The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-05
CHANGES IN THE SENATE.
Jones, of Nevada, and Vest, of Mis-
souri,, VIII BE Missed.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-Of the thirty
senators whose terms expired when the
presiding officers gavel fell at noon to-
day thirteen failed to secure reelection
either through defeat or through their own
refusals 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 Repub-
licans, two, Senator Jones, of Nevada, and
Senator Wellington, of Maryland, have in
recent years each supported, for time, the
national candidates of the opposing party.
Two other senators-Deboe, of Kentucky,
and Pritchard of North Carolina-are
Southern Republicans and both sue
ceeded by Democrats. The remaining two
Republicans are Senators Mason, of Illi-
nois, and Simon, of Oregon. OF the seven
retiring Democrats-Harris, of Kansas,
Turner of Washington, and Heitfeldt, of
Idaho-were elected as Populists and all
are succeeded by Republicans. Senator
McLaurin. of South Carolina, was elected
as Democrat, and while still classed as
such, has acted Independently during the
greater part of his term. The other three
senators, Vest, Jones, of Arkansas, and
Rawlins. have from first to last been in
the Democratic ranks and Jones and Vest
have risen to places of conspicuous leader
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
popular well as one of its most unique
members. He has not made speech since
the days of the silver debate In 1888, and
h. hos not re-
service introduced to exceed half dozen
bills, yet his influence i'm shaping legisla-
ton has been exceeded by that of few sem
ators and his great ability has been recog-
nized from the beginning of his national
career With a few exceptions during his
term the personnel of the Senate has
entered the body, Simon Cameron and Han
nibal Hamlin were still prominent char
acters there. Roscoe COnkln was at his
hest and James c.. Blaine had not vet en-
tered the Senate. General Logan, Carl
Schurz, Allen G. Thurman, Oliver p. Nor
ton Thomas +: Bayard and John j. In
gals were leading figures. Senator Jones
has from the first been recognized as an
authority on finance and his vast store of
information has ever been at the command
senator Vest belongs to the next genera
ton of senator's. He entered the body i'm
1879 and has served for twenty-four years
winning a reputation for brillianey of
speech classic learning and sharp Separtee
seldom excelied in the Senate. He has
been i'm poor health for several years past
hut. notwithstanding he has been almost
blind and has needed constant assistance
i'm going into and out of the Senate cham
her. he has continued TO maintain his in
terests in the proceedings and his pres
tige as an orator. He has made several
sneeches on current topics during the mast
session. and each time that he has taken
the floor he has been given the closest at
tention by both senator's and occupants of
the galleries.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, came to the
front during consideration of the Wilson,
German tariff bill on account of his knowl-
edge of business details 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
Turpie and on this account and because of
the fact that he is chairman of the Demo-
cratic national committee has been regard
ed most of the time as the official head
of the party in the Senate and I'm the coun-
try at large.
The retirement of Vest and the two
Joneses will make three vacancies on the
finance committee, and also cause vacancies
on several other important committees
tee on postofiices and also member of
the committee on commerce Senator
Pritchard gives up the Craftsmanship of
the committee on patents and also men,
bership In a number of other important
| committees. Senator Rawlins's retirement
| will cause Democratic vacancy i'm the
committee on foreign relations and also In
the committee on the Philippines. Senator
| Turner retires from the judiciary commit
| tee and the committee on commerce. OF
the seven Democratic senators who retirs