Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-09
Missouri's Grand Old Man.

Every general election has it's TRACE.
dies. The last one is full of them, but
of all the defeat of Missouri's grand
General Francis Marion Cockrell, for
reelection to the senate of the United
States for sixth term is the saddest
and clearly demonstrates the made
quate rewards Of political life. Here
Is man venerated by all his people
his name known and honOred as a
household word In every home betwiyt
the two oceans, turned out in his old
age FROM position which he has
adorned for thirty years, supplanted
by some obscure politician whose name
does not matter, some Republican Tom
Dick or Harry. Missouri was the first
state to keep senator at Washington
for thirty consecutive years. Thomas
Hart Benton held her commission for
that length Of time. or for six full Ro-
man lustrums," as he pompously put
it. He was one Of the greatest men OF
his era. an era exceptionally rich il
great men. He would have made one
Of the best presidents the country ever
had, but that was not to be. He held
the belt for length Of senatorial serv.
ice until March 4, 1897. when Justin s
Morrill, of Vermont began his sixth full
term and his thirty-first year In the
senate. He served thirty-two years
and died. In 1851 Colonel Benton went
to his political death by reason Of the
bitter fractional fight among Missouri
Democrats on the slavery question
His long, losing fight to regain his SUI
prcmacy is one of the most remarkable
episodes in American history. Colonel
Benton was not only n man Of com
handing talents, but also Of vehement
passions. most ferocious fighter, a
rancorous and implacable foe. The
Democratic faction opposed to him IT.
Missouri hated him worse than they
did the devil, and in the Legislature
Democratic majority, but such was the
insane animosity which he engendered
that enough of his Democratic enemies
voted with the Wings to elect Wing
senator. Henry s. Geyer. In General
Cockrells case the circumstances are
different. He is closing his thirtieth
year of senatorial service without an
enemy in the world. In fact, his pOpu
larity, always great. has grown with
his service. Individually he was as
great favorite with Missouri Repub-
leans as with Missouri Democrats.
Had the people voted direct for sena-
tor instead of for members of the leg
islaturc to elect senator he would
have swept the state from Iowa to Ar
kansas and from the Mississippi to the
mouth of the raging Kaw like Il cy-
clone
Among Missouri Democrats it had
become Il sort of mania to have him
exceed Colonel Bentons record by
electng him to the full sixth term. for
which Benton strove eagerly and fought
vigorously. but which he failed to get.
There are many capable and ambitious
Missouri Democrats, men anxious and
fit to sit in the senate but not one of
them dared to hint that he would like
to tackle "Old Frank Cockrell," as the
good gray general Is atfectionately
called. 1t would have meant sure po-
litical death to the Democrat who tried
it. 1t is not the language of flattery,
but of truth and soberness, to say that
thousands of Missouri Republicans
prefer General Cockrell to any Repub-
lican as senator, for he has been as
faithful a public servant as any state
ever sent to Washington. A Confeder-
ate soldier himself, he has been the best
friend the Union veterans Of Missouri
ever had. If they had understood his
peril. enough Of them and to spare
would have voted for Democratic mem
bers of the legislature to have made
the legislature Democratic on joint bal
lot to have insured his reelection.
Had he sent 10000 letters or even TO-
600 to Union Republican soldiers whom
he has served SO we'll. asking them to
vote for Democratic representatives be-
cause they would vote for him, be
would have secured his sixth term. 1t
was the wretched indirect way Of elect.
ing United States senators that defeat