Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-29
Mapy senators Pass Away.

In the death roll of the past Is
iof many senators of the United States.
particularly prominent among whom
were Marcus A Hanna. Matthew s.
QUAY. William 3. Bate, Gen. Hawley,
George F. Hoar and Orville H. Platt-
Out of a membership of 90 this is a
large number All were republicans
except Mr. Bate. of Tennessee. Hanna
was from Ohio, Hawley and Plat from
Connecticut Quay from Pennsylvania,
and Hoar from Massachusetts. The
house with more than three times the
membership has not in the same time
lost 50 many by death. II is curious
fact that all OF the senators who died
in this brief period were among the
most distinguished members of that
body. Bate was a general in the con
federate army. and Hawley a general
in the union army. each having won
Hanna was the most remarkable figure
in the senate. His political career was
unique. Engaged in commercial bust
ness until nearly 90 years of age, he
plunged into politics as the chairman
of the republican national committee
/ in 1896. and apparently without politi-
cal training. made a brilliant campaign.
He forced the nomination of William
Mckinley at St. Louis. notwithstanding
the gold men of the convention dis
trusted the Ohio statesman on account
| of his pronounced free silver ideas
when making the canvass for governor
three years before. Mr.. Hanna dem
onstrated his capacity for great leader
ship in 1900 when he was again select
ed as chairman of the national commit
tee. He owed. TO some extent. his rap
id advancement 10 the warm friendship
that subsisted between himself and Mr.
Mckinley.
Gen. Hawley was for long years edi-
tor of the Hartford Courant, and was
its proprietor during his senatorial ca
reer. He was a writer of marked abil-
ity and force. but rarely participated in
debate, except on very important Ques-
tions. Neither did he take prominent
part in campaigns. He relied on his
pen rather than on speech to present
his thoughts. The Hartford COurant
was quoted more extensively twenty
five or thirty years ago than later VIII
liam b. Bate stepped into the senate
from the governors chair, as did lis
successor. He made no claim to being
an orator. and yet he was a logical
speaker who was always attentively
heard in the senate. His high charac-
ter as man. his long service in the
senate and his unostentiOus patriotism.
gave him an influence which was felt
on the republican as we'll as the demo
cratic side of the chamber. Mr. Quay
was a politician; not over scrupuIous
as TO the means of carrying a political
point In Mr. HoaT's death the senate
and the country sustained a great loss.
He was a great orator a conscientious
senator and of irreproachable charac-
ter, and the only man on the republi-
can side of the chamber who dared to
vigorously denounce the policy of i'm
perialism which the administration OF
President Mckinley inaugurated after
the war with Spain. He thus became.
in a sense. separated from his party
but his sincerity and amiability shield
ed him from harsh criticism. No man,
more than he. deplOred the overthrow
of the Boer and Orange State repub-
lies.
No political change in the senate
was made by the deaths Of these sena-
tors.