The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-03
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Attractions Of the Senate.

AAeAesSb-S+-1 "a e-AS @@A~-~S-
Globe Democrat:
John J. ingalls, once said that the
office of senator was the most attrac-
tive post under the United States gov
eminent. the presidency not excepted.
One of the reasons why this Office is SO
desirable may be inferred from the ac-
ton Of many of the legislatures in the
past few months which have had SEN
atOrs to elect. Within a week or two,
Platt of New York. Fairbanks Of In
diana, Spooner of Wisconsin and Telles
of Colorado have been reelected. For
aker of Ohio. Plat OS Connecticut ana
Allison of Iowa We're previously re-
elected for the term beginning this year
German. who was in the senate for
many years but who was out of office
at that time. was also chosen in 1902 for
the term which is soon to begin Not
withstanding the strife which a contest
for the senate usually calls out, strong
man can generally get several terms II
his party remains in power.
There are many reasons why the post
of senator is far more desirable than
that of a representative, although tho
salary is no greater. The term is much
longer, the chamber is much smaller.
and therefore each of its members IS
able to command a greater share of the
countrys attention: the scope Of its ac-
tivity, because of its power over treaties
and presidential nominations, is broader
than that Of the house; it has been abba
10 uHuADs lilIOuhu lis power VI ui44NAlO-
ment, the prerOgative primarily belong
ing to the other chamber of originating
revenue bills: the freedom of debate
which it enjoys gives a chance for all its
members of ability to assert themselves.
Thus the post Of senator has become
( the supreme prize of American politics.
next to the presidency itself, and doubt
less ingalls, was not the only man who
preferred it to even that Office. The
relative attraCttveness Of the two cham
bers has radically changed since the
day when Clay refused a reelection to
the senate TO enter the other body.
Its comparative fixity of tenure gives
service in the senate a powerful charm
for men of ambition. John P. Jones OF
Nevada win retire a few weeks hence
from that chamber. after a service of
thirty years. which would have been ex-
tended at least six years longer If he
had consented to remain in office ALL
son Of Iowa entered the senate the same
time as Jones, in 1873 and viii have
completed thirty years on March 4 next
lie has been reelected and IL he serves
all the records. He and Jones hav-
now equaled the record of Benton. which
was not approached until comparatively
recent times except that William r.
King Of Alabama, who was elected vice
president on the Pierce ticket in 1852
and who died early IN 1888, served ap-
prONimately thirty years, although his
service was broken by several period ;
of retirement. Cockrell of Missouri will
! have finished thirty years in the senate
if he survives till the end of his term.
in 1905. and as he is still on the sunny
side Of the 70-year mark and in good
health, the chances are that he will.
! Sherman and Morrill, each served in the
senate almost thirty-tWO years. and
thus broke all the records thus far, but
] it is exceedingly probabl that that
mark will be surpassed by somebody at
an early day Allison viii beat it If he
/ lives a little over two years longer. Had
/ it not been for the Populist cyclone. In
gals himself would have equaled the
+ Benton record. il he had lived to 1902
and the chances are that the office
would have kept him vigorous and ac-
tive to this time. The most powerful of
the worlds second chambers is also the
most attractive of the worlds legislative
! hodias