The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-10
THIRTEEN SAY FAREWELL TO
PUBLIC LIFE.
LONG CAREERS ARE ENDED
Vest and Jones of Arkansas the Most
Conspicuous of Those Who
Go Out.

u ~ SGlldLC yCoLCl udy vas lllClC
ing, not alone by the official proceed
ings OF the floor of the chamber Incl
dent TO the last day Of congress, but
by many occurrences which were
purely social in their character, due
to the fact that the day marked the
close of many careers in the senate.
or the 80 senators whose terms ex-
pired when the presiding officers
gavel fell at noon, 10 failed to secure
reelection either through defeat or
through their own refusals to enter
the contests in their various states.
Included in the list whose official
presence in the chamber will no long
er be noted arc six republicans and
seven democrats; but of the republi-
cans, Senator Jones of Nevada and
Senator Wellington of Maryland have
in recent years supported for a time
ing party. Two others, Senator De-
Doe of Kentucky and Pritchard Of
North Carolina are southern republi-
cans and both are succeeded by demo-
Gratis. The remaining two republi-
ans are Senator Mason of Illinois
and Simon of Oregon.
OF the seven retiring democrats,
Harris of Kansas, Turner of Washing
ton and Heitfeld of Idaho were elect
ed as populists and all are succeeded
by republicans. Senator McLaurin Of
South Carolina was elected as a DEM
ocrat and while still classed as such
has acted independently during the
greater part of his term.
Two Rise High.
The three other senators, Vest
Jones oft Of Aft 6 iassats, 6 5nd R "a lhe d haHe.
cratic ranks and Jones and Vest have
risen to places of conspicuous leader
ship. In Mr.. Jones Of Arkansas the
senate loses one of the two men who
have served in the body for 80 con-
secutive years. the other being Sena-
tor Allison. In Mr.. Jones the senate
iooNo III VI liiOok poPuldls do "CIl
as one of its most unique members.
He has not made a speech since the
days of the silver debate in 1898, and
he has not, during his entire 80 years
service, introduced to exceed half a
dozen bills, yet his influence in shap>
ing legislation has been exceeded by
that of few senators and his great
ability has been recognized from the
Of his national career. With
a few exceptions during his term, the
personnel Of the senate has changed
many times.
Roscoe Conklin was at his best and
James G. Blaine had not yet entered
the senate when Mr.. Jones entered
the senate. Thomas F. Bayard and
John j. ingalls, were leading figures
at that time. Senator Jones, from the
first, has been recognized as an au-
on finance and his vast store
Of information has yer been at the
of his colleagues.
Record Of Vest.
Senator Vest belongs to the past
generation of senators. He entered
he body in 1879 and has served "a
tears, winning a repu, alton for bril-
fancy of speeches, classic learning
sharp repartee seldom eXcelled
the senate. He has been in poor :
for several years past, but not t
outstanding he has been almost blind 8
n going in and out of the senate, he i
'as continued to main ain his interest f
n the proceedings and his prestige as =
n orator. He has made several /
peeches on current topics during the f
Iast session and each time he has +
aiken the floor he has been given the a
losest attention by both senators and j.
occupants of the senate. g
Senator Jones of Arkansas came to
he front during the consideration of !,
he Wilson-Gorman tariff debate on d
of his tact in dealing with @
len, and he has easily held his place i,
S a party leader since the time of n
ne democratic conferences since the O
etirement of Senator Turpie, and OF k
lis account and because of the fact h
lat he is chairman of the democratic W
ational committee, has been regard n
4 much of the time as the official fl
cad of the party in the senate and in fl
lie country at large. The retirement II
: Mr.. Vest and the two Jones will
AXE three vacancies on the finance q,
)mmittee and also causes vacancies u,
many other important committees. ei
enator Mason is chairman of the d,
,mmittee on postofices. n,