Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-10

Philadelphia North American.
Joseph Ralph Burton, junior United
States senator from Kansas, who, on ac-
count of his violent speech in the republic
can conference on the reciprocity ques-
I ton, Is persona non grata at the white
house. is fulfilling the fate Of long line
Of unfortunate senators of the succession
to which he belongs.
The first senators from Kansas were
James H. Lane and Samuel c. Pomeroy,
and Burton is the lineal successor of Lane.
who began his career with bad luck by
drawing the short term. The succession
from the time Of that drawing for terms
has been marked by tragic deaths, broken
terms and terms filed by men who lived
TO lose the confidence Of their constituents
and be ostracised by their parties.
Senator Pomeroy drew the six-year term
and has had three successors. He held
his office from 1861 to 1873, when the brill
liant John James Ingalls, succeeded him.
Ingalls, held the office eighteen years, I'M
til 1891 when, through the medium OF
Populist legislature, the gentle and harm
less William Alfred PETER came on. Then
in 1897 came William A. Harris, the ex-
Confederate and aristocrat OF the success
sion, who is now before the people Tor re-
election by the legislature Of 1902 1t is
natural line of succession, the several SEN
ators holding their full terms Of six years
without a death or a break.
Much different has been the fate OF the
senator's of the line that began with Lane.
Their fates have earned for their line the
term Of "the fatal succession, and Sen
ator ingalls,, who first used the express
sion, once refused to run for a place in
the line.
Senator Lane served four years, and in
1885 was reelected. When ii was up to
him to make a choice between Andrew
Johnson and the Republican party, he
''Johnsonized," and the rebuke from his
constituents here in Kansas was so saw
age and relentless that he became morbid
and respondent. One day, eighteen
months after his reelection, he, silently
and without warning of his intention, left
the side of friend in q buggy and killed
himself with pistol.
Then the governor of the state gave
the appointment to Edmund g. Ross,
printer and editor CT ordinary ability, who
cast the vote that saved Andrew Johnson
from conviction On the impeachment
charges, and in return for which his party
in his home ostracized him. Sore and
disappointed, Ross took refuge IN the
Democratic party. He hung around Kan
sas for several years, and IN 1873 was the
Democratic candidate for governor. The
election of Cleveland gave him mis- chance
TO again enter public life. and he was
appointed governor of New Mexico; but
when the Republicans returned to power
he dropped to his level, and is now set
ting type on a little country paper in the
territory he governed.
In 1871 the legislature sent to the SEN
ate Alexander Caldwell, a rich resident Of
Leavenworth, who bought his election for
cash so boldly and unblushingly that the
legislature asked him to resign, and he
did so to avoid scandalous litigation.
Robert Crozier, also of Leavenworth,
was appointed by the governor to sue
coed Caldwell. and he managed to fill out
the unexpired term and survive to be-
come district Judge a few years later.