Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-01-23

We refer to this matter with no un-
kindness or prejudice toward Senator
Depew, who has many abilities quail
tying him for membership in the uni
ted States Senate, and who does not
come in the category Of those mem.
bers Of the Senate who are mere
money bags, who have used their
money to secure q seat in the Senate
with the same vanity that they use il
to erect million dollar country seat
or buy million dollar yacht. AS be-
tween Senator Depew and Ex- Governor
Black, the only two candidates for
United States Senate, we are strongly
inclined to the opinion that Mr.. De-
pew is altogether preferable, and SO far
as his connection with the New York
Central is concerned, we do not be-
lieve that the fact that he is an active
railroad man should be an obstacle to
his service in the Senate, any more
than the fact that man is a doctor, a
minister OF lawyer should be any dis
qualification for thss office.
This incident, however, illustrates in
a striking way the increasing CONNER
cialism Of politics, and the growing
power of corporations in the admins
tration OF State governments. So far
as they have been made public, the
steps in this extraordinary Senatorial
selection are about as follows Gov
ernor 0dell, desiring to make complete
his power over the Republican organ
izstion in this State, wished to secure
the election OF United States SEN
sto who would be in affiliatiouNwith
him and on whom he could rely to OBJ
tain at least a part OF the federal pat
ronage in this State. This United States
Senatorship was necessary to Governor
0dell because Senator Plat, the de-
posed boss OF the Republican ma
chine, was unfriendly to him and be-
cause Senator Depew was accustomed
TO follow the leadership OF Senator
Plat. Therefore, Odell made a deal
with Ex-Governor Black, the terms Of
which were that Black and his friends
should make Governor odell secure
IN the control OF the State Committee,
and in return Odell should make Black
United States senator in the place Of
Depew.
OF course, the theory OF our govern
ment is that the members Of the Legis-
lature elected by the people should sit
in joint session, and gravely aud con-
scientiously proceed TO the election Of
the best qualified person in the State
to represent the commonwealth in the
Senate. But that is not the way
things are done nowadays The Gus
tom now is for few politicians and
agents Of corporations to meet together
and select the senator, the members
OF the Legislature simply acting as au-
donations to register their will
Everything seemed to 30 as Cover
nor 0dell wished, and election Of Gov
ernor Black as United States Senator
appeared TO be absolutely assured,
when, presto there was sudden
change. Governor 0dell has seen
new light. Himself practically master
OF the Republican organization in the
State Of New York, he had a friend
stranger than he TO whose will he was
obedient. This friend is one Of the
seven or eight controlling railroad
men in the United States-the head OF
q trans-continental system, Develop
ments ia railroad politics made it de-
sirable foe Mr. Herman 10 have
representation in the New York Gem
trail Railroad. The easiest way 70 Sc
cure this was to strike q bargain 10y
which Senator Depew, long the repre-
sentative Of the Vanderbilt interests
IN the New York Central Railroad
should be returned 20 the Senate in
exchange for directorship for Mr..
Hartman When the Black men OBJ
served gas Of wavering in Olell and !
they demanded immediate announce
ment by him OF his position ia the
senatorial matter, be replied that he
must trst "see q man" That man was
Mr. Hartman. It's evident that Nr. I
Hartman pronounced Tor Sen. Depew /
and thus 10 has come 10 pass
that Mr. Chauucey NJ Depew I
chairman Of The board OF djrec-
tors OF che New YORK. Central Rail- /
road, is 20 sic Ia the United States Sem
ste for six years. beginning with the