Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-15
Mr.. Bryan and the United States
Senate.


Senate.
1t has usually been the custom of Mr.
Bryan to play coy when his name was
| mentioned in connection with a politi-
| cal office although, with commendable
| patriotism, he has always made it
| known that any reluctance he might
feel he would cheerfully yield in an
swering the trumpet calls of his coun-
| trymen. In his desire, however, to Sc
cure seat in the United States Senate,
he has abandoned his former tactics
and announces frankly through the
columns of the Commoner his inten-
| ton to be candidate in 1911 to sue
coed Senator Elmer j. Rurkett. This
would seem to indicate that Mr. Bryan
has relinquished his purpose to again
lead the Democratic party in presi-
Dental contest, although possibly he
may think that he might go into such
a campaign with greater prestige
after a year or two in the upper
branch of Congress. 1t is not alto
gether certain, however, that Mr.
Bryan will be able to land the coveted
honor. There are oftentimes unex-
pected slips in the election of Senators,
when
"The best laid schemes o. mice and
men
Gang aft a-gley."
Probably no man ever felt himself
any surer of securing Senatorial dis
tinction at the hands of the legislature
| than did Mr.. Kern, Mr. Bryans rum
ming mate on the last Democratic ma
tional ticket, when he sought this honor
from the Indiana lawmakers only to
be turned down in manner that was
humiliating to his pride and blasting
to his political hopes.
Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois had a similar
experience, although he entered into
the contest with the advantage of hav-
ing secured a party endorsement at
the primaries held throughout his
state prior to the election. Neverthe-
less, at the close of a long session, dur
ing which an almost record breaking
number of ballots were taken, he found
horse" bore away the plum. So it will
be with Mr.. Bryan. However much
he may desire the senatorial honor, he
will never be sure of it until the leg
islature of his state has actually voted
ii to him.
The New York World, which has
never been an admirer of Mr.. Bryan,
thinks that the Senate would be q
valuable place for him as "therein he
would surely go through process
whereby a great deal of what he
knows that isn't so would be I'M
learned" OF course this would be a
very valuable education for him, but
the World leaves us in doubt as to
what would be the outcome if Mr.
Bryan as a member Of the Senate
SIiouIu ldll 10 unledTn the tnl11SS InaC
| he knows that aren't so, and should
| adhere to his fallacies with the same
tenacity that has characterized him
| in the past. One thing is certain, as
a member of that body he could not
| expect to be the leader on the Demo-
| cratic side inasmuch as the members
of that body from his own party do
not regard him as strong man and
have not made any concealment of the
fact that they have little respect for
his political opinions. Whatever pres
tige or following he could ever secure
in that body would have to come to
him not as result of his former repu-
tation or of his gift of speech, but
as the result of long, consistent, eff
ficient labor in the work of Congress,
which in the long run is the only thing
that gives man any commanding in
fiuence among his associates.