The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-20
The PASSING OF
SENATOR COCKRELL
A VICTIM OF THE LANDSLIDE
PRESIDENT ROosEvELT's REGRET
OVER HIS RETIREMENT.

Has Been a Conspicuous Figure in
the Senate for Over a Quarter of q
CentuFy-His Exercise of Economy
in Appropriation Has Saved the
Government Millions of Money
Gees Into Private Life at Over 20
Years a Poor Man.
Washington. Nov. 19.-One of the
most notable victims of the Roosevelt
landslide is Francis Marion Cockrell,
senior United States Senator from the
state Of Missouri. whose fifth consec-
utive term in the Senate will expire
on March 4, 1906. President Roosevelt
expressed the general sentiment of Re-
publicans and Democrats when he
said:
Il am truly sorry that my good
friend Senator Cockrell retires from
the United States Senate as result
of the Republican victory in Missouri"
Senator Cockrell has long been q
conspicuous figure on the Democratic
side Of the chamber. While the Demo-
Gratis held brief control of the Senate
during the Cleveland administration
he was chairman of the Committee on
Appropriations, and as such was play
fully spoken of as watchdog of the
treasury" because of his well known
views regarding an economical expen-
diture of the public money. When
the Republicans regained control of
the Senate Mr.. Cockrell became the
ranking member of the minority on
the same committee, but continued as
the special senatorial guardian Of I'm
Gle Sans strong box.
A Conspicuous Figure.
Visitors entering the gallery while
the Senate was in session had pointed
out to them an old man, closely re-
Sembling some of the caricatureS of
Uncle Sam, sitting in the front row of
seats on the Democratic side Of the
chamber following attentively the or
binary routine proceedings with the
strictest attention. Spread out upon
his desk was complete file of every
bill introduced in and report made to
the Senate. Will other senators were
otherwise engaged it seemed to be
Senator Cockrell's mission to scruti-
nize every legislative proposition in
volving the expenditure of government
funds.
A Republican Senator, commenting
upon the expected retirement Of Mr..
Cockrell because of the changd polit-
ical complexion of the Missouri Leg
islature, paid this tribute to him:
His Retirement a National Loss.
ct regard the retirement of Senator
Cockrell as a loss to the entire coun-
try. No man in the Senate has exert
ed himself as conscientiously and per-
sistently to save the peoples money as
he. BY his close inspection of appro-
priation bills and other measures to
take money from the treasury he has
saved the government millions of dol
lars.
Notwithstanding his strict ideas of
economy. Senator Cockrell is broad
enough and patriotic enough not to
stand in the way of an appropriation
which has for it's purpose the nation
welfare. His honesty, integrity and
patriotic motives stamp him as one OF
the noblest figures in the Senate, and
his absence from that body will be
seriously felt"
Senator Cockrell came to the Senate
in 1876 succeeding Carl Schurz, then
an Independent Republican. He never
before had held a public office. When
| his present term expires he Will have
served thirty years as member OF
the Senate. He has frequently been
mentioned as a presidential Possibility
| His friends in Missouri to show their
appreciation of his valuable aid and in
fiuence in obtaining an appropriation
which made the st. Louis Exposition
a possibility gave him what was de-
clared the only genuine and spontan-
eous demonstration that marked the
proceedings of the National Democratic
Convention which nominated Judge
| Parker.
i
| Needed No Boom.
other candidates were Doomed" but
| the great ovation which greeted the
name of Senator Cockrell when he was
| presented to the convention was spon.
| taneous and sincere.
| During the thirty years he has beer
a member of the Senate. Mr.. Cock.
rell has lived a quiet, frugal life. never
exceeding his income as a senator
Many men in his position and com
nfand.ng the influence he possessed
might have found a way to enrich
themselves, by judicious investments
or otherwise. No stain of any kind
rests upon the official or personal rec
ord of Senator Cockrell, and he goe!
into political retirement a poor man
20 years old.
1t is said of Mr.. Cockrell that M
minority senator is so influential will
the leaders of the Republican side al
he.