The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-29
BURTON THE TENTH.
The "Lane Succession" in the
Senate.

Senator Burton is the tenth in the
unfortunate Lane succession of Kan
sas United States senators. In the
POmeroy succession, on the other hand,
there have been only four senators
prior to Senator Long. In the Lane
Succession, with one exception, not a
man served more than one term and
the majority retired from Office defeat
ed and broken-h hearted. The tenth,
Burton, goes forth diSgraced in the
eyes of the nation after little more
than half of his term has expired.
The fatal succession" as John J.
,, ingalls, once termed it when he de-
clined to run for q place in this success
sion, has often been commented on.
The following have been United States
senators under it:
James H. Lane. drew the short term,
got at outs with his constituents, and
committed suicide after serving for five
years.
Edmund Ross, appointed to succeed
Pomeroy, gave the vote which kept
Andrew johnson from conviction on
.ated by his people. Now living in New
Mexico, almost in poverty
Alexander Caldwell. charged with
buying his election, anc resigned un-
der charges.
Robert Crozier, appointed to succeed
Caldwell, but failed of election to the
regular term.
James NJ. Harvey. who served full
/ term, but could not be reelected and
/ retired from public life broken-h hearted.
| Preston B. Plumb, the one exception,
served fifteen years and was q force in
! the sanate. but even he died a tragic
death in Washington.
| Bishop w. Perkins, appointed to fill
PlumE'S unexpired term, but a turn in
the political wheel in Kansas placed the
Populists in control of the legislature
and defeated him for reelection.
| John Martin, elected by the legislature
of 1893 to fill out the balance of Plumb's
| urexpired term to 1895, but another
/ turn of the political wheel placed the
Republicans again in power and caused
his defeat after only two years as SEN
/ ator.
Lucien Baker, who served a full term
without disgrace. but who lacked the
I force to secure a reelection, and who
retired to private life embittered.
And Joseph Ralph Burton, brilliant.
! but a convicted boodler when only half
of his term has expired.
Who will be the eleventh man in this
unfortunate succession Will he like
Plumb, be an exception to the rule?
The Pomeroy succession, on the other
hand, while not always successful, has
been either successful or respected. It
/ began with Samuel c.. Pomeroy who
4 drew the long term, was reelected and
/ was therefore senator for twelve years.
1t is true that he was defeated by In
gals with charges of buying votes
tainting him, but he had what is gen
orally termed in politics a successful
career.
Next came John James ingalls,, who
remained in the senate for eighteen
years and was one of the most con-
spicuous figures in the nation.
The third was William A. PETER, who
while lacking ingalls, brilliancy, retired
at the end of his term with the respect
of his colleagues and the confidence OF
his people in his utmost integrity.
Fourth came William A. Harris, who
attained a high position in the senate
and who, but for turn in the political
fortunes of the state, would have been
reelected without question. and who is
now held in the highest esteem by the
people of his state regardless of politics.
And fifth came Chester I. Long, whose
/ career as United States senator is just
beginning, but which seems full of
promise.