safe.
Lost Heavily By Fire.
CHICAGO, May 12.-The Belding Motor a
Manufacturing company made an assign
ment this morning. Liabilities. Sl75,OO 0
of which 500, GOO is for borrowed money.