The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-18
VETERAN SENATOR'S
Legislators of Long Service Who Are
Active Though Venerable.
MEN OF VARIED TALENTS
Generally In Their Seats and Have
Keen Eye to BUSINESS
Distinguished In
Debate.

Englishmen like to boast of the great
age attained by their statesmen and
public men. and they point with specia
pride to the grand old man of Ha-
warden, William Gladstone, as an ex.
ample of the virility and mental
strength that the air of the tight little
isle" develops. They like to draw COM
parsons between Americans and En-
glishmen In this respect and say that
at the age when the former are broken
down with dyspepsia and nervous pros
tration the latter are in perfect physi-
cal condition and able to control the
greatest business undertakings and
play most important part in affairs
OF state. II may be that as rule
Americans break down sooner than En-
glishmen; our manner of living In this
country, our climate and the Intensity
of our business life are responsible for
this state OF things, IL II is so. But
there are, nevertheless, some notable
exceptions to the rule, the most re-
markable, perhaps. being Justin Smith
Morrill,. United States senator from
Vermont. Senator Morrill, is IS years
OF age. in perfect health with a mind
vigorous and active. keen intellect
and a remarkable capacity for work.
He Is older than Gladstone and he is
still thick in the hurly-burly of politi-
cal life. He was born at Stradford, VT,
and was a representative in congress
at the Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth Thir-
ty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, Thrty-eighth
and Thirty-ninth congresses, and was
elected to the United States senate to
succeed Luke p. Poland on March A.
1867, and has served since continuously
in the highest legislative body OF his
country.
While the oldest member OF the sem
ate. Senator Morrill, is closely pressed
by several OF his distinguished associ-
ates There are just exactly eight other
members of congress who have passed
the three score Of 10 limit. their ages
and names being as follows: Harris Of
tennessee, 10; Palmer of Illinois, rs:
Pugh of Alabama. rs; Sherman of Ohio.
az; Bate of Tennessee, 70: Morgan of
Alabama, II. and Gear of Iowa. TO- The
Tennessee senator is a little shy about
having his age made public for I'm his
biography, printed in the congressional
directory, he has omitted this bit of
Information. However, he was born in
1916. The fact that he is almost an
octogenarian is not apparent to n cas-
ual observer. and were II not for the
fact that his few remaining hairs are
silvery white, he could easily pass
for go. Some say that he is becoming
little testy in his advancing years.
and that he is apt to be short and pep
perry. particularly in debate. AS a pre-
siding officer, however, he has no SUI |
perior. and he is as impartial while in
the chair as he is well versed in parlia- |
mentary law.
Senator John McAuley Palmer. who |
comes next in the list, is a strudy DEM |
ocrat with a distinguished military |
record. He carries his as years with a |
good deal of grace, and is still active /
and vigorous. When he was elected to
the senate I'm 1890 the legislature of
Illinois contained Just 1O1 democratic
m NxYhf 70 a1n hi. IA,
they required three more votes. Every
one OF these 101 democrats voted for
General Palmer on each of the 1853 bal
lots that were taken before a result
was reached, and on the one hundred
and fifty-fourth ballot the independents
united with the democrats and he was
elected United States senator. As a re-
ward for their wonderful constancy.
each OF the supporters of General Pal
mer was presented with a gold medal
Senator Pugh of Alabama is still in
active political life at TO- He is an ex-
cellent judge of brandy and wine. and
Landlord Page of the senate restaurant
has named one of the Alabama sena-
tors connections the Pugh cocktail. 1t
is favorite drink with the southern
members.
The senior senator from Ohio is one
of the few remaining representatives
OF the Webster school OF statesman
ship. His figure is tall and erect, and in
debate he has a picturesque delivery
that reminds one of the DAYS of CLAY
ana Calhoun. Both OF Tennessee's rep
resentatives in the senate are more
than 40 years of age. William Ii. Bate,
Harris colleague, being ~. He has a
long war record, serving as major gem
eral In the confederate army, and has a
painful limp as a memory of the late |
struggle. He looks every inch a sol
der, however. even to his iron-gray |
and military goatee Sena- |
tor Morgan of Alabama has lived II
years. 20 OF which have been passed in |
public life. He is an authority on mat
ters OF international law, and was one
Of the United States representatives AZ
the famous Boring sea tribunal. one OF
his hobbies is the Nicaraguan canal
and he is one of the strongest advo- ,
cates OF the government ownership of
mis- pathway OF commerce. His per
sonal appearance is quite progresses
ng; he has fiorid face and snowy
nustache and goatee. a combination
hat is generally pleasing. :
John Henry Gear, the new senator
rom Iowa, comes from the house with '
long and honorable record. Gear and
Allison make a strong pair OF senator's
rom Iowa. There are 20 senators whose G
lges range between 60 and 20 years. 4
senator's Hawley OF Connecticut. Hoar a
| i
ippi are each So OF the trio Hawley 5
probably shows his years the least. He \
las had quite a distinguished and g
'aried career. After practicing law he \
'ecame editor OF the Hartford Courant v
which he now owns, served through the n
var as major general. was elected gov h
rnor OF his state and eventually came n
o congress. After serving through is
hree congresses he was elected TO the a
enate in 1880, and has been there ever 4
ince. He is a brilliant debater, and .
an make a very fiery speech. s
Senator Hoar is a well-known public b
IAN, scholar and a statesman. He "
as degrees from nearly all the New e.
'ngland universities OF learning and is D
member OF a number OF historical 4
"a literary societies and is now CORE r,
Bolding member OF the Brooklyn In c,
iistte OF Arts and Science. Senator | n
In L has keen sense OF humor. which | 81
Harly reflected in his twinkling blue a
- / a..