Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-10
strate that modern molly -coddllns' is in
dulred IN
HIS VOTE SAVED JOHNSON
Pension Granted 60 FOsmer senator
who saved President johnson
from Trouble.


Edmund G. Ross, the man whose vote, as
United states senator from Kansas saved
President Andrew johnson from impeach-
ment, has been granted a pension OF $50
month by congress-
II was because Of his services In union
armies during the civil war that his name
has been added to the pension rolls. Doubt
less II would have been placed there long
\ before but for the bitterness aroused
against him by his historic vote
Ex-senator Ross is now living quietly
upon his little fruit farm on the outskirts
of Albuquerque, N. NJ. He is still vigorous
and healthy at the age Of rs years, and
saws wood nearly every day for exercise
Among his neighbors he is known as Gov
ernor Ross, having served a term as gov
ernor OF the territory OF New Mexico by
| appointment of President Cleveland
| Reports get into circulation now and then
that ex-senator Ross is passing his declin-
ing years in AFFECT poverty, setting type for
a meager living upon an Albuquerque
! newspaper.
After the expiration OF his senatorial term
! in ISL, Mr.. Ross fell upon hard times for
many years, because OF the bitterness Of
public opinion against him in the west He
started several newspaper ventures, but
/ none succeeded.
! Finally quitting his state he attempted
! similar enterprises In Indian Territory, but
with little more success. At last he located
in New Mexico, where he has since lived.
! He is now passing life's last autumn Sc
| renely and in comfort with his son, Pitt
Ross. and the latter's family. Nothing can
induce him to leave his green orchards,
his woodpile and his sunshine His hours
are spent wandering about his little farm,
sitting on his porch or reading in his
| library
MY lfe's best reward" he says rs In
knowing that at last the country's sober
| second thought has indicated my act in
saving President Johnson from removal,
| and that 1t is almost universally aoknowl-
edged now that l was right.
ut was given to me, by my vote, to spare
! the country from everlasting discredit and
/ defeat. something that might have become
a dangerous precedent for periods Of public
frenzy like that of 1868.
why did vote to acquit Johnson? Be
cause none Of the charges against him was
! proven" said Mr.. Ross the other day. in
response to an inquiry
| MY life wasn't pleasant after that vote.
For years l was the subject of abuse and
vituperation that would have turned some
mems hair gray.
AT home 1 was called traitor. renegade,
party wrecker and other things too numer-
! Gus to mention.
when my name was called II was known
that upon my response rested the fate OF
President johnson.
THE occupants OF the galleries were
bending forward in intense and breathless
= silence to catch the verdict and the SEN
ators in their seats leaned over their desks,
| many with hand to ear, that not a syllable
or information in the utterance of the verdict
should be lost.
Conscious that l was at that moment
the focus of all the eyes, and conscious also
of the far-reaching effect upon myself of
the vote I was about to give. II is some
thing more than smile to say that l al
most literally looked down into my own
! grave.
Friends, position, fortune, everything
that makes life desirable to an ambitious
man, were about to be swept away by the
breath of my mouth, perhaps forever.
Then the verdict came. Not guilty.! Tho
| historic trial of the age was practically
ended. American institutions had success
| fully endured a strain that would have
wrecked any other form of government
! st. Louis Globe-Democrat.