The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-07
BENSON. FROM KANSAS.
Amiable Traits Of the Sunhower
States New Senator.
AN oPTIM1sT FROM HIS BIRTH

Raker, but strongly Opposed to
Graft In Every Phase-Proud OF His
New York Birth and Record In the
Civil Wat.
Uniqueness Is 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 eviI
IDENTITY achieved their own greatness,
but when 1t comes to considering those
who have had greatness thrust upon
them suddenly, unavoidably, ruthless
ly and overpoweringly there is one SEN
ator head and shoulders above ali the
rest. He is Benson of Kansas, the I'M
assuming, hardworking, conscientious
looking legislator who was transform.
ed from a county judge to federal
senator by telephone and was started
on bis new and larger career at Wash.
ington with the published assertion
that he intended to reform the senate,
says the New York Posts Washington
correspondent
The American public need not puzzle
Its wits about how Benson of Kansas
is going to reform his new associates.
He isn't going to do it. BE isn't even
going to try to do 1t. This may be
stated ION reliable authority" as the
press dispatches 80 often say; also, it
may be added, there Is ground for the
belief that the new senator does not
intend to be cast for any Martin Luth-
er role II he can help it. And he in
tends to help it by sitting at the feet
Of his elders with that meesness Of
spirit and humble self effacement
which custom DEGREES shall be the
prime characteristics Of new senator's.
Benson Of Kansas Is not q muck
raker. While he is irrecoacilably set In
bis own mind against graft and malad.
ministration In every phase. he IL not
SO constituted that he. hastens abroad
In the land with his little muck rake
much before daylight and has brand
new sensation dug up for inspection
long before the workaday world Is on
the move. Tho early morning hours
are put to better use by him. He
walks In the easay morning. breathing
In the crisp air and enjoying the
brightness and fragrance of Washing
toms web hept 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 vacations. happily and
uncomplaininsly.
Thus Benson Of Kansas il an Opt.
mist he has always been 30 from the
day Of his birth in New York state.
He has never been, discouraged with
bis opportunities or prospects since
tfrn. But any one looking into the
senate and seeipg a pictorial replica Of
Carl SchuH, with head rested on one
hand and extended index finger Fun
aing 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 demeapor which are some
times mistaken for greatness. He
kAves all the blazing eloQuence and the
antagonistlc style of debate to sena-
tors who have been fewer years remov-
ed from the high school platform. But
any one who supposes for a 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. legislato,
and useful citizen and has made his
whole career on the theory of doing
well and with ones whole heart the
duty of the moment and letting Proyi-
dence take care Of the future.
There age two things priced by Ben
sCs Of Kansas more than his latest
success-his being a New Yorker by
right of birth and his civil war record.
He was born In Poland. n. T.. in 1S43,
was educated in Chamberlain insti-
tute at Randolph and moved to the vi
cinity of Jamestown. In July, 1862, he
enlisted as q private la the One Hun
dred and Fify-fourth New York vol
unteers and went to the front. Ten
months later he was left for dead on
the field at charlottesville, May 9,
1868. A Confederate mimic bail had
pierced his right lung and put him out
Of the fighting. Later two Confeder-
ates found him still alive. relieved his
suffering as far as they could and
filed his canteen with water. He was
q prisoner on the field for eleven days
after the battle On May Is those pris-
oners who were able to march were
sent off to Richmond, while the wound
ed were paroled. Benson recovered