The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-12
SENATOR DANKHEAD.

both before and after taking"
 
 SENATOR DANKHEAD.
 The Democratic caucus on wednes- day night r1tined the action of the people, who expressed their choice for John H. Bankhead. to hil the first va- cancy in the United States Senate. That expression of opinion was too em- phatic to be misundsrstood or disres garded.
 Whatever may be thought of the pri- mary plan for choosing Senators, there can be no doubt of the fact that 1t has almost become part of the Dem- ocratic policy. There is demand for it in a great many Democratic state platforms and clear-cut expressions in its favor in national platforms.
 It is childish to contend that the at- tempt of the convention last septem- Der. to cut under the expressed will of the people at the primary only a few days before. has moro binding force than the action of the voters. The votes were cast in accordance with the plan adopted by the State Commit tee. a body which had been selected by primary action of the people. The del- egatss to that convention were voted for at ths same time that nearly 6o.- 900 Democrats expressed their desire for John H. Bankhead to i'll the first vacancy. It is well that there was such an uprising against the proposi- tion to disregard that expression of opinion. If that expressed will of the people had been set aside there is no telling what evil results might have followed.
 Senator Bankhead. for in a few days he will be elected to that exalted po- that will fall upon him. He served the people of his old homo counties in both branches of the State Legislature. and did so ably and acceptably. He has had twenty years experience in the House of Representatives ct Wash ington and that service has been of great value to his State and country. His standing was sufficiently high to secure for him membership and chair manshfp of the Committee on Public Buildings, and membership on the Riv- CTS and Harborss Committee. They are among the very highest places in the House. MT. Bankheads knowledge of the wants of the country will serve him we'll in the Senate.
 He is not one of the showy sort of public men. He is not accounted great orator, but the splendid speech he made soon after his nomination Wednesday night shows that he ex- presses his views clearly and forcibly and in terms that no man can misun- derstand. He is gifted with that great quality of mind known as common sense, and his possession of it has been of great value to his constituents and all the people of Alabama. Indeed for several years past MT. Bankhead has been regarded as a representative of the whole State. instead of the Sixth District alone. This was because of the great interest that he took in de- veloping all the navigable waterways of the State. His mind and heart were ever at the service of any of the peo- pie of Alabama.
 The best way to judge of a mans ef- ficiency in public life is to find out the estimate placed upon him by his as- sociates. Judging by this standard We feel safe in asserting that there is great pleasure felt by the members of both houses of Congress. without re- gard to party. over the fact that MT. Bankhead will continue in the public service. They know him to be a fair minded and patriotic man. and this feeling for him by his associates will enable him to be still more useful in the future.