The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-04
NEW SENATOR IS
ACTIVE WORKER
North Dakota Man Is Surprise
to the Republicans
ON BALL|NGER COMMITTEE
Purcell VIII BE Heard from In the
BnIIinger-Pinchot Inquiry ss He
Is An UncOmpromisinE
Democrat.
ON BALL|NGER COMMITTEE
BY wArrERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, February ESPECIALLY }
There was some display OF levity on
the republican side Of the Senate yes
terday when the vice president an
nounced the appointment of Senator
Purcell of North Dakota to the Bal
linger committee vacancy. Today 1t
is not so funny. for the reason that
they have found out something about
tbs new senator. They took It for
granted that this man Purcell was
some personal friend of the governor
who had a barrel of money and simp-
ly wanted an official justification for
carrying an honorable before his name
for the rest of his life. They were
never more in error. lie has forgotten
more law than most men in the SEN
ate know; he is an uncompromising
democrat, and on the matter of Bal
linger VS.. the people he is as well
informed as any witness in the case.
Purcell went to Dakota territory
from New Jersey when he was "a. He
had studied law, taken the honors of
his class and concluded to practice In
county attorney, a delegate to the DEM
ocratic convention of 1884. He has not
missed a democratic convention since
and was for eight years the democratic
national committeeman from North Da-
kota.
Cleveland appointed him district at
torney of the state in 1898 and there is
no more creditable record of service
on file in the department of justice.
When Cleveland went out Purcell re-
sumed the practice of law and stands
at the head of his profession. He is
bound to be heard from in the Sem
ate and on the Ballinger committee.
The new senator remarkably resem-
bles the late Speaker Crisp and relates
many amusing stories of his being
taken for the great Georgian"
"The democrats of North Dakota
said the senator tonight, ARE In the
best possible political shape. Cover
nor Burke will be elected and ! be-
lieve we will send to the United States
Senate two democrats. The republi-
can party in the state is shattered on
the tariff issue and there is no hope
of a compromise"
At the request of Senators Bankhead
and Johnston, G. Earle Yancey, who
has been in charge of the records OF
naval officers in the bureau of navi-
cation, navy department, for several
years past was today appointed chief
clerk of that bureau. He Is a grand
son of w. e. Yancey of Alabama. Mr..
Yancey Is from Florida and entered
government service as a messenger in
the navy pay office in this city, Novem-
Der, 1898. In December, 1899, he was
transferred to duty in the bureau Of
navigation in the navy department and
has served faithfully and efficiently
there ever since. He was promoted to
the various grades up to the $3.50
class. AS chief clerk of the bureau
he will receive a salary of $4,000 a
year. Congratulations were showered
on him today. He is known to every
officer in the navy either personally or
by reputation
The Tennessee river will receive in
the forthcoming rivers and harbors bill
about $750,00O. This will be used In
channel work and maintenance from
Knoxville to the mouth of the river
The amount is exclusive of what &C.
ton may be taken as to Muscle Shoals
which project is dependent upon the
general policy of development of wa
ter powers not yet formulated.
Action Against High Prices.