Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-01-21
CBy Jonothan Winfield


 { Tinted States Senate, the fact is that as soon as a man gets creden- tials to that body he begins an ef- fort to obtain what he considers the most desirable seat in the Senate chamber. That is why it is that there is not infrequeutly among dig nif;ed senators almost an undigni-' fled scramble for a favorte desk as soon as it is vacated, and often 9a fore it's occupant is able to su rer- der it,
 Senators have little supersti i5n and strange fancies about certain desks in the Senate chamber. Tha one wish which was expressed by 1obn Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, when he became member of the Senate. less than a year ago, was that he might occupy the desk at which one of his predecessors in the Senate from Mississippi, Jefferson Davis had sat The brilliant Missis- sinnian declared they might assign him to any old nook or corner " carry on his correspondence and transact his routine business. if they would let him have the place on the floor where Jefferson Davis had held sway His chief ambition is to hecome as distinguished a msmbef of the Senate as was Jefferson Da wis. although he has no desre 10 be come the president of part of the 1rnion as Davis did. If John Sharp has ambitions to become president, he wants 10 preside over inc whole country.
 There are historic associations connected with the desk which Sen ator Williams ecGnies. During the early days of i1e Civil war, after Mississippi had seeded ana paws ad been chosen president Of the ronfederacy, some armed soldiers ither on guard or sight elns, |ere passing through the senate hamber. according to the story hich is now told. To one Of them desk which Davis had occupied Is. pointed out, and in an lgnor-
 desire ito avenge his C, country, ,on he kbed his saber into the mahos-
 ton of the desk, causing long, Sop and ragged cut. It is said that fof bhis wilful attempt to destroy theGovernment property. he was tr1ed by court martial and sentenced tO thirty days in the guard house. But the desk was repaired by an irtistic cabinet maker, the cut was filed and covered with a veneering # mahogany. and now can only be letected by close observation. For many years the late Senator ohn w. Daniel. of Virginia, occupied he Davis desk. When he died Sen tor Owen, of Oklahoma, moved over b it and held it for one session. An he learned of the ambition of tor Williams to occupy it, he
 Neaskuaxxeadered 1t to him and
 ted one directly back Of It.
 desk which was occupied by
 Webster is also one which
 krs on the Republican side
 Aways been anxious to sit be-
 Beca,rse there were frequent-
 ssfpnts ;.ada bv visitors ente"-
 c. a,.-tar. when the Senate
 s,, session. and when no one
 to. chip of small pieces Fer souvenirs, it's len
 secret for lcns
 0Als6 al negro messenger
 wdAee H ksvice for many
 N.4d tSee abe to ten
 op' \ vas, It is generally
 d tsa >,o. 7 on the Repup~
 'dc, sad nn~ occupied by sen
 enry ei,,at Lodge. ""'1 .,.,
 nl~her g, on the Demo- Side, ha. < nator Williams is
 efstiuois in regard to it. es Summers desk is another eaTft>d It is not in the ' osl'1on it occupied when the r 'saed Massacbusetts member II H. but tradition has it that 9 oesk behind which Senator .r New York, now sits.
 ,it House the assignment of made by lot at the begin ,,. zach Congress, but in the Ar ,ub member holds his seat as ,.,- ne remains in the Senate, m gets an opportunity to s.,. TOT what he considers . .u, lrable one. ID set . desir- a Senator files with the
 at-arms of the Ssnete .
 0r it whenever 1t shaA be-