Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-18
A Senator on the Senate.

Perkins of California is a son of Maine
of whom this State is justly proud
He is now serving his third term in the
| Senate, though no earlier senator from
| California ever served more than two
| terms, and is recognized as an excep-
| tionally able and useful member of the
| upper branch. Senator Perkins Is
self-made man of the best type OF
| fornia from the farm in Kennebunk-
port where he was born in 1889, it was
as a sailor before the mast. Once
there, he became a miner and made a
let of money. He went to the state
legislature. became governor. and
brought up in the Senate at Washing
ton. Before undertaking the work of
national law-naking he disposed of
large property interests in Hawaii,
shipping interests on the coast and
some valuable railroad holding. In
cidentally, it may be remarked that
when ne went to the Senate he dis
posed Of every interest which could be
affected by legislation. Senator Per-
k;ns has just written an article on
| s"The Senate and the People" for the
this time.
He has read the work of the SEN
ate's critics, but he says that 'it is
as certain as that the sun will rise to-
morrow morning. that the course of
the Senate in connection with the great
issues of the day will be approved by
the impartial historian" The work of
the prophet may be described as eX-
ira hazardous, especially when it in
wolves cutting out opinions for future
historians. but Mr.. Perkins prophecy
is interesting. He believes that the
one which has exhibited in the highest
degree the qualities of fairness and
im,artiality, determination to ar
rive at the truth, and a courage To
maintain the truth aa found against
the popular demand for hasty and in
considerate action" Many will be in
terested IN his answer to the statement.
SC often made, that the Senate is a
millionaires' club. He says that, leav-
the average possessions Of 80 members
will not exceed those Of the business
man, manufacturer, farmer or pro-
fessional man of the New England
| or Middle States.
| with whom he has served, he says: "Ot
the many great men who have influ-
| enced the course Of events in their time
| l will refer to only four, with whom
| have been officially associated during
the last decade They have since passed
away, but their lives and records are
a part of the history Of our country.
refer to Senator George F. Hoar OF
| Massachusetts. Senator o. Fl. Platt OF
Connecticut, Senator f. c. Walthall OF
| Mississippi and Senator ID. w. Noor-
hees of Indiana. Where is there a
thinking man who does not believe
that their earnest efforts to arrive al
| truth voiced the conservative spirit o1
the Senate? He says that men like
| these could not be driven into hasty
| action or blinded to the necessity ol
viewing proposed legislation in al
lights.
Senator Perkins defends two of his
predecessors in the Senate-Senatoi
Stanford and Senator Hearst-from the
charge. often made in the old days
that they We're tools of monopolies. He
believes that both these men earned
their great fortunes, the one in build
ing the first transcontinental railroad
the other i'm mining. and that the Worl
OF each vastly benefited the public. HI
believes that the critics who now bonn
bard the Senate will. a few years hence
acknowledge that they were wrong.