The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-06-21

WOULD NUT, DE SENATOR.
The Governor Of Kansas made an un.
usually good selection when he offered
the Senatorship from that State to Com
rade Foster Dwight Coburn. the present
Secretary Of the State Board OF AgricuI-
ture. Coburn was a gallant. faith
full soldier during the war. serv-
ing in two Illinois regiments. and
went to Kansas in 1867. two
years after his discharge. He began his
career there as a laborer upon a farm
In 1881 he was elected Secretary OF the
Board of Agriculture, and has made a
conspicuous success of ii. greater per-
haps than any other man in the Unit
ed States holding a similar position. His
reports, bulletins and other documents
are OF the highest value. They are
packed with exact information. and they
boom Kansas from first to last. There
is not better all-around farmer I'm the
United States than he. and he is always
an expert Judge Of cattle at all great
expositions. He was Chief Of the Liv"
Stock Department at the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition and received the high
est honors for his work. He has been
reelected to his present position seven
times. six Of them by reclamation. For
six years he was editor of the Live Stock
Indicator. and he has also been Vice
President and President of the Board
Of Regents of the Kansas Agricultural
College and President Of the Kansas
State Temperance Union. Nearly all
the stockmen in the Missouri River VAL
ley Endorsed him for the position OF See
rotary of Agriculture, though he did not
apply for the place and was in no sense
a candidate.
After considering the appointment for
several days Comrade Coburn declined
II. The alleged reason given was tia.
there was a hoodoo about the seat which
he did not care to encounter. but this
hardly seems probable in man Of Co
burns eminent practical sense. As solid
a man as he is pays very little attention
to signs and hoodoos, nor have the Sem
ators from Kansas been onspicuously
Inlucky. From the first the STATE was
settled by turbulent, restless men. and
those who came 70 the leadership Of
them were venturesome, uneasy spirits,
to whom a great many things happened
very naturally.
The first Senator was the noted lanes
III. Lane, who committed suicide. Sen
ator Ross voted against the impeaca-
ment of Andrew Johnson and fell into
obscurity. Senator S. c. Pomeroy ser, Ell
two terms, but was defeated Tor tie
third. Senator Alexander Caldwell was
elected. but became involved in bribery
charges and resigned. Robert Crozier
was appointed. but resigned after ac-
cepting, and Gov. Harvey was appoint
ed. He failed Of reelection. Senator In
gals succeeded Pomeroy and served three
terms, but was defeated for the fourth.
Senator Preston B. Plumb was elected
In 1877 and reelected in 1883 and 1888.
but died during his third term. Senator
Bishop w. Perkins was appointed to ill
the vacancy caused by the death Of
Plumb. and died himself two years
later. He could not be reelected, but
was succeeded by the first Kansas DEM
'ocrat in Congress, John Martin. He
failed Of reelection. Senator William
A. Harris was waited into the Senate by
the Populists. and served out one term.
when the Republicans elected a success
sor. Senator William A. PETER was an
other result OF the Populist uprising and
served one term out. Senator Lucien
Baker was elected in 1895 and served
out his term. Senator Joseph r. Bur-
ton took his seat March 4, 1901. and his
term would have expired March 3. 1907,
had not legal proceedings interfered.
Thus It will be seen that while there
have been a number Of startling mis-
fortunes to Kansas Senator'S, there /. no
special hoodoo about the place. and
quite number OF men have held the
seat without any disadvantage. Upon
receiving Comrade Coburn's declination
Gov. Hoch appointed B. w. Benson.
formerly Judge on the Kansas Bench.
COmrade COburn probably decided
very wisely that he could serve Kansas
much better in his present position than
as Senator. Almost any man would do
for Senator, but Kansas could hardly
find another as good Secretary of Agri-
culture.