The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-03-07

r
but of the republicans, Senator
Jones, of Nevada, and Senator Well
lington, of Maryland, have in re-
cent years each supported for a
time the national candidates of the
opposing party. Two other sena-
tors, Deboe of Kentucky, and
Pritchard Of North Carolina are
Southern republicans, and both are
succeeded by democrats. The re-
naming two republicans are Sena-
tors Mason, of Illinois, and Simon
of Oregon. Of the seven retiring
democrats, Harris ofKansas, Turner
of Washington and Heitfield, were
elected as populists, and allare sue
ceeded by republicans. Senator
McLauren of South Carolina, was
elected as a democrat, and while
still classed as such has acted inde-
pendently during the greater part
Of his term.
The three other senators, Vest,
Jones of Arkansas, and Rowlins,
have from first to last been in the
democratic ranks, and Jones and
Vest have risen to places of con-,
spicuous leadership. In Jones, of
Nevada the senate loses one of the
two men who have served in that
body for 80 consecutive years, the
other being Senator Allison. In
Mr.. Jones the senate loses one of
its most popular as well as one of
its most unique members. He has
not made a speech since tLc 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
shaping legislation has been ex-
ceeded by that of few senator's, and
his great ability has been recogniz-
ed from the beginning of his nation
al career. With few exceptions
during his term the personnel of
the senate has changed many times
over. Roscoe Conkling 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 authority on
finance, and his vast store of in
formation has ever been at the
command of his colleagues.
Senator Vest belongs to the next
generation of senator's. He entered
the body in 1879, and has served
for "a years, winning a reputation
for brilliancy of speech, classic
learning and sharp repartee seldom
exeelled in the senate. He has
been in poor health for several
years past, bnt Notwithstanding he
has been almost blind and has need
ed constant assistance in going in
to and out of the senate chamber,
he has continued to maintain his
interest in the proceedings and his
prestige as an orator. He has made
several speeches on current topics
during the past session, and each
time he has taken the floor he has
been given the closest attention by
both senators and occupants of the
galleries.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, came
to the front during the considera-
tion of the Wilson-Gorman tariff
bill on account of his knowledge of
business details and his tact in
dealing with men, and he has easi-
ly held his place as party leader
since that time. He has been chair
man of the democratic conference
since the retirement of Sanator Tur-
pie, and on this account and be-
cause of the fact that he is chair
man 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 Joneses will make three vacan-
cies on the finance committee and
also cause vacancies on many other
important committees.
Senator Mason ia chairman of
the committee on postof6ces and
also member of the committee on
commerce.
Senator Pritchard gives up the
Craftsmanship of the committee on
patents, and also membership in q
number of other important commit.
tees.
Senator Rawlins' retirement will
cause democratic vacancy on the
committee on foreign relations and
also in the committee on Philip
pines.
Senator Turner retires from the