Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-03
OBTAINS A CHOICE SEAT
SENATOR SHIVELY WILL TAKE
SENATOR McLAURIN'S DESK.
First in Filing Application After
the Latter's Death. Which Was
Wholly Unexpected.

By the operation of the lottery which
determines the holders of the seats in
the United States Senate chamber Sena-
tor Benjamin F. Shively of Indiana will
occupy the most desirable seat on the
democratic side. made vacant by reason
of the death of Senator A. J. McLaurin
of Mississippi.
Senator McLaurin occupied the seat in
the front row next to the center aisle on
the minority side. corresponding to the
seat occupied by Senator Frye. president
pro tempore of the Senate, on the re-
publican side.
In his new seat Senator Shively will be
surrounded by some of the veteran demo-
Gratis in the upper house. Adjoining him.
with seats in the front row, are Senators
Daniel and Martin of Virginia. In the
second row, Immediately back Of him,
are Senators Clark of Arkansas, Stone of
Missouri, Taliaferro of Florida and Min
GRITTY Leader Money of Mississippi
How Seats Are Obtained.
\ vacant seat in the Senate chamber
is awarded, according to long established
precedent, to the member who files the
first application for it. In the case of
several of the most desirable seats in the
chamber claims have been long standing.
Every time there Is a possibility of the
retirement of a senator occupying a de-
BILE seat there Is a rush to file the
first claim. And the priority of the filing
finally determines to whom the seat is to
be awarded. although the senator having
the prior claim may be the youngest
member of the body.
Ordinarily the desirable seats in the
Senate are filed upon privately by
many senators for months or even years
<&I IN,,t Ia
Laurin appeared in such good health and
seemed to be so assured of retaining his
place that when he died no one had In
Dictated preference for his seat. Within
fifteen minutes after news OF his death
was received, however, two filings were
made for the seat. Senator Shively beat
out Senator Chamberlain of Oregon by
quarter of an hour.
Senator Beverages Luck.
Senator Beveridge of Indiana secured
the desirable seat he now occupies by
priority of filing. when Senator Spooner
retired from Congress. Senator Beverage
had filed half dozen claims to seats.
withdrawing his filing on one to file on
another. Some time before Senator
Spooner announced his intention to re-
tire, Senator Beverage filed on the for
mer's seat. Some of his friends laughed
at him at the time. because Senator
Spooner was expected to remain for
many years to come That he had acted
wisely. however, was shown few
months later.
Most of the senator's, of course want
desirable seat. But when they look
around to choose one. they find the selec-
ton more or less of a lottery. 1t is
guess as to which of the. senators occu-
plying desirable places will retire first.
AS is shown in the case of Senator Nc
Laurin, a seat may be regarded as filled
for many years to come because sena-
tor is in the prime of life. and likely
to be returned for more terms. and yet
may become vacant suddenly. In other
cases the retirement of a senator may
be expected. and yet his reelection is
brought about and the aspirants for his
seat are disappointed.