The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-06

Washington, March 4.-The session
of the senate today was interesting not
alone by the official proceedings on the
floor of the chamber incident to the last
day of congress, but by many o.tur-
rences which were purely social in tn ir
character. due to the fact that the day
marked the close of many careers in
the senate. Of the 80 senators whose
terms expired when the presiding Of
ficers gavel fell at noon, i3 failed to
secure reelection, either through de-
feat or through their own refusals to
enter the contests in their various
states. Included in the number whose
be noted are six republicans and seven
democrats, but of the republicans, TWO.
Senator Jones, of Nevada. and Sena-
tor Wellington, of Maryland, have in
recent years each supported for time
the national candidates of the opposing
party. Two other senator's. DeB3e, G.:
Kentucky and Pritchard, of North Car
olina are southern republicans. and roth
are succeeded by democrats. The re-
naming two republicans are Senator'S
Mason of Illinois and Simon. of Oregon.
Of the seven retiring democrats, Srra-
tors Harris, of Kansas, Turnec Of
Washington, and Heitfeld. of Idaho
were elected as populists and all are
succeeded by republicans. Senator TIc-
Iaurin, Of South Carolina was e!erted
as a democrat and while still classed as
such he acted independently during the
greater part of his term. The other
three, Senators Vest, Jones. of Artan-
sas, and Rawlins have from first to last
been in the democratic ranks, and
Jones and Vest have risen t. places Of
conspicuous leadership in their party.
In Senator Jones, Of Nevada. the
senate loses one Of the two men who
have served III that body for thirty con-
secutive years, the other being Senator
Allison. In Mr.. Jones the senate loses
one Of its most popular as well as one
of it's most unique members He has
not made a speech since the Gays of the
silver debate in 1898, and he has rot
during his entire thirty years service
| introduced to exceed half a dozen bills.
Yet his influence in shaping legislation
has been exceeded by that of few SEN
ators and his great ability has been re-
cognized from the beginning of his ma
tional career
Senator Vest belongs to the rext
body in 1879 and has served for TIVE Aty-
four years winning a reputation for tril
liancy of speech, classic learning end
sharp repartee seldom excelled in the
senate. He has been in poor heath for
several years past, but notwithstanding
he has been almost blind and has had
assistance in going into and out of
the senate chamber, he has continued
to maintain his interest in the proceed
s,,f -. ~, 10
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-Gorman tariff bill, on ac-
count of his knowledge Of business de-
tails and his tact in dealing with men.
and he has easily held his place 2s Il
party leader since that time. He has
been chairman of the democratic con-
ference since the retirement Of Senator
fTurpie and on this account anl because
of the fact that he is chairman OF the
democratic national committee, has
been regarded much of the time as 5he
| official head of the party in the senate
and in the country at large.
The retirement of Vest and the two
Jones will make three vacancies on The
| finance committee and also cause va
cancies on many other important com
mitteeS.
| OF the seven democratic senators who
retire, four are succeeded by republicans
and Of the six republicans who go cut
| four are succeeded by democrats. Al
! the changes in favor of republicans are
| in the northwest and all of those iT
| favor of the democrats are in tbs
southern or border states.