Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-02
KANSAS SENATE SEAT FOLLOWED BY 1HooDOo'
Beginning Ending Nearly
Victims Of Political Misfortune


In the recent conviction before fed
eral jury Of United States Senator J. R.
Burton Of Kansas, charged with a
crime against the government, the peo-
pie Of the state believe that they see
another evidence OF the working OF the
remarkable "hoodoo" which has hung
over that particular senate seat since
Kansas was admitted to the Union
more than forty years ago
Beginning with James II, Lane, the
first Of the line. who killed himself, and
ending with Burton, now under Jail
sentence, almost without exception the
senators Of what is known as "the fatal
Lane succession" have been victims OF
misfortunes.
Suicide, disgrace, political death or
disaster in some shape has come to the
occupants of this senatorshlp. With
one exception. the parties to which the
senators In the line belonged. turned
against them before they completed
their terms. 1t is the most pronounced
and persistent "hoodoo" known in
American politics or public life.
When the brilliant John j. ingalls,,
lists for reelection. was asked to be-
come a candidate for the other Kansas
senatorship--in the Lane line--he re-
fused peremptorily.
Never" he said, with decided en-
phasis will 1 consent to. take a place
in that fatal succession"
SO the position went to another. who
speedily began to feel the thorns in that
unlucky seat.
Trouble Began in 1861
The troubles which have dogged the
officehoders in this line began on the
day two senator's were elected to repre-
sent the new state of Kansas in the
upper house OF congress in 1861.
James II. Lane. a colonel of one of
the Kansas regiments. was elected TO
ono place, and S. C. Pomeroy to the
other. The ill-luck which was to over
take the one chain of senator's mani
tested itself in the drawing of lots for
the long and short term.
The short stick fell to Lane. and he
took the short term. There have been
ten senator's in the line which followed
Lane and only five In the line which
followed Pomeroy.
Lane was not often in his seat during
the Civil War. He volunteered for
active service. but his military am
billions met with little opportunity for
qualification.
During much of the time he was kept
on recruiting duty in his state. Such
as he proposed. as the
kansas southern expedition" found
little favor with his superiors.
Although reelected in 1865, Lane had
made hosts of powerful enemies. They
charged him with nearly all the Of
fenses in the calendar. and the warfare
upon him was incessant and bitter.
So CALLING did this become that one
spring day in 1866, while riding through
the streets of Leavenworth with a
friends, he stepped from the buggy,J
drew pistol and committed suicide. |
His death closed one of the most ro-
mantle and eventful careers in the
west.
Governor Crawford appointed Ed |
mund G. Ross to serve as senator until
the legislature should meet. Ross was
a newspaper man at Lawrence and was
popular in the state. He was elected |
by the legisla ture and his future looked |
rosy
But the "hoodoo' again came forward |
and Ross closed his career by voting |
against the Impeachment of President |
Andrew Johnson. His action was con-
trary to the wishes of nearly every man
in the state of Kansas. Before the
ballot was taken he was flooded with !