New-York tribune., 1911-02-04
From The Tribune Bureau.1
Washington, February :.


WATERLO Friday, February 3. 1911,
will long he remembered by some of the
veterans in the Senate as the day when
that leadership. which for sixteen years
has controlled the destinies OF the upper
house. went down to defeat The triumph
| of the insurgents and their Democratic
allies was complete. Some tmid souls who
have not hitherto been certain where they
stood foresaw the end and focked to the
banner OF Borah. Cummins. La Toilette, ct
al. and the regular Republicans on an i'm
portant motion were able to muster only
| thirty-six votes. Sixteen years ago the Re-
publicans regancd control of the Senate
and elected William p. Frye, the veteran
Senator from Maine. its President pro tenn,
which position he still holds. There were
giants In the Senate then. The leaders were
Justin Morrill,, with twenty-eight years
Of service 10 his credit; William Il. Allison.
who had seen twenty-five years service;
Orville Hitchcock Plat, with sixteen years
service: Nelson W. Aldrich and William =.
Frye and John Sherman and Eugene Hale,
each with fourteen years service behind
him; while George +. Hoar. never precisely
leader but always a force. had been a
member Of tho upper house in nine Con
crosses. Henry Cabot Lodge was then an
infant in point Of service. having been a
Senator only two years and Jacob II.
Gallnger. now a veteran, was In the in
fant class. The Democrats were led by
Arthur y. German. who had served his
state for fourteen years as a Senator, and
Roger Q. Mills who had been there only
three years. John I. Morgan. the classic
member Of the minority, was then in his
prime. with eighteen years service TO his
credit. and many more to follow. Cushman
X Davis was also in his prime. and on
William +. Chandler had fallen the mantle
Of John j. ingalls, as the possessor OF the
keenest rapier then drawn in Senatorial de-
bate. Just one insurgent was included In
the membership Of the Senate, Richard f.
Pettgrew. of South Dakota. a worthy pre-
cursor Of the insurgents of this day.
THE BIG SIX.-Gradualy death and po-
liticai fortunes thinned the ranks Of the
men who possessed the power 10 lead A
few new members were added. John G.
Spooner. the little giant from the Badger
State, who had served in the Senate be-
fore the Democratic landslide in Wiscon-
sin, was returned ct the expiration Of the
term Of William T. Villas. Marcos A
Hanna succeeded John Sherman, and
gradually the leadership came to be con-
feed TO the hands Of men OF proved
ability. These were known as the big
SIX" which included Senators Aldrlch. AL
lison, Hale, Platt, Of connecticut; Hanna
and Spooner. The Senate had enjoyed
brilliant leadership before. but never more
able than it received from these six. who
for some years controlled its destnies
Gradually. however, even these passed
away. Senators Hanna. Platt and Allison
answered the last rolIcall. Senator Spooner
retired. and OH March Messrs Adrch
and Hale who are tho last members Of
the big six" will also retire. and the
upper house Of Congress will be left to
the insurgents. For the few regulars who
remain will be powerless against the COM
bination of insurgents and Democrats. The
fight came to-day over the question OF the
election Of Senators by popular vote. II
was a singularly fitting subject. Many Of
the men who won to-day have practically
been elected by direct vote, and it was
perhaps, not the less significant that It
was accomplished by deal with the Demo
Gratis to confirm their power 10 dsfranchise
the negro. But what Of the future Of the
Senate: Who is so rash as TO predict?
WISDOM OF THE SERPENT-It Is per-
haps little harsh so 10 characterize the
political sagacity Of the Speaker-designate
and his party associates. but that they are
wise in their day and generation was abun-
dainty demonstrated to-day by the call by
Representative Champ Clark OF a caucus
on Canadian reciprocity. Its purpoSe is Of
course 10 enable the Democrats 10 present
to the country the spectacle Of a minority
united on the most popular policy which