The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-04
SENATE CHANGES.
Thirteen Senators VIII Go Home to
Return 10 Mora

A6buEu Ia Q AAOT6s
Washington. March 4-The session of
the senate today was interesting not
alone for the official proceedings on the
floor Of the chamber incident to the
last day of a congress. but by many
occurrences which We're purely social in
their character due to the fact that the
day marked the close of many careers
in the senate OF the 30 senators whose
terms expired when the presiding Off
GERS gavel fell at. noon, Is failed to Sc
cure reelection either through defeat or
through their own refusals to enter the
contests in their various states. In
eluded in the number whose official
presence in the chamber will no longer
be noted are six Republicans and seven
Democrats but Of the Republicans. two
senator Jones tNeV.9 and Senator Wei
nngtOn tMd-l, have in recent years eaeh
supported FOR a time the national can
didates OF the opposing party Two 9th
err senators. Deboe (I<yD and Pritchard
IN CD are southern Republicans, and
both are succeeded by Democrats The
remaining TWO Republicans are Senators
Mason GID and Simon (Ore).
OF the seven retiring Democrats. SEM
ators Harris (Kan.). Turner 6NNash)
and Heitfeld (idaho1 were elected as
Populists and all are succeeded by Re
publicans. Senator McI.aurin IS. c.
was elected as a Democrat and while
still classed as such has acted indepemd-
term. The other three senators. Vest.
Jones (Ark9 and Rawlins. have from
first to last been in the Democratic
ranks and Jones and Vest have risen to
places Of conspicuous leadership in their
party.
In Senator Jones CNev) the senate
loses one of the two men who have
served in that body for 30 consecutive
Years, the other being Senator Allison.
I'm Mr. Jones the senate loses one of it's
most popular as well as one OF its most
unique members. He has not made q
speech since the days of the silver de-
bate in 1888 and he has not during his
entire 30 years service introduced to ex-
ceed half dozen bills. yet his influence
in shaping legislation has been exceed
ed by that of few senators and his
great ability has been recognized from
the beginning of his national career.
With few exceptions during his term
the personnel of the senate has chang
ed many Tunes over. When Mr. Jones
entered the body Simon Cameron and
Hannibal Hamin were still prominent
characters there. Roscoe COnkling was
at his best and James 6. Blaine had not
Hfl entered tne senate General Logan
Carl Schurz, Allen c. Thurman. Oliver
p Morton, Thomas T. Bayard and John
j. ingalls, We're leading figures Senator
Jones has from the first been recOgniz-
ca as an dutn0rlty on finance and his
vast store of information has ever been
at the command of his colleagues.
senator Vest belongs To the next
body in 1879 and has served for twen-
ty-iour years, winning reputation
for brilhancy of speech, classical learn
ing and sharp repartee seldom exceled
fin the senate. He has been i'm poor
health for several years past but not
withstanding he has been almost blind
and has needed constant assistance in
going into and out of the senate cham
Der. he has continued to maintain his
interest I'm the proceedings and his
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 by both
senators and occupants of the CALLER
les.
Senator Jones (Arkansas) came to
the front during the cOnsidera tiOn of
the Wilson German tariff bin on ac-
count of his knowledge Of business de-
tails and his tact i'm 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, and on 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
I'm the senate and in the country at
large.
The retirement Of Vest and the two
Joneses win make three vacancies on
the finance committee and also cause
vacancies on many other important
committees.
Senator Mason is chairman of the
committee on postoffces. and also a
member OF the committee on com
merce. Senator Pritchard gives up the
craftsmanship of the committee on pat
cnts, and also membership in a NUM-
ber of other important committees.
Senator Rawlins retirement will cause
o Democratic vacancy on The commit
tee on foreign relations and also in the
committee on the Philippines. Senator
Turner retires from the judiciary COM
lnittee and the committee on COM
rnerce.
OF the seven Democratic senators
who retire four are succeeded by Re
publicans and Of the six Republicans
who go out four are succeeded by the
Democrats. All the changes in favor
of Republicans are in the Northwest,