Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-12-21
SENATORIAL SEATS.
Bitter Struggles Likely to
Take Place in Some Cases.
Daniel W. Voorhees,, the Tall Syca-
more- Rising Man Of Times.
The Oratorical Talent Of the Indiana Senator
Uncle Phiietus Sawyer.


There is great interest here In the sen0
torial contests which are to take place In =
number of state legislatures next month.
There are likely to be some bitter stfug-
giles in such states as North Carolina,
Washington. South Dakota, Idaho and
Utah, In Indiana and Wisconsin the re-
suit appears to be conceded. In the former
state there is not much donbt that Charles
w. Fairbanks of Indianapolis will be the
Republican choice, and, of course, that
means the new senator, as the Republicans
have control of the legislature. There has
been some talk to the effect that ex-Presi-
dent Harrison would be candidate for
the senate, but recent announcement re-
moves him from the list of possibilities. 1
have never regarded Mr.. Harrison as a
candidate. In fact, / am assured General
Harrison has had no thought of re-entering
public life. He would have been willing
to be his party's candidate for the presi-
dency again had the st. Louis convention
chosen to nominate him, but General Har
rison was indifferent even to that honor.
As for the senatorship, he long ago gave
the friends of Mr. Fairbanks to understand
he would not be in the way, and, of course,
he has never had any thought of disregard
ing that pledge.
The Indiana Contest.
Mr.. Fairbanks chief rival, if he have
any, will be Riley W. Mexican, a wealthy
railroad man of Terre Haute Mr.. Mexican
is an able gentleman and has always been
liberal contributor to the party exchequer.
He would make good senator. But it
happens that in the movements of practical
,cl,u ,,I-< 1a1
come to the front as the leader of the Re-
publican party. He once belonged to
what was known as the Gresham faction
in that state and was one of the warmest
friends Judge Gresham had to the day of
the latter's DEATH After 1888 Mr. Fair
banks became friendly also with General
Harrison, ana their relations have been
cordial ever sinco Last spring Mr.. Fair
banks, after ascertaining that General
Harrison was not candidate, threw him.
self with vigor into the Mckinley move
ment Mr.. Goudy was made chairman of
the Indiana Republican state committee
largely through Mr. Fairbanks influence,
and together they contrived to make most
of the nominations for members of the
legislature. The result is that the Indian
apolis lawyer appears to have sure thing
ON the senatorship.
Charles w. Fairbanks is one of the ris-
ing men Of the times. He is rich, having
amassed comfortable fortune at the prac-
tice of law, which led him into railroad
operations. He is splendid specimen of
physical manhood, standing 6 feet in his
stockings, and as tall and straight as an
Indian. He has tawny black hair and is
gifted with winning manners. He makes
friends rapidly and holds fast to them.
He is polite always, and yet sincere. In
recognition of his splendid services to the
Mckinley movement in Indiana he was
chosen temporary chairman Of the St.
Louis convention. Mr.. Fairbanks has an
interesting family of daughters, and their
accession to the Indiana colony in the ma
tional capital is impatiently awaited by
their friends.
The Tall Sycamore.
If Mr.. Fairbanks succeeds in his ambi-
tiOn to be senator from Indiana, he will
succeed one of the veterans of the senate,
Daniel W. Voorhees,. If Mr.. Voorhees, was
the Tall Sycamore of the Wabash, as he
has been known for many years, what
shall we call his successor, who overtops
even the Tall Sycamore by several inches?
Mr. Voorhees, is now in Washington, but
Is not often seen in his seat In the senate
chamber He Is still weak from his long
illness, though he expresses himself hope
ful that years of activity yet remain to
him. Mr.. Nocrhees says he has been so
busy during the past summer trying to
Keep on the face of the earth that he has
had no time to worry about the political
events which were consigning him to pri-
vate life. He has reached that point, he
says, where he is glad to be permitted to
live even in the humblest station. SEN
ator Voorhees, is one of the veterans of the
upper house. He has been there more than
~ years. He was appointed by the gov
ernor of his state, Nov. 6, 1877, to succeed
Oliver Z. Morton, deceased. There are
only a half dozen mon in the senate who
have served longer in that body continu-
ously than Mr.. Voorhees,.
If Senator Voorhees, sufficiently RECEIVERS
his health, he hopes to take to the lecture
platform. He has iiattering offers for talks
about congenial subjects and is a fascinat-
ing public speaker He has been one of
the oratorical stars of the senate chamber
for many years. If notice was given that
tho Tall Sycamore expected to speak, the
galleries were always filled. He is born
orator, and, though he excels in criticism
and denunciation, he has heart warm
and sympathetic, as many juries have been
made to feel. AS defender of accused
men before jury Mr.. Voorhees, is perhaps
unrivaled among American lawyers.
The Wisconsin Contest.
In Wisconsin the new senator, without
much doubt will be John w. Spooner
Mr.. Spooner left the senate six years ago
after serving single term, in which he
made q national reputation. He was COM
PEELED to retire by party changes in his
state which brought Democrat in his
place. Mr.. Villas was elected to succeed
Mr.. Spooner, and now Mr.. Spooner will
have the pleasure of taking up the toga
when Mr.. Villas lays it down. He will also
have the satisfaction of knowing that it
has been worthily worn during his alb
sence. 1t is not often in the ups and downs
of politics that men thus succeed one an
other in the senate
Mr.. Spooner belongs to what Is known
IN Wisconsin as the Sawyer faction of the
party, and II Uncle Philetus SAWYER lives
two years longer it is predicted by Wiscon-
sin men that he will then have the pleas
ure OF succeeding in the senate Mr.. Mitch
ell, the man who took his place forr
years ago. Uncle Philetus used to ha ona a