The Irish standard., 1906-06-23

1t sounds like paradox to say that
the youngest member of the senate is
one of the oldest members of that body,
yet it is true, as age counts in the
senate, says the New York Herald.
William Pinkney Whyte, the Grand
Old Man." of Maryland, who was ap-
pointed to succeed the late Senator
German, has been sitting in the SEN
ate all week, the latest man to be sworn
in, and at the same time he is, in point
with the exception of the two senators
.,on Alabama General Pettus is in
his eighty-fiftn year, being little more
than two years older than Mr.. Whyte,
and General Morgan is in his eighty
second year. The latter's birthday
comes in June, whereas Mr.. Whyte's
does, not come until August.
1t is doubtful if there is a man in the
entire senate who is more mentally
alert than the new senator from Mary
land OR who will carry more weight
when he addresses the senate. AL
though practically eighty-two years Of
age, he is as active now as he was
forty years ago. He has steadily prac-
ticed law during the time he has been
in private life and his abilities as a
lawyer are of a very high order. 1t is,
perhaps, the irony of fate that this
spry old gentleman of the ancient
school comes from the same town as
: the champion Of the theory that a mans
usefulness ends when he is sixty. DR..
William Osler would doubtless unhesi-
tatingly say that William Pinlney
Whyte is the exception to the rule.
Mr. Whyte's friends are fond of point
ing him out as in the class of public
men who served their country after
they had reached the limit assigned in
the Scriptures. Lord Palmerston, they
say, was Prime Minister of England
when he was eighty-one and Mr.. Glad-
stone closed his last administration
when eighty-four, and at eighty seven
aroused England by a remarkable
series of speeches on the Armenian
question.
Mr.. Whyte was member of the
Maryland house of delegates just sixty
years ago. He was controller of the
Maryland treasury fifty-three years
ago. He was a member of the United
Tot TO hi NJ
and is one of the three or four men
now alive who participated in the great
contest between the senate and Presi-
dent Johnson. He was governor of his
state thirty-tive years ago and mayor
of the city of Baltimore twenty-five
years ago. He has been a member of
the senate three times, and, although
strict partisan, he has the respect
of the entire state of Maryland.
If any one supposes that this re-
markable man is going to be a mere
fgurehead, keeping the seat in the
senate warm for Governor Warfield,
who appointed him, let this little Incl
dent disabuse his mind:
In the senate last Wednesday the
bill authorizing the construction Of a
ship canal from Lake Erie to Pittsburg
came up, Senator Knox rose to speak
upon the BILL Instantly the new SEN
ator from Maryland scented the battle
from afar, like an old war-horse.
",That sounds familiar" said he. II
remember that this bill was up when
I was in the senate nearly forty years
ago. 1 remember J. made speech
against it which resulted in killing the
bill. I think will look the matter up
and make another speech"
Mr.. Whyte comes on both his faith
er's and his mothers side from q. race
combining force and action. His faith
er was an Irish patriot who opposed
the union of his country with England
and, refusing to be reconciled to the
loss of his countrys liberty, settled in
Baltimore about the beginning of the
last century. His mother was the fa-
vorite daughter of William Pinkney
the time. He was alluded to by Johr
Randolph of Roanoke eighty-two years
ago, as 1.-The boast Of Maryland" Will.
liam Pinkney occupied the highest rank
in the fields Of craftsmanship and di.