The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-07-25

influences is a Characteristic which
attracts attention in the United States
senate, where many men show their
greatness in many ways. AS differing
from those who have been born great
there are many who have quite evil
IDENTIFY achieved their own greatness,
but when it comes to considering those
who have had greatness thrust upon
them suddenly, unagoldably, ruthless
ly and overpoweringly there is one SEN
ator head and shoulders above all the
rest. He is Benson of Kansas, the un-
assuming, hardwOrking, conscientious
looking legislator who was transform
ed from a county judge to federal
senator by telephone and was started
on his new and larger career at Wash
ington with the published assertion
that he intended to reform the senate.
saws the New York Posts Washington
correspondent.
The American public need not puzzle
It's wits about how Benson of Kansas
is going to reform his new associates.
He isn't going to do 1t. He isn't even
going to try to do it. This may be
stated ION reliable authority" as the
press dispatches so often say; also, 1t
may be added, there is ground for the
belief" that the new senator does not
intend to be cast for any Martin Luth-
err role if he can help it. And he in
tends to help it by sitting at the feet
of his elders with that meekness of
spirit and humble self etfacement
which custom DEGREES shall be the
prime characteristics Of new senators.
Benson of Kansas is not a muck
raker. While he is irrecOncilably set in
his own mind against graft and malad-
ministration in every phase, he is not
so constituted that he haStens abroad
in the land with his little muck rake
much before daylight and has a brand
new sensation dug up for inspection
long before the workaday world is on
the move. The early morning hours
are put to better use by him. He
walks In the early morning, breathing
in the crisp air and enjoying the
brightness and fragrance of Washing
tons well kept parks. He begins the
day by seeing and thinking that the
country is prospecting and that there
are a few good people still pursuing
their customary vocations happily and
uncomplainingly
Thus Benson of Kansas is an opti-
mist He has always been 50 from the
day of his birth in New York state.
He has never been discouraged with
his opportunities or prospects since
then. But any one looking into the
senate and seeing pictorial replica OF
Carl Schurz, with head rested on one
hand and extended index finger run
ming almost up to the eye and mind in
tent upon the business in hand should
not be deceived by this apparent IN
activity. The new senator is more
likely than not to surprise people be-
fore he gives way to a successor on
the floor Now he is just laying low
the better to master the requirements
Of his new field of work When he
finds his feet the hOmespun clothes
and the homely mannerisms of Speak
er Cannon will not be alone in their
class. The clothes may be, after all,
but not the humble appearance and
the homely philosophy and the guile
less manner.
Benson of Kansas realizes his own
limitations in the snowy qualities of
speech and demeanor which are some
times mistaken for greatness. He
leaves all the blazing elOquence and the
antagonistic style of debate to sena-
tors who have been fewer years remOv-
ed from the high school platform. But
any one who suppOses for moment
that there is no iron in his character
has made a mistake of no small pro
| portions. The new senator has had a
busy life as soldier, jurist, legislator
and useful citizen and has made his
whole career on the theory of doing