The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1909-02-03
Ambitious Young Republicans,
Known as "Insurgents,'
Have Had Some Conceit
Taken Out of Them.
THE ELDER STATESMEN
TURN A TRICK OR TWO
Said That Taft Is Embarras-
sed About the Case of Vet
eran Agricultural Secre-
tary Jim Wilson.
By Sheldon s. Cline.

Washington. Feb. 3.-Those ambi-
tious and hopeful young republicans
known as the insurgents of the United
States senate are not SO cocksure as
ability to run things in the most aug
ust legislative body in the world" The
elder statesmen have demonstrated
that they can give the youngsters
cards and spades and big casino and
still beat them at the game of senator
ial politics.
Death and the fickleness of constit-
uencies had made serious inroads on
the strength of the elder statesmen.
Allison Of Iowa had been called to the
beyond to be succeeded by Cummins.
the most irreconciliable of insurgents,
leaving only Aldrich and Hale of that
once all-powerful quintet which in aG
dition to the three named had includ-
ed Spooner of Wisconsin and Platt of
Connecticut Besides number of the
old guards chief lieutenants will not
be in the senate after March 1. Knox
Of Pennsylvania goes to the Taft cab
met: Foraker of Ohio and Hemenway
of Indiana regain the ease and indol-
ence of private life. while others of
lesser note, but of equal voting value
go simultaneously with Roosevelt out
of the public arena.
Looked Good to "kids."
1t looked good to the young braves
of the insurgent camp. They saw or
thought they saw opportunity to move
from the probation bench to the seats
of the elders. SO anxious and SO san
guine were they that they could not
await the coming of their full strength
with the next congress but needs at
once must make test of mettle. They
got it. 1t came over so simple mat
ter as whether the senate should go
into executive session. Uncle Shelby
Cullom, chairman of the committee on
foreign relations moved that the senate
go into secret session for the consider
alton of executive business. Ordinari-
ly this is a routine part of the days
business and there was amaZement
when the motion was defeated on a
viva voce. Mir. Lodge Immediately de-
manded a roll call and Mr.. Aldrich
and others of the senate leaders at
once got busy. By the time the roll
call was completed they had muster
ed enough votes to literally snow the
youngsters under. 1t was deliberate
and carefully planned effort by the in
surgents to show their strength: and 1t
failed Nor is this the whole of the
story. 1t failed by so wide a margin
that there is little prospect. even with
the additional strength they will have
after March 4, the insurgents will be
able to overthrow the the elder states
men.
How About Wilson?
Ever since the November election It
has been understood that President
elect Taft was somewhat embarrassed
! by the case OF Secretary Of Agricult-
ureJames Wilson. for whom the pres
ident elect has the greatest respect and
liking On March Mr.. Wilson will
have been secretary Of agriculture for
twelve consecutive years. 1t has been
his ambition to remain in the Taft cab
met until he had eclipsed all previous
| records for continuous cabinet service.
About eight months Of service under
Taft, he has figured. would accomplish
this. Mr.. Taft knows of this desire
and sympathizes with it. but there are
urgent and compelling reasons why he
would like to begin his administration
with another man at the head OF the
agricultural department.
"A Way Out" 10 Found.
A way OUT has been found by those
who know Of Mr. Tafts concern and
of the discovery The historical rivals
of Mr. Wilson are William Writ. who
served as attorney general in the cab
inets Of Monroe and John Quincy Ad-
ans. a period of elevn years, three
months and eighteen days: Gideon
Granger who was postmaster general
from 1904 to 1914 a period of thir-
teen years. and Albert Gallatin who
was secrtary of the treasury for
twelve years and eleven months.
Wirt's record already has been sur
master generalship did not become a
cabinet position until after Mr.. Gran
ger had ceased to fill it. his services
can not be counted against Mr.. Wilson.
This leaves only Gallatin. 1t now de-
velops that Gallatin was actually at
the head of the treasury for only elev-
en- years and ten months. He was
named as one Of the three ENJOYS to
the car of Russia, and actually went
to st. Petersburg. while he was sup
posed at the same time to be serving
as secretary of the treasury. The sen
ate declared the two offices incompati-
BILE. SO that legally Gallatin was sec
retary of the treasury only for the
shorter period. This gives Mr.. Wilson
the record for undisputed continuous
service in the cabinet. and it opens the
way for Mr.. Taft to appoint success