West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-01-25
United States senator from Missouri
and Leader OF the National
Democracy.
GEORGE @. vEsr

| democracy.
One OF the ablest men in the
Upper House of Congress is Hon.
George q. Vest, of Missouri, whose
y cture we give above. lilo is not
only an orator and statesman, but
an earnest and fearless advocates of
what he believes to be right, even
when his views conflict with those
of tie President himself, as was
plainly proven in the Senate last
week when he led the opposition to
the confirmation OF j. Scott IIar-
rlson, "a brother of OK. President
Harrison. who had been appointed
by the President to be Surveyor of
the Port OF Kansas City. Mr..
Harrison, unlike his brother Ben.
is good Dem ,crat, but President
Cleveland had utterly ignored Scna
tor Vest in appointing him, and as
1t was part of the Federal patron.
age OF his State, he had perfect
right to have somc say in il, and
had recommended another man for
the place. The Committee on Com
merce made an unfavoiable report
on the appointment, and when it
came up in executive session OF the
Senate, Senator Vest promptly
moved the rejection of the nomina-
iion, and the motion Was adopted
unanimously. Not single voice
was raised in the Senate in
Mr.. Harrison's defense, and not a
single Senator, either Democrat.
Republican or Populist, advocated
his confirmation. All that Was
necessary for the Senate to know
was that Senator Vest desired tho
rejection Of the nomination, and it
was done accordingly.
In the debate in the Senate last
week on the bill repeating the Fed
eral Election Law, Senator Vest
made II very brilliant speech aud
cleaned up the Senators on the
other side Of the house in manner
that will last them for some time.
The debate on the bill had been
very tame Till then, but it promises
to be pretty lively now.
The able statesman from Missouri
has been in the highest legislative
body OF our land the past fifteen
years, and is very popular with his
people. We therefore give q short
sketch Of his life.
George Graham Vest was born in
Frankfort, Kentucky, December g.,
1880, and is therefore IN his Gath
year. lie graduated from Centre
College in 1S48 and from the Law
Department Of the Transylyania
University in March, 1853. Begin.
ming the practice OF his profession
in central Missouri, he soon be-
came prominent, and in 1860 was
chosen a Presidential Elector on
the Democratic ticket, and in the
same year was elected to the Mis-
souri, House Of Representatives. In
the legislative debates of the session
Of 1861 he was an ardent supporter
Of Southern views. lie resigned
his seat in the Legislature in order
TO take his place in 1863 as q repre-
sentative from Missouri in the Con
federate Senate, Of which he was a
mber for two years.
After the war he resumed the
practice Of law at Sedalla, Mo. I'm
1877 he removed to Kansas City
and took a prominent part in pubi
Tic affairs. lie was elected to the
United States Senate and took his
scat March 18, 1879. lie became
u leader by bis powers as a dsbatcr
and orator, and has been twice re-
elected. his present term expiring
March 4th. 1897.
Senator Vest took an active part
in the fight on the repeal Of tn,
sherman Silver Bill and is classed
as one Of the anti-administratior
leaders. That is, he is not support
ing the President in all his meas
ures, but has The grit and backbon,
to fight hlm as we'll as the Repub
Iicans.