The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-30
not suffer by comparison with any of its

not suffer by comparison with any of its
predecessors.
Unfortunately all this is not true of the
senate. into whose rolls of membership
we have just proposed to look. A few
years ago, with the incursion into The
senate of several millionaires. came the
appositeness of the stigma of rich
mans club applied to the body of luxu-
rious men. some of whom were suspected
of having bought the seats which they
occupied but did not adorn. To a certain
extent this reproach has been taken away.
Other influences have been at work to
fill the senate But the visitor in the sem
ate gallery yafnly listens for any such
statesmanlike deliverances on great ques-
lions as those which he might have heard
in the chamber during the elder time.
OF that race of senators j recall a few
prominent names. Delaware was repre-
scented by James A. Bayard, Illinois by
Lyman, Trumoull, o. II. Browning. and
later, Richard Yates; Indiana by Henry
S. Lane, Iowa by James w. Grimes and
James Harlan. California by John Con-
ness and James A. McDougall Mich gan
by Zach Chandler and Jacob Nj. How
ard; New Hampshire by John L. Hale,
Massachusetts sent Charles sumner and
Henry Wilson; Ohio Benjamin =. Wade
and John Sherman; Pennsylvania Lasid
Wilmot; Kentucky, Carrot Davis; len
nessee, Andrew Johnson; Maine, William
Pitt B'essenden and Lot NJ. Morrill,. and
so on to the end of the chapter Who
are their SUCCESSORS, renowned for their
forensic ability, shrewdness in legislative
management and fertility of resource?
1t must be admitted that the increase in
the numerical strength Of the senate,
caused by the admission of new ates
into the union, has not correspond ng y
Increased the power and entity Of hat
body. On the contrary, leaving out ons
or two notable exceptions which wiil@sc-
cur to everybody, the introduction OF SEN
ators from the newer states has weahen-
ed the character of the upper house. AS
rule they have been of very light oaliber
-smooth-bores. Asked offhand TO name
the senators of any half dozen OF the
far Western states. even the best-in-
formed on public men and measures would
be puzzled Perhaps it is an early failure
to find good men to send to congress that
induces the constant changes that go on
in the congressional delegations of these
states. They may be experimenting
with their abundance of raw material,
hoping to find the best man after while.
But this vicious habit of giving congress
men only short terms of service has net
been confined to the newer states. IT is
nearly so years since California entered
the federal union and during all that
time she has persistently refused to give
any one of her citizens more than one
term in the senate until the present SEN
ior senator from that state. Mr.. Perkins,
broke all records by succeeding hif self
Long before. however Aaron A. Sargent
was actually elected three tim to the
house. but not for consecutive terms,
and was then given the restricted single
term of senator. 1t is the cheerful Gus
tom of California politicians without dis
tinction of party to turn upon man and
rend him limb from limb as soon as he
becomes prominent in state politics. If he
is named as a possible apo ntte to an
important place in the federal govern
ment every mans hand is against him. If
he is elected to high office, his politi al
destruction is already determined. Con-
trasted with this jealousy and fickleness
is the steadiness with which Maine has
maintained in both branches of congress
delegations whose abilities have alHa s
commanded the respect of the nation
which owes SO much to their experience
and labors.
The degradation of American politics
which has given us the boss and the to IS
of the boss. is chiefly respons BILE for The
deterioration of the United States SEN
ate. The man who has a genius for thu
basef sort of politics fixes his eye upon
the legislature OF his state, for through
that body he is able to hold his grip on
the reins of power; he can levy tribute on
men and corporations who may loathe
him, but who are too cowardly to resist
hts exactons legislature domin d
by a boss will not send TO the Unit d
States senate any man who does not re-
fleet the debasement of politics i'm the
state from which he comes. AS was in
tended by the founders of the republic
the house Of representatives more directly
reflects the will and temper of the whole
people. 1t is 'the popular branch of cur
national legislature. In the inc fiiciel c.
and incapacity of the senate. which even
the sterling qualities of even few II Ia
bile men cannot elevate, we see the oil
lectcd fruits OF hosssm in American poll
tics. In the ADLER and more virlle charaa-
ter of the house of representatives we
may see the people more truthfully. BE-
cause more directly. represented without
the interposition of the midaleman. Til .
decline of the senate has kept pace with
the rise and progress of the boss.