Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-12

l
Senators Aldrich and Hale. The formers
| interest in legislation has been decreasing
OF late. He has been growing weary of
the burden. But he is the wonder Of the
Senate in pacificatory roles, and will now
be expected to assume tasks that the
Iowan shared with him.
Senator Hale, who will now move down
| from the little room on naval affairs in the
southwest top floor corner OF the Senate
wing to the big appropriations room, just
west of the Senate chamber, will have
heavier legislative burdens than ever to
carry.
Senator Hemenway, OF Indiana, who
used to be chairman Of the House appro-
priations committee, will become his chief
lieutenant. Hemenway is young, as sena-
torial ages go, being just past forty-eight,
and can stand vast deal of detail work
The new "father of the Senate" from
Maine has long been doing much organi-
cation work Of diplomatic character,
such as service on the steering committee
and the assignment of senators to Senate
committees. The steering committee is
virtually the governing body of the Senate.
The Maine man will probably now sue
coed to the Craftsmanship OF it. Senator
| Allison had teen chairman for decade.
On the 4th of next March Mr.. Hale will
| have been senator for twenty eight
years. He put on his toga in 1881, taking
the seat of Hannibal Hamlin who was
democratic senator before the war,
vice-president during Lincoln's first
term and subsequently republican sena-
tor. He and William P. Frye had a bat
tie royal at Augusta for Hamlin's toga.
Hale won. James g. Blaine, who was
then in the Senate from Maine, resigned
shortly aftsrward to become secretary OF
state in Garfeld's cabinet. That gave
Frye IN opportunity. He took his seat as
senator March IS, just fourteen days
after Hale arrived. He is now the senior
in rank, as the official congressional
directory puts it, of all other senators
save one, that one being his colleague,
Senator Hale, but he has always been the
''junior senator from Maine"
COMMISSION FOR LIFE.
1t goes almost without saying that both !,
the Maine senators have commission for |
life. The little political tempests that |
spring up in the State blow over by the
time the legislature meets, and the ballot |
for senator becomes a formalty. 1t is
exceedingly unusual for the senators from
one state to stand as Nos. and in
the record of continuous service. 1t is as
certain, therefore, as anything political
can be, that Maine will have ''father Of
the Senate" as long as Senator Hale, who
was seventy-two in early June, or Senator
Frye, who will be seventy-seven in Sep
TENDER, is living.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
Senator Hale is descended from David
Hale, one Of the pioneers of Turner, and
his parents were James Sullivan Hale and
Betsy Staples Hale. He was born in
| Turner, June 9, 1885, attended the village
| district school and the grammar school,
and then went to Hebron academy. From
the academy he went into the Office of
Howard & Strout, and there he studied
law until he was admitted to the bar in
January, 1857.
He began the practice of law in Orland
at the age OF twenty, and after practicing
there a while moved to Ellsworth, where
he became a member Of the firm Of Robin
son q Hale. Upon the death of Mr.. Rob-
inson, Mr.. Hale continued alone in bust
ness for ten years and built up a large
practice. He was for nine years county
attorney of Hancock county, and for
some years was senior member of the firm
OF Hale & Emery. In the early SOS Han
nibal Z. Hamlin, a son of the late vice.
president, came to Ellsworth and became
a member of the firm, which was changed
to Hale, Emery & Hamlin. When Mr..
Emery, now chief-justice, was appointed
an associate justice, he Withdrew from the
firm, which has since been Hale & Hamlin,
although there is now a third partner
Henry NJ. all.
In December, 1871, Mr.. Hale married
Mary Douglass, daughter of the late
Zachariah Chandler, then senator from
Michigan. They have three sons Chand-
Ter, Frederick and Eugene, ir.
LEGISLATIVE CAREER.
in 1867 Mr.. Hale became member Of
the Legislature. He was member in 1858
and in 1880, the latter year being chair
man VI Tie WHICH luNeSllSdteu
the so-called Estate steaI', and helped
bring to light the details of the scheme.
As prominent committee man and
manager of many of the important appro-
priation bills of recent years, Senator
Hale has had prominent part in the leg
islative measures of the Senate. He has
reported and managed bills which have
cd n 70 fpr he hlIitHinoy nj the
new navy, and introduced the first amend
ment favoring reciprocity with the coun-
tries of Central and South America.
One of his most notable speeches was
that on the free trade attitude of the demo
cratic convention in 1882. The senator is
| widely known as forceful and concise
speaker, and discourses on great subjects
| and on after-dinner trifies with equal ease
and readiness. He is an extensive reader,
!