The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-03-05
THE SENATORIAL SUCCESSION

The Democrat has been in no hurry
to declare it's preference for United
States senator. because there was no
need for haste in the matter, and
final judgment made up after all the
a spirants for the honor had announced
and there had been general discussion
Of the issues, was more likely to be
sound than one formed right at the
outset. But. speaking Of issues, there
are not any IN this contest except
those Of a purely personal nature. The
candidates are all orthodox democrats.
and it is merely n question Of decid
ing which Of those now in the field is
the more fully equipped for the duties
Of senator and is likely to render the
better service TO the people of Florida
Our first choice was Mr.. BlOunt but
ne having retired. We have Senator
Talaferro. ax-Gov. Broward and
Claude LEngle as the available ma
terial in sight from which TO take a
choice. and we have no hesitation in
naming Senator TaliaferrO as our pref
erence. His eight years career in the
Senate has been distinctly creditable
and he has steadily grown in capacity
as a senator and in the esteem of the
Senate itself since he entered that
bOdy-Which is more than can be said
of some others.
Spectacular in nothing nd with few
Of the graces of Oratory. Senator ITALIA
ferro has by sheer force of character
and sound practical ability made his
way in the Senate until he has won
high rank there as a statesman wise
in counsel with clear insight into
public questions. always alert to serve
his constituents and rated so highly as
a man Of force and judgment that he
is among the leading democrats in his
committee assignments in the Senate.
This is the real test Of a senator's
standing in that body for it is in the
committee rooms that legislation is
shaped. and the senator most efficient
there is the senator most useful to his
people.
new senator in Wa shington counts
for but little. 1t takes years of ser
vice 70 fit him into his work, and SEN
a tor Taliaferro has just now reached
the point of his highest usefulness.
when he is thoroughly familiar with
the complex workings Of the great ma
tional legislative machine and has ac
quired a personal influence among the
senators and in the departments which
ENABLE him to accomplish results that
would be impossible to a new senator.
To turn him out now for an untried
successor would be like discharging a
cal able and long trusted employe just
when he was doing his best work, to
make room for a new man without eX-
perience, who had nothing better than
his mere promises and self-l audation
to prove him superior to the man
whose place he sought.
1t is not necessary to discuss Mr..
Broward nor Mr.. L'Engle. Neither has
done anything to justify the people in
dism sSing a faithful and capable pub
lie servant to give him the place. Both
are rich in promises. and both love and
adore the dear people in the regulation
style, but neither has a record that
suggests senatorial fitness. which Mr..
Taliaferro has years of useful service
to point to and has now reached the
state of training and development at
which wise constituency wisely holds
that d public servant is most efficient
! and deserves continued tenure of his
| office. Democrat