The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-07

The term of Senator Vest of Missouri
will expire in 1903. He is II years old.
Some of the politicians of his state
have been trying 10 persuade the Sem
ator and the people that he is too
old to stand for reelection. Indeed.
when he had a spell of indigestion a
month or so ago the politicians prac-
tically carried their point with him,
and he announced that in all prob
ability he would retire at the end of
his term and not ask for reelection
Since that time. however, he has re-
gained his health. and now It is said
that If the Legislature were to offer
him the place again he would not de-
cline 1t. This is rather disconcerting
information for some of those who
have been gum shoeing" about in the
state and seeking the post of honor for
themselves. For Senator Vest is a
very popular man and the people with
give him what he wants.
But when is man too old?" Are
not young and "old" merely relative
terms, depending for their meaning
upon circumstances? Grey hair does
not mean old age and senility. neces-
sarily. Some men are grey at 80. others
are senile at 40. In contrast there
are men who are both mentally and
physically active at 20 and So History
is full of the work of grand old men"
whose mental faculties at three score
and ten were broader and better than
those of men half their age. Gladstone
and Virchow and the Pope are exam
pies.
But it is not necessary to cross the
ocean to find illustrations. Take our
own federal Senate. from which it is
proposed to retire Mr.. Vest because of
his being too Old Some of the most
active and influential men in that body
are over 20 years of age. Senator Pet
tus of Alabama is so. Five years ago
some of the politicians of his state de-
clsred he was too old" to be elected
to a judgeship in his state. He went
before the people and demonstrated
conclusively that he was not too old
to be a United States Senator. And
he will probably be elected again. His
conferee, Senator Morgan, is II. Is
there younger" more vigorous and
Woodworking man in public life than
Senator Morgan? And the Senate seat
is Morgan's as long as he wants IL.
Senator Hoar of Massachusetts is rs.
as is also Senator Hawley of Connecti-
cut Senator Plat of Connecticut is
- l.
vada. Cullom of Illinois and Allison
of Iowa are 70 each. John P. Jones
of Nevada is II, and Frye of Maine is
20. 1t will be seen. therefore, that
Vest Of Missouri CID is far from be-
ing the patriarch of the Senate.
Years ago when the pastor Of the
First Congregational Church in Boston
died, the congregation resolved to
elect young" man TO take his place,
and accordingly called the Rev. Mr..
Davenport of New Haven, aged 70. Our
Senate is well supplied with such
young" men as Mr.. Davenport was
aged in years, but youthful in force
and fire and hope and faith. Nor are
such men to be found in the Senate
alone. They are in business and vari-
Gus lines of endeavor the country
over. Russell Sage. upwards of So is
one of the hardest working financiers
in New York, and as young as any
man in the business. Andrew Carne-
gle is nearly 20. Nobody would call
him too old" to take part in or direct
the most gigantic industrial interests.
In truth the country is well supplied
with men OF 20. IS and 50 who are brim-
ming with energy and enthusiasm.