The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-25

1t is not an uncommon thing nowadays
10 hear or read the statement that the
United States Senate is not the great body
it once was. We are told that in the days
of Webster. Clay and Calhoun. not to go
further back, the average standard of abil-
ity and craftsmanship In the Senate was
much higher than it is now favorite
quotation of those who make the COMPARE
son is There were giants in those days"
Yes, there were some giants, but no more
in proportion than there are now. The pro-
portion OF mediocre men in the Senate two
or three generations ago was fully as large
as 1t is at present. In 1880, when John c.
Calhoun was Vice President and Daniel
Webster was senator, the Senate consisted
of ffty-four members. not more than half
a dozen of whom found any place in history.
There were two Smiths, William and Sam
uel. and there were John Taylor,
John Rowan. John Eaton, John Branch,
George Troup, David Barton. David Baker
and many others whose names are forgot
ten. while those of Webster and Calhoun
survive. The nonentities sat with Webster,
Clay and Calhoun. but they were not Of
them. There were giants in those days,
but there were pigmies. too.
1t is always instructive to see ourselves
as others see us. DR.. Thomas Barclay. ex-
president of the Paris Chamber of Com
merce, and member of the Mosely Educa-
tional Commission, now visiting the United
States says in published interview:
want to say that 1t has been my good
fortune to come in contact with all the
public men of my time in France and most
of the eminent men in England during the
same period, and / say il my deliberate
Judgment that the American Senate is un-
matchable In the character of its members
genuine capacity and earnestness of pur-
pose. The Senate impresses me as body
of extraordinary powers, some or whlcn
seem To find their inspiration outside of the
Constitution, but sanctioned by the people,
because of the eminent abilities and obvious
merits of the men who constitute the Sem
ate, taken together with their evident am
bition TO do what is best for the country.
The intelligent foreigner has sized up the
Senate very correctly. 1t is not a body Of
great orators. though 1t contains many
good speakers, and it must be added that
mere oratory does not count for so much
now as it once did. This is practical age,
and the demand is for kind of statesman
ship that can tackle and solve the great
problems of twentieth century progress.
There is no danger but there will always
be enough lawyers and speech-makers in
both branches of Congress; the demand is
for men of affairs.
The modern captain of industry adapts
himself very readily to the duties of modern
craftsmanship. Senator Hanna, the recog-
nized leader of the majority of the Senate,
was engaged in business forty years before
he entered politics. AT a single step, and
without serving any previous apprentice
ship in politics. he passed from the count
| ing-room to the Senate chamber, and to the
leadership Of his party. He Is a good
speaker but not an orator. He is essen
TALLY twentieth century statesman of the
! commercial school. There are other sena-
tors of the same class, though he is easily
at the head.
The Senate has not degenerated unless So
| ciety has degenerated and the national
| character deteriorated. This is a CONNER
| cial age, we are commercial people, and
it is right and fitting that the commercial
| element, the conservative business element
should be represented in the Senate. The
Senate is as strong as it ever was in law
years and orators, and stronger than ever
| before in the business element