Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-17

any one in congress should resign at all.
Despite all that is said in congress and out
(mostly by congressman themselves). It is
the rule that few voluntarily quit the Job of |
serving their country as national legislators
because Of the small pay with which their
services are recompensed. The exceptions
merely serve to establish the rule
Aside from Senator Spooner's resignation,
the most notable infraction of the rule in /
recent years was the retirement OF Senator |
Edmunds in 1891 And the reason for his |
leaving was unique. He had retained his
law practice TO a large degree throughout |
his senatorial career and was a frequent |
pleader before the supreme court, so that |
It was not because he had given up his |
practice and must return to It to provide |
for himself and family. He went out be- !
cause OF fear that the injection of the |
new blood" from the six new states would
result in an overturning Of some Of the
senate's most cherished traditions, particu-
larly unlimited debate and executive ses-
sions.
At that period there was active agitation
for the adoption of the previous question
| to close debate in the senate and some Of
the new senator's were more than suspected
| OF an intention to force the adoption Of the
rule. There were so many OF them that his
colleagues believed that Mr.. Edmunds be-
| came panicstricSen and, fearing that old
landmarks would be swept away, decided
to quit while the body retained all Of its old
prestige and glory as 'the most deliberative
legislative assembly in the world" But
no cataclysm occurred then or later and
things are now just as they always have
been,
The voluntary retirements in the Fifty
ninth congress only served to emphasize
the rule Senator Alger decided not to
make the race for reelection, but his action
was based upon ill-health and his death
demonstrated the necessity Of the step.
Senators Clark OF Montana and Patterson
Of Colorado also announced that they would
not be candidates for reelection, but COM
ing political events doubtless cast their
shadows across the pathway Of their am
bition before the announcements were made.
| All the other senators who went out on
March did so after struggling to retain
their seats.
The membership OF the house presented
two shining exception to the rule--Messrs
Iittauer OF New York and Sibley OF Penn
sylvania--whO voluntarily sought private
life after ten years service. The latter
served one term-that Of the Fifty-third
congress-as a democrat, the other four as
a republican, He attracted more attention
in the first term than in all the other four,
| having a reputation ms rampant silver man.
He had to run away from Chicago to es-
cape the vice presidential nomination with
Bryan, which finally overlook Mr.. Sewall
OF Maine. also popularity credited with
having a Darrell" In later days he has
been noted chiefly as one OF the very few
opponents OF railway rate legislation.
There were others who declined to accept
nominations for election 10 the sixtiett
congress for either political or business
reasons. These were: Beidler OF Ohio
Bowie, to look after the governorship OF
Alabama Hedge OF Iowa, Bowersock OF
Kansas Morren of Pennsylvania, whos'
name was discussed In connection with IN,
mayoralty OF Philadelphia. 10 which his
colleague, Reyburn, was chosen, and who
had lust returned 10 the house, and Rup,
pert and Towne OF New York.
Three representatives went 10 the senate
Curtis % Kansas. Dixon OF Montana and
william Alden Smith OF Michigan. OF these
however. Dixon was the only one who
gave up his nomination for representative
| TO enter the senatorial struggle. Curtis
and Smith were both returned TO the Six