Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-02-12
WHAT Is TO. BE GAINED9

BateSViile Duafd.
What is to be gained by retiring
Senator Jones and sending Gov.
Clarke to the Senate in his place? In
what respect are the people to be
benefited, or what public interest is
To be promoted thereby? Ii Gov.
Clarke had all Senator Jones
ability, which very many will not
concede; ii he had his experience
and general acquaintance, which
gives man influence and standing
IN aonase;;ss; ;t;it sh!iii,..l; Gov Clarke
is entirely wanting; ii the governor
could give ample and complete assnr-
ance OF both his desire and ability to
control that somewhat remarkable
/ temper OF hs-stil what would be
gained in exchanging Jones fur
| Clarke? Nothing, since the governor
announces in his recently published
address that he favors those issues
and principles al which SenatorJones
is much the better known advocate.
The people Will make up their own
minds az to which of the two candi-
dates is the ADLER man. /. is enough
to say here ON that subject that il is
generally conceded every where, in
side and outside the State, that Ark
ansas has never had an ahler, more
influential or more useful member of
either house of Congress Than Senator
Jones. Ii we knew that Coy. Clarke
would most certainly reach the same
high standard, still why should the
change he made9 In what respect
would the Stateor any public interest
be benefited thereby? But when we
have, and can have, no such assur-
ance; when, en- the other hand, we
have good reason to believe Gov.
Clarke would not reach that high
standard, every interest of the State
and her people protest against the
change.
But, if Gov Clarke had all OF Sena-
tor Jones ability, he has none OF his
experience in Congress, fronl-which
comes influence and standing, and in
making the exchange the State
would lose benefits and ad-
vantages which she now
enjoys on that account. The
usefulness of the ableat man in Con,
gress is largely measured by his leg
islatiye experience and his personal
standing among his fellow members,
aud this only long time and service
thereean bring him. The strongest
and most influential men in the Sen
ate are those who have been there
longest. Among them are Sherman,
of Ohio, who is serving his sixth
consecutive term, beginning 1851
Allison, whom Iowa has kept there
since 1879; Coekrell, whom the Demo-
Gratis of Missouri have repeatedly re-
turned since 1875. and Vest since
1889; Morgan of Alabama; Harris of
Tenness and Hoar of Massachusetts,
since 1877; Platte of Connecticut since
1879; Jones OF Nevada since 1873; Cor
man OF Maryland Hawley of Con-
necticut. Hale and Frye of Maine
aud Aldrich of Rhode Island since
1881; Cameron of Pennsylvania since
1877, and Teller of Colorado since
1876 Senator Jones of Arkansas
took his seat in the Senate in 1885.
This is one branch of the public
service in which the benefits and adj
vantages aceruing from long service,
ii the occupant be able, honest and |
worthy, outweigh all the arguments
in favor OF rotationin office. Senior
ity in service counts for much in the |
Senate. BY this rule the committees |
are made up, aud glance over the
lists of any Congress will show that
the Senators Oldest in service hold |
the best places ON the most impor-
tant committees; and those who con
troll the legislation OF Congress. |
Through Senator Jones Arkansas
stands high OH the most important
OF all the committees of the Senate
Finance, and equally high on Indian
affairs, in which our State has an
abiding interest, and ON other com
mittees OF less Importance. III Gov.
Clarke were sent to the Senate, he
State would lose those places aud
have to go foot on the smaller com
mittees OF the body. The State
would lose, therefore, by the change.
Then who is to gain by ito No
body but Gov. Clarke himself. Is the
State to make this change merely to
crafty his personal ambition? Is it
not little unreasonable to- ask it?
The State would have nothing In
Gov. Clarke that is not better repre-
scented by Senator Jones, and every
public interest protests against the
change.
-~~~-
Mrs. Franklin Wins.
T. a., ,.,,.,,, - F.,.,,,., st,,o..,s..-. -. !,