The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-09
Glimpse at Men Who Served
Kansas as Senators.
There Have Been Is, Begin
ming With Lane and POmerOy.
FORMER A SUICIDE.
Latter Retired After York
Doodle Disclosures.
Ingalls, the Youngest Man to Be
Elected.
FORMER A SUICIDl

have been fifteen in all. They began
with Lane and Pomeroy and ended
with Long and Burton.
The fifteen men who have repre-
scented Kansas in the United States
senate since her admission to the
union on January %, 1861, are: Sam
uel c. Pomeroy, James H. Lane, Ed
mUnd G. Ross, Alexander Caldwell,
Robert Crozier, John J. ingalls,, James
NJ. Harvey. Preston B. Plumb, William
A. PETER, Bishop w. Perkins, John
Martin, Lucien Baker, William A.
Harris. Joseph r. Burton. and Chester
L Long.
Lane and Pomeroy were chosen by
the first state legislature. One was
to have a full term and the other
four years, conforming to the rule of
division of senator's. so that as nearly
one-third Of the entire membership
of the senate as possible may be
elected biennialIy Lane drew the
short term of four years. They came
to the senate at the beginning of the
big war. These were stirring times
in Washington. Lane was active and
picturesque and attracted attention.
He became a brigadier general and
commanded troops in Washington
when the city was threatened with a
than his colleague.
Lane took. after the death of Lin
coin, the Johnson side of the strife
that followed the succession of the
vice president to the martyred presi-
dents place. Kansas was anti-John-
son. Lane undertook to reconcile the
people of the state to his stand for
johnson, but the people then as now
insisted upon doing their own think
ing. When Lane found that he could
not change the Kansas view, it broke
his heart. He killed himself on the
Fort Leavenworth military reserva-
| ton, July IL 1866
Lane was succeeded by Senator Ed
mund G. Ross who came to the senate
/ by appointment. Strange to say he
| followed in the footsteps of his pre-
| decessor in the Andrew Johnson con-
| troVerSy. He defeated impeachment by
his vote, and retired to private life
| March 4, 1871. He never recovered from
the disappointment and went to New
Mexico. In 1885 President Cleveland
made him governor of the territory
He is now nearing the end of his life
and is said to be in necessitous circuIn-
stances.
Alexander Caldwell was Leaven-
worth capitalist, and he was elected To
succeed Ross. He served about two
manner of his election, and fearing dis
closures, he resigned
Governor Osborn appointed Judge
Robert Crozier of IeavenWorth as sue
cessor to Caldwell. Crozier took his
seat December 1. 1873, and vacated it
February II, 1874, upon the election
of his successor. Afterward for many
years he was a district judge. He WAS
the father of General William Croziar,
now chief of ordnance of the army.
In the meantime John James ingalls,
of Atchison, had succeeded Pomerov.
The latter, in 1873, had been a candi-
date for reelection to his third term.
The sensational disclosures in connec-
ton with the legislator, York, of Mont
gomery county, resulted in the selec-
ton of ingalls,, who remained in the
senate until 1891, serving IS years, or
three terms. Twice. thereafter, ingalls,
appeared as a candidate for the sena-
tOrship, but failed. He died in 1900.
ingalls, was the most brilliant and gift
ed of all the Kansas senators, and he
acquired national reputation. A
statue of the dead senator viii soon
be placed in statuary hall in the CAPT
tol at Washington.
The legislature of 1874 elected James
NJ Harvey, who prior to that had re-
tired from the office of governor, to be
CrOzier's successor and serve out the
balance of the Caldwell term. 1t had
been Harveys great ambition to be
senator, and he hoped to succeed him
self but he was defeated for re-elec-
ton.
In 1877 Preston B. Plumb went to the
senate and served until the day of his
death, December 20. 1891. Plumb was
a civil war veteran and colonel of q
Kansa regiment. He was an editor
and a lawyer. He had served several
terms in the Kansas legislature and
had been speaker of the house. He
was undoubtedly the hardest worker
Kansas ever had in the United States
senate. His capacity for hard work
was prodigfous, and his death, due to
apoplexy, has been attributed by many
to his rigid and unbending industry.
ingalls, was succeeded in 1891 by
William A. PETER, PopuliSt. He served
one term. His election was the first
big triumph for the POpulist party in
Kansas. Several years ago PETER left
Kansas and came to Washington to
live He has spent most of his time
since coming here in compiling an in
dex of the Congressional Record since
the beginning of congress, sort of
ready reference for busy statesmen.
When Plumb died, Governor Humph-
rey appointed Bishop W. Perkins, who
had served eight years in the Kansas
house of representatives to succeed
him. He took his seat early in 1892,
and retired in 1898, when the legisla-
ture elected his successor Perkins
died in this city June 20, 1894.
In 1898 Judge John Martin was
elected by the Populists and Democrats
to succeed Perkins He served but
two years, as the legislature of 1885
was again Republican Judge Martin
came to Kansas in the early days, and
served several terms in ne legislature.
He is lawyer IN topeka. put gives
most of his time to the Devlin Gel
company interests. From 1897 TO 1899
he was clerk of the state supreme
court.
cien Baker. of Leavenworth. to the
senate to succeed Martin. Baker at
! that time was a member OF the state
senate. His election was result OF
/ a combination to defeat J. r. Burton.
Burton missed election to the senate
bv one vote Baker was an honest
/ man and an able lawyer, and he rep
resented the state with dignity, but
he had no liking for public life, and
his heart was not in his campaign
i for reelection, so that he was retired
/ ~, hd his law pfica
at Leavenworth. which is said to be