The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-07-29
RY AN Ex-SPEAKER OF A STATE
LEGISLATURE.

downright, 1900. by Joseph Is. BoWlesl
Unless the method of electing United
States senators is changed only men
with extraordinarily strong pulls or
nncommonly long purses can hope &c
win the coveted togas. Time was, and
not so very long go when United states
senatorial campaigns were conducted
along moderate lines. In those days the
candidate wrote a few letters, made q
few visits to some of the pivotal"
counties. then HE'D him to the state cap
StaI and there awaited the unpledged
and open-minded state senators and as
semb1ymen.
But modern methods have changed all
this, and now a United States senator
is made, not elected. The vote In the
house and senate, except in rare cases,
IS merely the ratification Of caucus &C
1iop. 1t is the consummation, however,
Of several years of intrigue, hard cam
paigning, keen aud unsentimentaA poll
tics, promise-giving and pledge making,
5ob-trading and in the majority OF cases
plain, u~nvarnished and unblushlng
.oribe asking and bride giving.
No campaign or agitation which CEN
Iers on the legislature of a state has in 1t
so much of interest to the practical poll
fician or onlooker who understands the
moves as the campaign which leads up
10 the election of a United States sem
.ator. And no election is SO little I'M
,derstood. l often have been ~astounded
at the dense ignorance of all that goes
1lnto the making Of a United States sena-
{ shown by men who seemed to be
~wall-infOrmed citizens.
Yet | should not have been surprised,
Cor so much of the preliminary work is
OF the gum-shoe campaign variety b a
frequently old, seasoned members of
Che general assembly are completely
fooled.
This kind of a campaign frequently
brings into conflict the state and feder-
al machines, for in every state there are
two distinct organizations; n head
ed by the governor and the other by one
OF both senators. When the candidate
is a United States senator seeking re-
election and is opposed by the governor
of the state, the federal and state pay
xOlls are the rival awards held up be-
fore the coveted lawmakers. II the jobs,
IN hand or promises, are not enough, the
man who wants to succeed himeslf opens
his barrel.
Some good people have deluded them
selves into believing that because some
candidates for senatorial hOnOrS are not
rich men money is not used in thell
campaigns except in a legitimate ant
therefore small way. The cold. hare
fact is that any man who carries thu
hall mark Of success in politics and who
Is looked upon as a winner in a ract
Gor a seat In the United States senate
has no need to spend one lone cent of hi:
" money. Bank accounts OF which
he had never heard; funds from sources
he had never known, ready cash from
bands he never before had grasped ar
his for the intimation; he doesn't ever
have to ask.
This eagerness on the part of certain
Kinds of men who control certain kind
Of great transportation and manufac
curing businesses explains why compar
AJlkSJY DOOI lACA a DCOh IOAC W NoA
out to a successful conclusion a long, ex
.oensive campaign. And when that NAL
gets into the senate he is not going Il
nave his financial hackers, his angels,
Gay he is 2 man with cold feet" He i
going to make good, for he will need tina
same kind of money. those same influ
ences; those same brands of passes an
get busy" letters when he comes befor
she people and legislature of his stat
4Sor reelection.
I have said that United States sena
=&ors-I shall modify that statement b
Saying most of them-are made, nc
elected. One of the statesmen who "reE
resented" cur state in the upper chan
Der in Washington vas manufacture
by a great railroad whose general Office
were in the principal city Of my state.
know he was made because was 4 {
4he men who worked on the job. til
sequence Of processes which entered il
10 the making of this senator bega
when the railroad people decided the
wanted bne of their attorneys to loo
after their interests in the nation;
capital.
| have been told that the man himse
had not the slightest idea of becomiI
a candidate until he vas told by his S
perior that the great ones had pick'
MIN out as a likely probability for toll
Alonors. This picked-out candidate hi
few of the personal qualities while
count so much in the great game of Pc
tics. He was not afriend maker; he W
mol a good mixer; he was a fair spe
asinder. had had some public experient
and The fact that he was q favored attic
ney of the road was conclusive eviden
that he knew how to getsyaiue receiV
from city councils and state legislatur'
But he was What is known ia the ira
as aan available man" He carried
right political brand; his home to-
was the center of "a powerful polite
district and as he had never been fou
out there was no snea on his pup
record.
Tne railroad people began the maxi