The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-03-16
MORGAN A GOOD LOSER.
VENERABLE ALBANIAN SHOWN
NOT TO BE A PANAMA CANAL
OBSTRUCTIONIST.

Is Second Oldest Man In the Unite,
States Senate, But Possessed O
Great Yitality-Strong But Away
Square Fighter.
Senator John T. Morgan of Alabama
eighty-one years old, or elghty-on<
years young, is, with the exception Of
his colleague, Senator Pettus of Ala
bama, the oldest man in the United
States Senate.
He is one Of the very active men OF
the Senate, and of late years has
achieved considerable fame because
OF the vigor with which he champion
ed the Nicaragua route as the proper
way for the trans-isthmian canal, and
also for the ardor and perseverance of
his opposition to the Panama route.
Because o. the bitterness Of his antag-
onism to the purchase by the United
States of the concessions of the
Franco-Panama canal company. and
because of his determined effort to de-
feat the adoption of the Panama
route, Senator Morgan has in some
quarters gained the reputation OF be-
Ing an obstructionist.
A Square Fighter.
Nothing cou'l be farther from the
truth. He is great and strong
fighter, but his opposition is fair and
square, he has resorted to none of the
tactics employed by Congressional OBJ
and when he has been
beaten he has admitted it. This is
clearly shown in a recent letter to the
Panama Canal Commission, declining
an invitation to accompany the Com-
mission on trip to the Isthmus. In
this letter the venerable Senator says:
"Since the ratification of the Hay
Varilla treaty. which I opposed, I have
done all that I could and much more than |
thought could ever be Of advantage to !
The country to sustain the government In |
It's purpose to construct canal at Pana-
ma: Yet have not believed that success
could crown their efforts, even in their
most costly and desperate form. You
may find the key to unlock the barriers
hat nature has interposed at Panama If
you should be so fortunate, will applaud
'our genius and courage. I will vote to
provide you with every reasonable au.
hority and power to accomplish your
ask and to meet your tremendous re-
This letter shows that Senator Nor
an is a good loser as we'll as a
God fighter To he a good loser is n /.
trait He does not rankle =,
yer defeat and does not nurse a cause
,hich he sees is frretrievably lost.
his Is practical craftsmanship. s
An Active Record.
Senator Morgan has had an active
re. He was born at Athens, Tenn, ,
une 20, 1924, and with his parents .
'ent to Alabama when he was nine :
ears Old. He was admitted to the bar :,
Alabama in 1915; was Presiden-
al elector in 1860 for the State at ,
rye and voted for Breckenridge and
ane; was delegate in 1861 from
alias county to the State convention :
hlch passed the ordinance Of secess-
n; Joined the Confederate army in
SOL as private in the Cahaba Rifles, =
ID when that company was assign
TO the Fifth Alabama regiment ?
nm Morgan was elected a major and :
ter Heut-colonel of the regiment. y
e was commissioned q colonel in I
'62 and raised the fifty-first Alabama D
giment, and came out of the war a il
''lgadier-general in command Of an
Ia bama brigade. He was Presiden-
Il elector in 1876 and voted for
lmuel j.. Tilden, and was elected to r
e United States Senate to succeed =
Gorge Goldthwaite, taking his seat -
arch 9th, 1877. He has been in the "
nate ever since, and will probably II
main there as long as he wishes. or l.
long as he lives. a
u