Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-22
Retaliation of DR.. 0sler's Re-
Gently Expressed Views.
GRAND OLD CITIZENS
SENATORS WHO DO NOT MERIT
CHLoRoFoRMINo.
Distinguished Men Who Have Been in
Active Life Since Before
the Civil War.

ninth Congress can be cited as evidence,
the opinion of one DIR. Osier as to the pro-
priety Of chloroforming men who attain
the age of sixty does not count for much.
The people of the United States and the
state legislatures seem to take no stock at
all in his theories Instead OF chloroform-
ing their statesmen who have reached pears
Of sagacity they promote them 10 the high
est offices they have to bestow and keep
them there as long as they can, and often
as long as they live.
II is only a few years since the passing
of the late Isham G. Harris. Tennessee's
famous war governor. who first entered
Congress in 1s49 and died member Of the
United States Senate more than half a GEN.
tury afterward. 1t is but a fortnight since
the death of William B. Bate, long Senator
Harris colleague, and who was candi-
date for Congress before the civil war.
The retirement of William NJ. Stewart OF
Nevada removed the Oldest member of tho
Senate in priority OF entrance to that body,
although not so I'm continuous service
Forty-one years passed between the date
of his entrance to and exit from the Amer
lean house of lords. And there are some
who think he may yet come back again,
as he had done before at intervals,
for although getting along triae In years
being seventy-eght last Augustine is still
a physical giant and as much OF fighter
as ever. He has several seniors In years
among the members of the new Senate
which has just adjourned.
The patriarch of the present Senate I'm
point of years is Gen. Edwin w. Pettus,
who has reached the age of eighty-four and
whose present term will not expire until he
fs lightweight. Close upon his heels I'm the
race with Father Time is his colleague, Gen.
John T. Morgan, who is nearly eighty-one,
and following them is Orville IL. Plat, who
will be seventy-eight In July, and Is sure
of seat until 1909.
Allison and Cullom.
At quite distance are William B. AIn-
son and Shelby M. Cullom. The former
was seventy-six about Inauguration time.
and the latter will reach that age this tall
Senator Allfsons present term does not
expire until 1909. and Senator culioms I'M
til 1907. and both are good for reelection.
Senator Henry M. Teller will be seventy
five In May, his present term will last until
1909. and although he has never been de-
feated for election he has announced that
he will run no more. Senator William p.
Frye is seventy-four. Senator Redfleid Proc
tor at seyenty-four is just beginning an
other term.
Some other grand old men" OF the Sen
ate are Senator Thomas c. Platt at seven
ty-two, and his frisky colleague. Senator
Chauncey NJ Depew, at seventy-one. Ex-
Senator Francis N. Cockrel Ia seventy
one Then in the order Of age seniority
come John H. Mitchell. who at seventy Is
unQinR lie quite interesting, mol 10 say ex-
citing. None OF the othe rsenators have
attained the scriptural three score and ten.
but several Of them can see that august
age approaching within a lustrum, and are
all In good health to far exceed seventy
years.
The following senators are on this walt
ing list, several of them just reelected:
Senator Alger Is sixty-nine; his colleague,
Senator Burrows. Senators McEnery and
Gallinger are sixty-eight: Senators Bacon.
Blackburn, Hale. Clark OF Montana and
Perkins are sxty-sx. and Senator Patter- a
son of Colorado Is sixty-fve.
There are a large number of senators be-
tween the ages of sixty and sixty-five, In
Guiding many of the most distinguished
and forcible leaders of the body. And the
vast majority of the remaining members OF
the Senate are well above the age fixed by
the facetious and much-advertised Osler as
time for their retirement
There now remain in the Senate no MEM
bers who served in either branch OF Con-
gress before the civil war. but only Senator
Allison of Iowa and Cullom Of Illinois. who
participated in the legislation OF the war
period. Senator Allison is Senate survivor
of the thirty-eighth Congress. which was
elected in 1862, and he and Senator Cullom
of that elected in 1854.
Back to Civil War.
Each of these Congresses transacted much
business during the period of the civil war.
which did not officially close until late in
1866 Both also served in the Fortieth Con-
gress, which was elected In that year. and
in the Forty-irst Congress, chosen In 1868
(thirty-seven years ago, DR.. OslerD. Sena-
tor Hale comes to recruit them, being first
elected In that year. At the election Of
1870 Senator Frye joined his colleague, and
has been continuously in one house or the
other ever since, thirty-three years. Sena-
tor Burrows was first elected to Congress
in 1872 and with interregnums) has served
twenty-seven years
In continuous senatorial service the senior
senators are Senator Allison. thirty-two
years; Senator Morgan. twenty-eight years:
Senators Hale and Frye. twenty-four years
each; Senator Aldrich has also served
twenty-four years, but came to the body
succeeding Gen. A p. Burnside a few
months later than the Maine colleagues.