The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-15
Mr.. Bryan's Honors
Are F1orida's Benefit.

The honor Econferred upon Senator
Bryan-retaining all of Mr.. Mallory
senate assignments excepting on the
committee on commerce, and receiv-
ing in lieu thereof membership on
the committee on public lands-is 2
rather signal one, for the senate GUS
tom does not make committee ap-
pointment a state right, to be handed
down to a regular successor, nor q
vested privilege, to be inherited by an
ad interim successor. Senate assign
ments go very largely by seniority in
point Of service in conjunction with
proved ability in the trying out" pro-
cess to which new members are adj
United, as it were, on probationary
committee work.
Mr.. Mallory and Mr.. Taliaferro. be-
tween them, represented Florida on all
but one of the especially important
senate committees, and the fact that
Mr. Bryan, an absolutely unknown
quantity in the national legislature, is
given all but one of Mr.. Malloryis
committee assignments, can very
properly be looked upon not only as
a tribute to the consideration that her
dead senator had won for this state,
but as a tribute that would not be
paid through and to his ad interim
successor had he not, by his reputa-
ton, won in advance the respectful
confidence of body which, in its
power and its great record of splen-
did ability, has not been noted either
for its humility or for its effusiveness
in welcoming new material for as
similation into its intellectual activ-
fly.
While the senate committee on
commerce-which. is the "rivers and
harbors'' committee of the senate-is
probably the senate committee of TIE
greatest import in its relation to the
affairs of Florida as a state, the
specialized Importance of the public
lands committee in its relation to tie
internal welfare of this state is great
enough to make this substitute as
signment of hardly less significance
viewed from the standpoint of our
self interests-a just cause of con-
graduation In view of the relations
between Gov. Broward and Senator
Bryan, and the conspicuous position
Gov. Broward has won in tue eyes or
those nationally involved in the drain
age and reclamation policy, Mr.. Bry-
ans placement on the public lands
committee may be not improperly con-
strued as inferentially a compliment |
to the. chief executive, and therefor
to the state, of Florida.
Naval committee assignments are
regarded in both branches of conf
gress, as especially honorable Mr.. !
Mallory, high as he stood in the SEN
ate. was not strictly in line for that !
mmittee-viewed from the stand |
point OF length of service in the SEN
ate-and was given it in part through
he courtesy of Mr.. Blackburn, of Ken. T
lucky, who was the man in line but
who was defeated for reelection, and t
that the honor be conferred
1n Mr.. Mallory as the Democrat who
could best serve both the nation and I
his party on that committee in the
Vears left of his term. That Mr.. Bry-
IN should have been given place on
he naval affairs committee, Is.
therefore, an especially noteworthy
act, in which Floridians can not fail
o take pride and on which they can
lot fail to wish Mr.. Bryan, for him
elf and his state. successful ac-
counting OF the great stewardship l.
hat has been placed in his hands,.