New-York tribune., 1912-02-11

~ .yys Etfsf.f it!i ;r. Il
of the Government: but i, is unfortunately true that
during the las, two decades the Senate appears TO have
entered upon a period Of mcdIocrlty. The traditional
Senator who wore his irocl coat as if II were toga and
was the embodiment Of senatorial dignity, died with
Senator JOhn Warwick Daniel OF Virginia and Senator
Tohn TYLER Morgan Of Alabama These men were type
of the past learned dIgnlhcd, and both OF them natural
and trained orators. The modern movement invaded
the Senate and the classic orator died with them.
The rapid admission Of new States into the lmon
during the last thirty years brought an element OF new"
ness and raWncSs into the Senate. he custom ina,
Senator should not, during his first session open MS
mouth except toVOte was laid aside The new Senators
plunged n catching the Vice President eye ana talk
ing away very much as II they were IN the House.
In the South there had been a revolt agains, the
oiigarchv that so long ruled that section. II wa no
longer sending the Of family 10 the Senate; but sell
made men Of great force though Of little learning, forced
their way into the Senate Chamber lhe pioneer OIL
this class Of men from the South was senator Ih'' o'
South Carolina, and the hcrccncss OF m, language .'r
f-'euf, with his colleague Senator MgLaufln on lAc
floor Of the Senate and his untamci nyce'yc startled
and dispcascd the Senate. Eventually, senator D..
man had great triumph in the recognition oi M ".-
ties. iconoclast though he was.
PUT there were worse things remaining for the United
- State, Senate. 4 few years ago four United State
Two Of them Were convicted and sentenced 10 'a' "l
whom one served his term OF "a year. an1 the nhci I'o+
before the sentence could be carried into execution.
This state Of affair. gave shock 10 the senate "i.H
wa, sau,arv. 4 change Is taking place. Inc boss ''
the State machine disappearing IN o.a arrangement
bl which the bOs, named his colleague and state were
often rcprc-cntcd by two votes and one senator j.
growing unpopular The Senate is on l- way back I"
The old highway Party line are beng wiped oul, q"
formerly, in purifying he senate.
4. in the past presidential timber Is growing III the
Senate II i remarkable that. alter having b'eh i'
more than a hundred years the forest D' presidential
timber the Senate for the last fifteen year.. has not 'd
single really formidable presidential candidate except
perhaps Senator la Toilette although there were plenty
0t Senators Inrc.cp'lFc moods.
Whether a Legislature has the right 70 demand 'hc
resignation Of Senator Is an open question: 'u, "I'"
This demand has been made has always been 20 aDr'
Iu,,1v q violent personal move that u ua7 u' ''''.
hcctcl The last instance was when the IcErL'ul'' '
Kentucky during the free silver craze demanded 'He
o.i,rtion Of the late Senator Lindsay. lie refused on
the ground that Senators were primarily CHOSEN a..
brcaEwatcr against violent popular uphc'F"ir; ana ,I'
II would be time enough when his term c.Ic| j" men
10 cIcc, a free silver Senator and he served "u' H'
term with honor and credit
II that wonderful distribution Of power and prestige
L among the different branches Of the Government
,rfinh makes the Constitution Of the United states
miracle the Senate did not come out badly 81 COURSE
/, is ALWAYS complaining that it has not power enough
and Senators in huff have declared that the orh"c "'
a mere board Of audit 20 the House Of Representa-,
R,rt /, has great power as referendum. There - III
way Of checking debate except by closure SO 'n''
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