The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-25
PLATT NAMES THE MAN.
Bennett of New York to Be Secretary
of the Senate.

u the 0S4aIS-
Washington, Jan. 25.-The Republican
caucus of the senate has decided def
n1tely upon the reorganization of the
elective officers of that body and nom
mated Charles Bennett, of New York,
for secretary to succeed William r.
Cox and Dan M. Ransdell, of Indiana.
for sergeant alarms to succeed Colonel
r. J. Bright.
Some feeling was manifested over the
erection or secretary, caused by the
circulation of reports concerning j. $
Clarkson, who was Mr.. Benefits only
competitor, which his friends considered
uncompltmentary and untrue. These re-
ports were resented by his supporters,
including Senators Mason, Galinger,
Garter, Scott and others, who had
known Mr.. Clarkson as an officer of the
Republican national committee. A let
ter and a telegram from Mr. Clarkson
were read declining the place, but some
of the senators declared their inten-
ton of voting for him regardless of
these.
The first vote was a tie, resulting 81
to 81. The second ballot brought out
three votes not hitherto cast and re-
suited % for Bennett and p for Clark
son. Mr. Bennett was placed in nom
ination by Senator Platt On. W. No
selection was made for chaplain, which
will have the effect of continuing the
blind chaplain, William H. Milburn, in
that office. The allotment of the minor
offices was placed in the hands of the
caucus committee
Mr.. Clarkson authorized the following
statement concerning the connection of
his name With the secretaryship of the
senate:
Il never have been a candidate for
secretary of the senate, nor responsible
for the use of my name in connection
with it. L never heard of it, and never
had thought of that or any office at this
time until in the latter part of February
last Vice President Hobart called me
into his room at the capitol telling me
he had pleasant surprise for me,show
ed me an invitation in writing signed by
some forty of the fiftyfour RepubH
can senators-inviting me to be secre-
tary. Naturally surprised and over
Whelmed by the kindness and grace of
such an unusual offer, 1 was yet COM
PEELED to say that. as 1 knew so little
about the office rendered me $50 far as
such a strong majority of the Republic
can senators could tender it, and as it
came so suddenly while 1 was under
business engagements, | would have to
decline it if my answer was required
then. In d day or two it was decided
there would be no extra session and
then Mr.. Hobart urged me to take it
under adviSement which 1 did. Later
and after he came from the south in
the spring, he told me he had received
enough more signers in writing to the
papers or in letters to make over four
hfthS of the Republican senators and a
majority of the senate itself. I said
found that there was objection on
the part of any senators l would prob
ably accept. After his death 1 felt less
inclined to the office and sought to get
out of it in some gracious way. Several
senators urged me to let it go till the
meeting of congress. When congress
met and opposition was manifested to
me by two or three senators-who said
that while had such a strong majority
they would appeal to senatorial courtesy
if necessary to defeat me, 1 told Senator
Platt, as a member from New York,
where 1 lived and voted for two years,
and Senator Allison from ~ old state
that as opposition had appeared-and a.
this was an office to be filed only by
some one acceptable to all Republican
senators and unobjectionable to any
senator-I desired to have my name
taken out of all consideration They
urged me to wait But meantime the
press was busy with statements sent
out that l was the cause of the Repub-
ncan senate not giving itself a Re-
publican organizations: and so on the
9th of January before any party eau
Gus or conference had been held,
wrote Senator Platt a letter asking that
he would withdraw my name This is
all the part l have had in it and l have
never from the start asked a senator
for his support, nor talked nor written
to any senator on the subject except
he had addressed me first or had asked
to see me in regard to it. Nor has any
one of the forty or more senators sign
ing the invitation to me ever intimate ted
to me the least desire to recall his
name -