The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-05
FAMOUS SENATORS
GO OUT OF HARNESS.
some of the Changes That VIII Be
Made in the Body.

Made in the Body.
washington, March 4.-The session
Of the Senate to-day was interesting.
not alone by the official proceedings
on the floor of the chamber, incident
10 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.
OF the thirty senators whose terms
expired when the presiding officers
eavel fell at noon, thirteen failed to
secure reelection, either through de-
feat or through their own refusal to
enter the contests in their various
states. Included in the number whose
official presence in the chamber will
no longer be noted are six Republicans
and seven Democrats, but of the Re
publicans, two, Senator Jones of Ne
vada and Senator Wellington of Mary
land, have in recent years each sup
ported for a time the national candi-
dates of the opposing party.
Two other senators, Deboe of Ken
lucky and Pritchard of North Caro-
lima, are Southern Republicans, and
both are succeeded by Democrats. The
remaining two Republicans are Sena-
tors Mason of Illinois and Simon of
Oregon. OF the seven retiring, Demo-
Gratis, Senator Harris of Kansas, Tur-
ner of Washington and Heitfeld of
Idaho were elected as Populists, and
all are succeeded by Republicans. SEN
ator McLaurin of South Carolina was
elected as a Democrat, and while still
cassed as such, has acted independ-
ha fav- out Of ~
term. The other three, Senators Vest,
Jones of Arkansas and Rawllns, have
from first to last been in the Demo-
cratic ranks, and Jones and Vest
have risen to places of conspicuous
leadership in their party.
In Senator Jones of Nevada the
Senate loses one of it's most popular
as well as one of its most unique mem
bers. He has not made a speech since
the days of the silver debate in 1898,
and he has not during his entire thirty
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
beginning of his national career.
Senator Vest entered the body of 1879
and has served for "a years, winning a
reputation for bri1liancy of speech,
classic learning and sharp repartee
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 chamber, he has continued to
maintain his interest in the proceed
ings and has 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 attention.
Senator Jones of Arkansas came to
the front during the consideration of
the Wilson German tariff bill on &C
count of his knowledge of business de-
tails and his tact in dealing with men,
and he has easily held his place as a
party leader since that time. He has
been chairman of the Democratic con-
ference since the retirement of Sena-
tor Turpie,s and OH this account and
because of the fact that he is chair
man of the Democratic National Com
mittee, has been regarded much of the
time as the official head of the party
in the Senate and in the country at
large. tf4
The retirement of Vest and the two
Jones, will make three :yaaancies on
the Finance Committee and also cause
vacancies on many other important
committees.
OF the seven Democratic senators
who retire, four are succeeded by Re
publicans. and of the six Republicans
who so out, four are succeeded by
Democrats. All the changes in favor
of Republicans are in the Northwest,
and three of those in favor of the
Democrats are in the Southern or Dor
der states.