The Ketchikan miner., 1908-08-29

tor Allison emphasizes fact which must be recognized, that the upper house of Congress is on the eve of a great and important change in its leadership. For years, three men in that body Allison. Aldrich and Hale by giving their thought and >tudious attention to any given proposition have been able to do as they pleased with it.
 Now. the dropping out of Senator Allison has deprived the Senate lead- ership of it's shre wdness and safest ad- wiser. Not only has his death left a large gap in the ruling forces of the Senate, but it would be but a few years at most until there will have been numerous other changes. For instance. Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island is generally believed to be serving his last term. It has been re- peatedly asserted, and Senator Aldrich has not denied it, that when he reach- es the end of his present term, March 3, 1911. he will step down and out of the Senate where he has served so conspicuously for so long. Senator Aldrich is understood to have an am- bition to make his work as head of the monetary commission his last great public service. a climax to his career, something that will live in history to his credit. That Senator Aldrich is disappointed over some phases of his senate career is we'll understood. Particularly does he feel keenly the endless fire of criticism that is turned against him as the foremost of the corporation senators.
 Senator Hale, head of the naval affairs committed, who has represent ed Maine long and ably, is in his sev- enty-third year. His health is not SC vigorous as his friends would like tt have it. He will doubtless serve tc the end of this days in the Senate, but necessarily the day is soon comin g when he cannot take the prominent part in senate leadership that he has taken in the past.
 Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom of Hi nois, who stands next to Hale on the appropriations committee, is in his seventy-ninth year, and is growing l feeble. Whether Senator Burrows oi Michigan. third Republican on the l final committee, and one of the leaders, will be returned to the Sen- ate by his state is not at all certain. Platt of New York is fourth on the Republican side of 6nance, and Hans brough of North Dakota is fifth. Both these men will step out March }, 1909. While they have not been leaders 1T the Senate, their going will leave two important vacancies on the finance committee. Senator Kittredge o South Dakota, who has been promi nent in canal matters, has been heater for renomination. Of course there i: Senator Joseph Benson Foraker o Ohio. While he has not given up the fight to retain his seat his prospect: are not bright. His going will leave a large gap among the foremost Re
 publican senators. Senator Henry Nj l Teller of Colorado is Democrat, but his retirement at the end of his tern V i'll rob the Senate of man who vii
 be greatly missed by both Republican; a I'd Democrats. Senator Teller wa; a great friend of Senator Allison, ant
 is distinctly conservative.
 Into the places of these old senators younger, and as rule, more radica
 men are crowding. The direct pri mary is serving to und ermine the con servatism of the upper body of con- gress. Men like Burkett. Brown
 Borah, LaFollette, Curtis, Deliver
 Dixon and Sutherland are pushing themselves to the front and not view
 ing with complacent eye the tendency of the old timers to monopolize things
 It is true the Senate still retains and
 VIII Ictdin Ioug iist oi conscrsdIisc' c' such as kuox, Crane, Lodge. Calling CT, Penrose, and various others wht might be mentioned. But these mer have not the aid of that great prestige and those long years of service and experience that have made it possible for a small coterie like Allison. Al. drich and Hale, practically to dictate the course of legislation. The student of affairs will find it worth his while for the next few years to watch the transformation that is already in pro- l gress in the Senate.