The age-herald., 1898-10-13
THE FIRST HEBREW
 NORTHERN SENATOR


 senator-elect Joseph Simon, of Oregon, will be the first to occupy seat in the upper house from any northern state. While there have been numerous Hebrews elected to the lower house, and several men of that nationality are members or the f1l'y- fifth congress, only three Hebrews nave ever sat in the senate. All were former confederates and represented southern states. Carl Schurz, who was an independ- ent senator from Missouri some years ago, used to be taken for a Hebrew, but he never acknowledged any kinship with that race.
 By far the most prominent of these sen- ators was Judah Philip Benjamin, long senator from the state of Louisiana, and known as "the brains of the confederacy. It is noticeable that Senator Benjamin was born in the West Indies, as was Senator David Levy Yulee, of Florida, another dis- tingushed Hebrew statesman. Senator Benjamin first saw the light on August Il, 1911, and died at Paris in May, 1884, after a most venturesome career His parents were English Jews, who came to New Or leans, but found the mouth of the Missis- sippi blockaded, and accordingly sailed away to St. Croix, where he was born soon afterward. Before he was elected to the senate he had a large reputation as learned lawyer and stood at the head of the profession in Louisiana. He was elected to the senate in 1852, and again in 1857, with drawing when Louisiana seeded in Feb ruary, 1861 He attained prominence in the southern wing of the der>ocratic party and had an encounter with Jefferson Davis that nearly caused a duel. His strong advocacy of slavery led Senator Wade, of Ohio, to declare that Senator Benjamin was "a He brew with Egyptian principles" He be- came attorney-general of the Southern Confederaey, resigned when accused of in competency, and was immediately selected as Confederate secretary of state, which office he held until the surrender at Ap- pamattox, enjoying the fullest confidence of President Davis. He fled to England where he was reduced to poverty for time but subsequently, became a member of the English bar and acquired a wide reputa- ton. After arguing many famous English cases he retired from practice and was given a notable farewell banquet in the hall . of the Inner Temple at London.
 
 Senator David Levy Yulee, like Senator Benjamin, was born in 1911. had peculiar career, and died in 1886 in New York city. Senator Yulee and his father, whose name was Levy, moved to Virginia when the former was quite young, and in the Old Dominion he received his early education. By 1884 he had gone to Florida, where he studied law, and from 1841 till 1S45 served as delegate to congress from that terri tory as David Levy. After that he changed his name by adding "Yulee." In December, 1S45 he was elected as a democrat to the United States senate, and served until 1s51 In 1855 he was elected for another term, and served until January 1861, when he re- signed to join the Confederacy. He was a member of the Confederate congress, and after the civil war took a prominent part in developing certain portions of Florida.
 Senator Benjamin Franklin ,Lrnas, of Louisiana, also a Hebrew, belonged to later generation, but he served as acting adjutant of artillery with Hoods confed- crate army. He was born in Kentucky July 19, 1884, and. after living while in Illinois, went to New Orleans in 1S53 He had prominent career in democratic poli- tics in Louisiana, and was elected to the United States senate in 1879.
 Senator-elect Simon will have the fame not only of being the first Hebrew to rep resent northern state in the senate, but he is also the first Hebrew republican to have that honor. He comes from reyou- tionary stock in Pennsylvania.