Fergus County Democrat., 1909-08-17
PATRIARCH OF SENATE
Aldrich of Rhode Islad Has Excellent
Chance of Breaking All Long
Service Records.

vice is as follows:
First term, "a members
Second term, 20 members.
Third term, 81 members.
Fourth term. so members.
Fifth term, "a members.
Sixth term, n members.
Seventh term, 81 members.
Eighth term, II members.
Ninth term, eight members.
Tenth term, four members.
Twelfth term, one member.
Thirteenth term, one member.
Sixteenth term. one member. J
! Eighteenth term. one member.
Cannon of Illinois is in his 18th
term of service. Bingham of New
York Is in his 10th, and Payne, the
father Of the present Payne tariff
bill, is in his 18th term of service.
Bingham is the father of the House
His service has been continuous,
while Cannon was not returned to The
Fifty-second, and Payne did not
serve in the Fiftieth Congress. Cen
orally Pennsylvania has father of
the House. It has had Kelley, Ran
dali, ONeill and others. 1t has found
that long service is helpful to he
state, and gives the member leader
ship in committee appointments
which is of rreat value to his district.
Service has been longer in the
Senate than in the House, on accoun,
Of the term being longer.
Many able men have preferred to
be in the House rather than in the
Senate. Henry Clay liked the yur-
bulence Of the lower chamber better
than the solemn stiffness Of the other
branch. He began his real political
career there is 1911, although he was
In the Senate as early as 1906. Clay's
service in national Office extended to
his death in 1852, while he was a mem.
Der Of the Senate. 1t covered period
of 46 years in all, though part of the
time he was in private life
There were men with long public
careers earlier than Clay. Nathanial
Macon, of North Carolina, entered
the House of Representatives in
1871 and was there until 1915, when
he went to the Senate and served
until 1928, thus being in Congress 81
years continuously. Thomas Newton
OF Virginia was in the House from
1901 to 1881 continuously He was
the only man who served 80 years
in the House until William S. Hol-
man of Indiana slightly exceeded that
record.
Benton's 80 years in the Senate was
talked about more than that of any
other man of his day. No one
equalled it in duration until Sher-
mans and Morill's time. save William
r. King
King and John c. Calhoun began
their public service On the national
stage in 1911. when both were mem
bers of the House over which Clay
presided, and each was in national
office at the time of his death, Cal
houn dying in 1850 and King in 1858.
Both were in each branch of Con-
gress and in the vice-presdency.
King was in the Senate in the ag-
gregate about 80 years.
Webster's public service began in
1918, two years later than that of
Calhoun and King, and included men,
bership in each branch of Congress
He died 80 years later. while Secre-
"The Gods are all dead" said
Thomas Corwin as he re-entered Con.
gress in 1859, referring to Clay, Web
ster, Benton, King, John Ouinc,
Adams, Calhoun and the rest of the
distinguished men with whom h,
served many years earlier, his frs
appearance in Congress being il
1881. With interruption his caree
in public office lasted until 1864
Monroe's career on the national stag,
which began with his election to tn,
Continental Congress in 1888, endet
~ years later when he retired from
the. White House. Cass, Crittendel
and several others had long career
in the public service.
The record of several men now ii
public life, and of some who died re
Gently, are notably long. John Sher
man, and Justin S. oMrrill, who wer
elected to Congress shortly after tn
missouri compromise, entered tn
House in 1856. and Morrill, remaine
there continuously, until 1867, and i
the Senate from that time until hi
death in 1889, or 43 years, 9 month.
and "a days which is the longes
career in Congress continuously q
absolutely in American annals. Hi
service in the Senate was little les
than 81 years. Sherman was in til
Senate almost 81 years and in tn
House six years.
Allison was Senator IS years an
. few months. That record sti
stands, but it is likely to be beaten b
Senator Aldrich. When his preser
term expires in 1911 he will have bee
so years a Senator without interru1
tion There is no doubt. of his r,
election and if he serves another teri
It will give him 36 years to his ,redi
Senator Hale. the -Nestor of til
Senate, has been member onl
seven months longer than Aldricl
and he Is 73 years old. He woul
have to serve until almost eight