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

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Depew, who has many abilities quail.
flying 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 a seat in the Senate
with the same vanity that they use it
to erect a million dollar country seat
or buy million dollar yacht AS be-
tween Senator Depew and Elk. 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 doctor, a
minister or a lawyer should be any dis
qualification for tina. 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
eruor Odell, desiring to make complete
his power over the Republican organ
ization in this State, wished to secure
the election Of United States sem
sto who would be in utilization with
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
0del because Senator Plat, the de-
posed boss OF the Republican ma
chine, was uniriendly to him and be-
cause Senator Depew was accustomed
to follow the leadership Of Senator
Plat. Therefore, 0dell made a deal
with Ex-Governor Black, the terms of
which were that Black and his friends
should make Governor 0dell secure
In the control OF the State Committee,
and in return 0dell 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 a 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 go as Cover
nor Oiell wished, and election OF Gov
ernor Black as United States Senator
appeared to be absolutely assured.
when, presto! there was sudden
change Governor Odell has seen
new light. Himself practically master
OF the Republican organization in the I
State Of New York he had friend |
stranger than he to whose viii he was
obedient This friend is one Of the
seven or eight controlling railroad |
men in the United states-the head Of
a trans continental system. Develop |
ments ia railroad politics made it de-
sirable for Mr.. Hartman TO have
representation in the New York Gen.
tral Railroad. The easiest way to Sc
cure this was to strike a bargain by 1
which Senator Depew. long the repre-
sentative OF the Vanderbilt interests
in the New York Central Railroad
should be returned to the Senate in
exchange for a dictatorship for Mr..
Hartman. When thTBlack men OBJ
served signs OF wavering in Odell and
they demanded immediate announce
ment 10y him OF his position 10 the
senatorial matter. he replied that he
must first see man" That man was
Mr. Hartman. Il Is evident that Dir.
Hartman pronounced Tor Sen. Depew
and thus it has come % pass
that Mr, Chauscey NJ. Depew
OF the board Of dircc-
tors of the New York Central Rail-
road Is 90 sit IN The United States Sem
s'e for six years, beginning with the