The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-31
VETERANS IN POLITICS.
Washington Is Rich In Grand
Old Men.
MORRILL, THE DEAN OF THEM ALL.

Forty-thres Years In Congress-John Sher-
man's Remarkable Caresr-McKinley .
Veteran = Aliison's Perpetual Youth.
Reed IL No Spring Chicken.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 8l.-[Special. The
dawn Of another year reminds mo that we
have in this city great number of veter.
ans In the public service. men who have
been through many of the storms of poll
tics and who are still active and useful.
How will they fare during the coming
| Year, How many Of them will be left in
the harness when New Years day, 1899,
rolls rounds
The oldest of them all in years is tho
venerable Senator Morrill, of Vermont. IL
is surprising how this grand old man
keeps his health and strength. He lives
just across the street from my house, and
every morning at a certain hour, from
which he does not vary five minutes one
way or the other In winter, see him
walking nimbly down the steps to his car
rage. He appears no older now than he
did ten years ago. He has lived q life Of
calm dignity. He has a reposeful nature.
He never worries. In April he will be SS
years old, and then he intends TO give
another Of his birthday parties To look
at this active, bright old man one would
not think he had first como to congress
before the most Of Us were born, or 43
years ago, yet such 10 the fact. He served
10 years in the house Of representatives,
and March next he will have completed
continuous service OF 81 years in the Unit
ed States senate, which constitutes the
record for longest continuous service in
that body.
John sherman's Great Career.
Another distinguished veteran Of public
life Is John Sherman, the secretary of
state. Mr.. Sherman is not an old as Sen
ator Morrill-he will be Is In May--nor
is his health as rugged. Mr.. Sherman's
public career stands out above that of all
his compeers, everything considered. He
has been in the very thick Of battle for q
quarter Of q century. The wonder IL that
he is now az well and strong as he is. He
and Mr.. Morrill, entered public life in this
city the same day, both as members of the
house, and both have been here ever since
Mr.. Sherman was eight years in the house
Of representatives, 30 years in the senate,
four years secretary of the treasury, and he
has now been nearly year secretary of
state. Secretary Sherman has his good and
bad days. When be feels just right, he is
his old self again. Other days be does not
pretend to do much work. 1t is well I'M
derstood that in a few months he expects
to resign his office and seek well earned
rest from public cares.
Mckinley and Allison.
President Mckinley, though compare
lively young in years, is yet a veteran in
public service. The president will in a
short time celebrate his fifty fifth birthday
anniversary. He was born Jan. 30, 1S43.
or the 35 years which have elapsed since
he became man 90 have been devoted to
the public service in one capacity or an
other He was four years in the war, two
years prosecuting attorney OF Stark county,
o., IA years a member Of the house OF
representatives, four years governor of
Ohio, and he has served nearly year as
president
Senator Allison of Iowa is one OF the
youngest looking men Of his age in public
life. Mr.. Allison will soon celebrate his
sixty ninth birthday anniversary, but he
looks to be no moro than so or 55. Re is
still very active, very Woodworking
and very amiable man. In few weeks,
or March next, he will have served 25
years continuously in tho United States
senate. Before that he had been eight
years member of the house. Although
third Of a century In public life, Mr.. ALI
son is still poor man. He is dependent
upon his salary for livelihood.
Two Pennsylvania Veterans.
A picturesque figure among the veterans
Of public service 10 that Of Galusha A.
Grow, the representative at large from
Pennsylvania Mr.. Grow is of the same
ago as Secretary Sherman, and well pre-
served, agile man. His fine old head al.
ways attracts the attention of visitors in
the house galleries. His service dates far
Their back than that Of any other man now
in public life In this city. II was In 1851
nearly half century ago-that he came
to congress, tho youngest member Of that
body at that time. He was first elected as
q Free Soil Democrat aud afterward as a
Republican. He has been in congress al.
together about 10 years. The last time he
was elected he had plurality of 297, 446
and q majority over all of ESQ, 77S the
largest plurality and the largest majority
ever given candidate for Office in any
state.
Another Pennsylvania veteran is Con-
gresham Harmer of Philadelphia, who is
now serving his thirteenth term in the
house, and who has just concluded %
years service In that body. Only two or
three times In the history of the country
has this record been excelled.
Jones and Stewart.
Oddly enough, Nevada contributes two
most Interesting specimens to our roster
Of veterans. Both of her senators have
been here long time. Picturesque Sep.
ator Stewart, the inveterate speechmaker,.
was first elected to the senate away back
In 1864, and II he had served continuously
would now have beaten all records. But
he was out for 10 years. His colleague,
the brilliant and scholarly John p. Jones,
will complete 20 years of senatorial service
March 4 next.
Senator Hoar Of Massachusetts,, than
whom there Is no clearer thinker, greater
debater or more eloquent orator in con-
gress, IL also veteran of public life. He
first came tn the house Of Representative
30 years ago, where be served eight years,
and on March his service In the senate
will amount to III years
Both of the Maine senators are veterans
In service, though not old I'm years. Eu-
Qen0 Hale has bean I'm Waehip otor x,,,l,i,. |