The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-14
SENATE NOT A MuLIONAIRES'
CLUB.
a.. A. Coolidge in Ainslee'a }

IL. A. Coolidge in Ainslee's)
A congressman Is usually a man who
worked his own way up In thu world,
and this is as true OF thu Senate as Of the
House. 1he idea that the Senate Is q
millionaires' club is fictitious There
are several senators who are millionaires
and othsrs who are independently rich.
That is, they have an income outside
their salaries upon which they nigh live
luckily for thsm, as ths senator or rep
resentativs who does not spend every cent
of his salary, and something more, while
In office, is very rare indeed. 1hs talk
about mtllionaires in thu Senate Is largely
guesswork. 1t must be in this nature OF
things for q millionaire is very vague
and iil-defined creature. 1hs lists
which ara sometimes published gising
na mes OF senators with seven or eight
figures attached preceded by ths dollar
mark are always imagi nary. 1hsre is
hardly a rich man in the Senate who
owes his place to his money. Common
repute would probably Put the following
in any list of senatorial miiliorariss:
AldIich, Depew, Elkins. Fairbanks, Fora
ker, j. =. Jones. Kean, Lodge, Nc.
MILAN, Proctor, Scott. shoup, Stewart,
Turner, Wetmore and Wolcout. Common
reputs Is ID istaken in about 20 per cent
OF this number. But even suppoiing that
was right, thare are only two or three
Ia the Jist who wouId not have hgld
Influential positions in ths Senate even
had thsy been poor men AldTi h is one
of thu shrewdest political managers In
the United States. He controls the
politics OF his state by sheer ability, and
most of the money he has made has
been due tn fortunate Investments since
he became senator. Depew Is an
orator OF wonderful gifts, and q la wyer
whose services TO his party have bean 30
great that the marvel Is he was not made
"a senator before, Elkins has had
national reputation as an astute political
manager for the last 20 years. Fairbanks
is the acknowledged leader of his party
in his state. Foraker was distinguished
governor or Ohio, man OF national
reputation as an orator and a party
leader before he was chosen TO tine Senate,
ana what money ne has made was earned
in the practice of his profession after he
lsfu the governors chair. Hale married
his money after he came to Congress.
When he was elected to the House he was
a green oontry boy, with hair that needed
cutting and trousers that did not. He
made his reputation-he Ia one of the
ahlest men in either branch OF Congress
Blaine took him up and introduced him
into society, and his fortune was made.
It is not his money that kesps him in the
Sonata. It Ia too late now for any body to
question Hsnna's political ability. he
may know how to put money to good use
In politics, but he has shown sufficient
executive capacity to prove that, II
necessary, he could get along without IL.
Lodge is the leader OF his party in
Massachusetts,, an orator, scholar ana n
writer as well Ms q political success
Mcmillan Ia the best political organizer in
Michigan. Proctor was a gallant officer
In the civil war, has been governor Of
his state, and secretary Of war. Turner
OF Warrington, IL accounted one of the
most brilliant men in tue far West
Besides, he 10 q populist. Moloott OF
Colorado, Is y brilliant orator and tine
lawyer. He would shine anywhere, even
though he had no money at all.