The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-07-01
DISTINCTIONS
UNUSUAL
Reward is the First Native Son
fIected to Senate from Florida
SENATORIAL HISTORY
INV Florida Has Been Represented Since
.Admissioa-No Governor Has Ever
Become Unit, d States Senator

FIR the first time, since her admis.
,on 10 the Union in lS45, Florida will
have in Napoleon Bonaparte Broward a
Senator who previously filled the guber.
sstoria chair of his State. The run-off
urinary between him and Senator James
Ener Talferro makes the election of
hr forth coming Legislature mere
,at6cation of the will of the Democratic
electorate of Florida.
TIOrida's hitherto habit of refusing
"a honor her Governors with Senatorial
Svnities is far different from that of
hs, sister Southern States. How con-
Srmed the custom of the latter it may
he noted in the fact that of the twenty
sr Senator's from Southern States, in
ending Missouri and Maryland twelve
ofthem previously were Governors. In
no State has the habit been so persis-
tent as in Tennessee. The Governors
vho have represented the Volunteer
State in the Senate since the war are
william G. BrOwnlow, Andrew Johnson,
Isham G. Harris, William b. Bate,
lanes B Frazier and Robert l.. Taylor.
Before the war it was rare instance
when one who had been Governor was
thus honored. James c. Jones and An
drew Johnson were the only ones OF a
bng line of distinguished Governors
viO proved to be the exceptions.
Since the Democratic party gained
,pendency after the days of recon-
yruction, 1875, Florida has uniformly
riven her Senator's an expression OF
confidence by at least a second term,
Charles W. Jones, Samuel Pasco. Step
nR. Mallory (who died towards the
eose Of his second term and James +.
Tsiaferro enjoyed two terms.
In the reconstruction era Florida s
Senator's came under the classification
Of carpet-baggers, being respectively
from Connecticut, New Jersey and New
York. New Jersey furnished two in
Thomas W. Osborn and Simon B. Con-
ovsr, but Adonijah S. WEIGH was from
Connecticut and AbiJah Gilbert from
New York. Because these men had
fought in the Union army and were
fitm the North, it is not necessary TO
infer that they were bad men or unde-
sirabe citizens. After the expiration
ofhis term, Senator Welch went to
Iowa. and for some years filled the
presidency of the State Agricultural
and Mechanical Colleges at Ames 1t
bimpOasible to believe that such a
position would have fallen to GH'essentl-
iE bad citizens. Suffering, however.
from the bitterness and humiliation OF
defeat, the Southern States made no
distinction whether the incomer had
fought in the Federal army or came IN,
0the State subsequent to the war, II
heIoined the party held responsible Tor
that defeat and Immediately proceeded
Inappropriate public office.
Florida has not honored her Senators
with more than one term because tney
have figured largely in the pubic eye
beyond the States borders. 1t may be
assumed that few persons, well-inform-
mst that, could cal the names OF her
more recent Representatives IN the
Senate while fewer still could name
their predecessors. The late Senator
Mallory shone more than any OF MS
colleague by reason of luster borrow
Mfmm distinguished father. Stephen
3. Mallory, who was United States
Senator fol two terms previous TO the
var and became Secretary OF the navy
nMr. Davis Cabinet.
The Senator's of later times nave
been men of average talents, Watcntu'
Of the interests of their State in nation,
Legislation, but making no MARKED
Impression in national life. When ior
!eeneration or more a list of Senator
4names is made, composed OF men
linked as giant sin debate and Leaders
ABILITIES one looks in vain for the
nhes of single Senator from Florida
will not do simply to say that a party
the minority, as has so long been the
eaee with theirs, can furnish no oppor-
unity for prestige. II such were cor
lest. the names of Harris and Carmack
q Morgan and Petus, of Culbertsons
~ Bailey, of Bacon and Clay, and OF
eaer Southern Senators would be 3D.
oture.
Comparisons were siderable, Flor
= had more distinguished represen-
snon in the Senate before the war
Y since its close. David Levy fuiee
{ Stephen R. Mallory gave except 'n.
pnor to the State in the debates Oh
nod noted for the clash Of ideas an0
~ that eliminated in the cataclysm
wi War. The issues 1t may DC
ed, were such as to develop tne
y possible achievements IN State
For that reason the ten years
htely proceeding the war pro
nen whose trained powers OF ols,
shone with an unprecedenteo
ne to note, Yulee and Mallory
atives of islands of the West
Yulee was a Hebrew, bearing
b Levy until he became prom,
nnh1so ocro;vs uuhon he 00O80