The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-07-15

ole enemy.
AS to the possibilities in the matter
of succession to the now vacant seat, it
may be said that it means new system
of politics in this state and only real
leader will be- equal to the opportunity,
A great deal also hinges upon the poll
tical sagacity of Gov. Taylor and his
advisers. One thing may be set down
as certain, viz: The new senator will
be pronounced silver man. Governor
Taylor who halls from remote Tennes-
see, has one ambition that dominates
every other, and that is to go to the
United States senate. His plan for
some time has been to succeed Senator
Bate, whose term expires in 1899. He
has not been building upon the posi-
BILE death of Senator Harris in the
meantime. Senator Bate is a middle
Tennessee man, while
THE DECEASED SENATOR
Hailed from West Tennessee. Now
the governor will have to appoint, and
as a politician and ambitious man, will
endeavor to strengthen his cause. At
this writing the wiseacres say the gov
ernor will appoint a Middle Tennessee
man-John J. Vertrees, for example
whose friends and those of Senator
Bate are identical. In this way, &C.
cording to this idea, he would weaken
Senator Bate in Middle Tennessee, and
with his West Tennessee strength and
the fact that two senators from the same
division OF the state would not be toler-
ated he would attain his object. The
senatorship in its regular order belongs
to West Tennessee, which division
Senator Harris represented in the poll
teal organization, and if the regular
order prevails the honor will doubtless
ge to Congressman E. w. Carmack or
Colonel William Fl. Carroll, of this
city, either of whom would come
mighty near holding fast the oppor-
tunity given him for political leadership
in the state.
HoNoRED BY THE SENATE.
Washington, July S.-Probably no
man in public life has been identified
with more of the history of this country
than had Senator Harris. He first be-
came a member of congress in 1S49.
His congressional career thus began
earlier than that of any member Of
either house, antedating Senators Nor
rill and Sherman by seven years, and
Hon. Galusha A. Grow, now member
of the house from Pennsylvania, by one
year.
Senator Harris had received almost
all the honors that the senate could be-
stow. He was the president pro tenn
pore during the Fifty-third congress, q
leading member of the committees on
finance and rules, and also the demo
cratic advisory or steering committee
He has long been awarded by common
consent the front place on both sides
of the chamber in parliamentry ques
tions, and in recent years he had beer
more frequently heard in expoundine
these questions than in the elucidatior
of other subjects. Hewas possessed of {
VERY POSITIVE MANNER,
And never failed to throw into his state
ments concerning parliamentary prac
tice the fullest force of which he wal
capable. His language on these ant
othor occasions was generally 30 un
compromising that he was regarded by
those who knew him not as a man O
little feeling. That, however, this wa
not true, and that the contrary wa
true, none are now so willing to testif,
as his opponents in the senate, wht
unite in attributing to him a warn
heart as we'll as just spirit and brillian
mind.
Senator Harris had not been especi
ally active in the senate since the pas
sage of the Wilson-Gorman tariff bill
in 1894. He was one of the three dem
ocratie senator's intrusted with th
arduous duty of putting the bill int,
shape in committee, and to him wa
delegated the control of the parliamen
tary work of getting the bill througl
the senate. Although then a man Q
advanced years his energies neve
seemed to flag. He was
AT THIS POST OF DUTY
Day and night, and no man in the or
position who sought to turn legisla
tive point against the bill ever caugb
him mapping but once. They adjourne
one day earlier than he intended whe
he was temporarily absent, but he mad
the incident SO disagreeable to frien
and foe that the experiment was nc
repeated. He was a tireless worker
and made it a point to be prompt i
> his attendance at committee meeting
W henever able to be at the capitol. H
was punctilious in observing the rule
of the senate, regarding that body i
the light Of daughter No be cherishe
and protected.
Senator Harris was native of Tel
nessee His father was a planter VIII
, had emigrated TO that state from Mort
/ Carolina. He was admitted to the ht
o in 1S41.
The remains will lie in state in I'll