The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-04
CLOSE OF CAREERS
Thirty Senators Whose Terms Ex-
pired When the Gavel Fell
at Noon.
The Two Senators Jones and Senator
Vest Politics Of the Depart
ing Statesmen.

tho senate to-day was interesting not
alone by the official proceedings on the
floor Of the chamber incident to the last
day Of congress, but by many occurrences
which were purely social in their chaf-
acter, due to the fact that the day marked
the close Of many careers in the senate.
Of the thirty senators, whose terms ex-
pired when the presiding officers gavel fell
at noon thirteen failed to secure re-elec-
ton either through defeat or through their
own refusals to enter the contests IN their
various states Included in the number T
whose official presence in the chamber will
no longer be noted are six republicans ana
seven democrats, but of the republicans, T
two, Senator Jones of Nevada, and Sen |.
tor Wellington of Maryland, have III re-
cent years each supported for time the
national candidates Of the opposing party.
Two other senator's, De Boo OF Kentucky
and Pritchard of North Carolina are
southern republicans and both are sue
ceeded by democrats. The remaining Two
republicans are Senators Mason OF limos
and Simon Of Oregon. OF the seven retlr-
ing democrats Senators Harris Of Kansas,
Turner Of Washington and He1t1elo o1
Idaho were elected as populists and all are
succeeded by republicans. ~
Senator McLaurin Of South Carolina was
elected as a. democrat and While sun
classed as such has acted Independently
during the greater part of the term. Inc
other three senators, Vest. Jones OF AT
kansas, and Rawlins, have from first to
last been in the democratic ranks, and
Jones and Vest have risen to places or
conspicuous leadership in their party.
In Senator Jones of Nevada the senate
loses one of the two men who have served
in that body for thirty. consecutive years.
the other being Senator Allison IN Mr.
Jones the senate loses one of its most pop
ular as we'll as one of its most unique
members. He has not made speech
since the days of the silver debate IN
1898, and he has not during MS entlre
thirty years service introduced to exceed
half a dozen bills, yet his influence IN
shaping legislation has been exceeded py
that of few senators and his great ability
has been recognized from the beginning OF
his national career. With a few eAcep-
lions during his term the personnel of the
senate has changed many times over.
When Mr. Jones entered the BODY simon
| Cameron and Hannibal Hamlin were still
prominent characters there. Roscoe Conk-
ling was at his best, and James G. Blaine
had not yet entered the senate. General
Logan, Carl Schurz, Allen G. Thurman,
Oliver P Morton, Thomas F. Bayard and
John J. Ingalls, were leading figures Sen
a tor Jones has from the first been recog-
nized as an authority on finance and his
vast store Of information has ever been
at the command Of his colleagues.
Senator Vest belongs to the next gener-
alton of senators. He entered the body in
1879 and has served for tWenty-four years
winnig reputation for brilliancy Of
speech. classic learning and sharp repair
tee seldom excelled in the senate. He has
been in poor health for several years past,
but Notwithstanding he has been almost
blind and has needed constant assistance
in going into and out of the senate cham
Der, he has continued to maintain his in
terest in the proceedings and his prestige
as an orator. He has made several
speeches on current topics during the past
session and each time that he has taken
the floor he has been given the closest at
tention by both senators and occupants OF
the galleries. ..-- :. ..
Sena tor Jones Of Arkansas, came to the
front during the consideration Of the Will
son-Gorman tariff bill on account Of his
knowledge of business details and his tact
in dealing with men and he has easily
held his place as a party leader since thai
time. He has been chairman Of the demo:
cratic conference since the retirement Of
Senator Turpie and on this account anc
because Of the fact that he is chairman Of
the democratic national committee, has
been regarded much Of the time as the
official head of the party in the senate
and in the country at large.
The retirement of Vest and the two
Jones will make three vacancies on the
finance committee and also cause vacan-
cies on many other important committees
Senator Mason is chairman of the com
mittee on postoffices and also member Of
the committee on, commerce., Senator
Pritchard gives up the Craftsmanship o.
the committee on patents and also mem.
bership in a number of other importan'
committees. Senator, RaWlins' retirement
will cause a democratic vacancy on thu
committee on foreign relations and als'
, in the committee on the Philippines. Sen
ator Turner retires from the judiciar.
committee and the committee on com
, merce. -. e.. : 80.
OF the seven democratic senators VIII
, retire. four are succeeded by republican
; and of the six republicans who go out fou
!. are succeeded by democrats. All tn
. changes in favor of the republicans ar
. in the northwest. and three Of those i
favor Of the democrats are in the south
: ern or border states.