The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-07
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
The present United States senate Is
not as august and able a body al is was
prior to the war or for some dozen OF
more years succeeding. There are quite
a number of able. we'll equipped men,
bers, n some decidedly strong and
impressive speakers. But you will
look in vain for the grants Of the past,
unless your eye should fall upon Sena-
tor Morgan. Next to him in real abili-
ty is Senator Vest, and both are south
rons and democrats. But we do not
purpose discussing the qualities of the
members. There are some very scurvy
'-iemagogues and blatherskites among
them and they are all northern, with
the possible exception Of McLaurin and
one or two othe:s. The Congressional
Directory gives interesting information
concerning the members. From it we
iearn hat William B. Allison, of Iowa.
n John p. Jones, Of Nevada, are the
oldest members. They took the oath
of office on the 4th of March, 1873, and
y Gil NAS AlAiO SiAiNG. MI
Allison is ~ and Mr.. Jones is II. Alli-
son is said to look very young for his
age. 1t is possible that he totes
around" a good, easy conscience. and
a republican of we'll nigh twenty-nine
years service?? Senator Pettus, OF AL
ALBANIA, is the oldest man and one Of
the ablest. He is so, Mr.. Morgant his
colleague, is II, Mr.. Vest, Of Missouri,
is IL. Hoar, Of Massachusetts, and
Bale, of Tennessee are rs. Senator Bal
ley, of Texas, are able man, is the
youngest and but SO.
The New York Sun has beer examin-
ing the Directory, and from it we learn
that the senator is a very ~changable
body. and terms as a hole are brief.
1t says ut is only a q little more han
"a years since General Ulysses S. Grant
ceased to be president of the United
States, yet there are only three men in
the enate today who were there when
Gran was PRESIDENT for he second time,
and not one was a senator during his
first term in the White house. These
three are Allison and Jones, republi-
cans, and Cockrell, democrat. Not one
of the band OF stalwarts who stood by
Grant during the momentous years of
his administration is left in the senate
today. There are only seven senators
now in office who were members of the
body when Rutherford B. Hayes, the
successor of Grant, was president, al
though it is only a little more than 20
years since his term expired. These
seven senators are Allison, Jones', Cock
rell (who look his seat March the 1.
1875, and who is ir a class all by him
self Hoar, Morgan, Plat. of Connec-
ticut. and Vest"
Even so late as "Arthur's admins
tration there are but Is who served
then. OF those who were in the senate
at the end of Cleveland's last term but
IS are found. There are but 10 who
were present when Tom Reed played
Towser and wore the crown Of a Tsar.
The Sun says that there are SO who
dave come N since Mckinley was elect
ed a little over five years ago. The
Sun gives this: CLARK, of Montana.
Dubois, Of Idaho, MeLaurin, Of Missis-
sippi. and Mitchell. Of Oregon. are in
table Is with a lot OF other senators all
OF whom are. sworn IN March 4, 1891.
The p and downs of political life are
pointedly illustrated in the careers Of
the fou senators above named. The
meteoric sena torial career Of Mr.. Clark
Is well remembered. Dubois
of Idaho. first came 20 h senate az a
republican and served a full term from
March 4, 1891. Ii 1896 he walked u OF
the republican national convention. and
became a free silver republican, then
a populist and now a full-fiedged dem
ocrat, sitting in the front row of the
democratic side Of the chamber, having
exchanged seats with Senator Vest,
whose physical weakness makes him
desirous of having q more accessible
chair"