Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-25

WASHINGTON, d. c., May Ex-senator
BENJAMIN F. Shively, of Indiana, whom
the Democrats elected 10 the United
States senate in preference to John Worth
Kern. the Democratic nominee for wee
president. was a member of the house Oh
representatives from the South Beno'
Ind. district 2S years ago and at inter-
walls since. He served with Crisp, Turner
Norwood, Blount and other Georglans
who have long since retired from pubic
life Shively's age is decelvlns, ne
doesn't impress one as old enough 10
have been in congress in 1884. and this, IN
snite of the fact that he is far from well,
He is suffering with Brights disease ana
his friends fear that he will not survive
his term.
Senators Clay and Shively were chat-
ting at the Normandie hotel the other
night, when Shively suddenly asked
what had become of Lvingston's prede-
cessor in congress.
'Livingston's predecessor exclaimed
some one. "Why, senator, Livingston
has been here twenty years, and your &C
quaintance with congressional aHalrs
doesn't extend back that far, does it,
Shively said that it did, and then Sena-
tor Clay readily recalled that Colonel Liv-
lngston succeeded Judge John d. Stewart,
of Griffin, Spalding county then being IN
the Fifth district. Fayette and Henry
counties now both in the Sixth district,
were then in the Fifth district, also.
at was long about the fiftieth con-
gress," said Senator Shively, reminiscing,
that l regarded the Georgia delegation as
by far the strongest state delegation In
congress, and there were some big men
in congress in that day, too.
There was Henry G. Turner-he was
whale, one of the biggest men have ever
known in that day or this. He was the
giant of the house of representatives, in
my Judgment, and was so regarded, gen.
orally; then there was Crisp, who after
wards became speaker. He ranked way
up, and was a tower of strength to the
Democratic party He was one OF the
most plausible men ever heard talk, and
he was a magnificent leader"
Continuing in this strain, Mr.. Shively re-
called the service of Judson c. Clements,
of Rome, as a member of congress. Judge
Clements is now a member of the inter-
state commerce commission. He remem-
bered Judge Thomas NJ. Norwood, of Sa-
vannah, who then represented the First
district; Governor Allen d. Gambler of
Gainesville, who represented the Ninth
district, and George T. Barnes, Of Au-
gusta, who represented the Tenth district.
In the days of which Mr.. Shively was
speaking Georgia had only ten districts,
and Judge Turner represented the Second
district, although his successor, Mr..
Brantley, now represents the Eleventh
district, Georgia's increase in population
has given her another representative.
Gossiping about Indiana politics. Mr..
Shively expressed a conviction that Sem
ator Beverage will be succeeded by d
Democrat, giving the Hoosier state two
Democratic senators. Mr.. Shively says the
time is fast turning toward democracy in
Indiana, as was indicated by the gains
in the last election. He thinks the at
titude of the Republican leaders on the
tariff will strengthen democracy in In
diana, and result in Beveridge's defeat by
a Democrat.
Senator Beveridge will come up for
reelection two years from now, and in
the senate of the legislature, that will
elect the Democrats will have a decided
advantage. regardless of the result of the
election. There will be % 'holdovers in
the senate, and of this number IL are
Democrats. Then we will have better
than an even break for the IL that are to
be elected to the senate"