The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1913-01-22
VENERABLE
SENATOR TO
BE RETIRED
"UNCLE' SHELBY CULLOM TO
RETIRE TO PRIVATE LIFE SOON
ILLINOIS MAN HAS HELD ELEc-
TIVE OFFICES LONGER THAN
ANY MAN NOW LIVING IN THE
UNITED STATES.
UNITED STATES.

UNITED STATES.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-With the
reorganization of the United States
senate by the democrats March 4th,
next, there will pass into the re
tirement of private life, one of the
most interesting characters of that
body and one who has held elective
offices longer than any man now liv-
ing - Sen. Shelby NJ Cullom, of Il
nnois. Uncle Shelby began run
ming for office nearly so years ago,
and in one capacity or another he has
BEEN a public official either of the
state or nation practically ever since.
By a somewhat singular co-inci-
dence. he was defeated for the first
office to which he aspired and he was
likewise unsuccessful for the last one
which he sought, but at all other
times when he has been a candidate
he captured the prize. The venera-
able senator, approaching his Saith
light in Kentucky, but he left the
Blue Grass state the year following
his birth, when his father removed
to Illinois. When the future senator
was "a years Of age he had gradu-
ated from law and hung out his shin
gle in Springfield, which city is
still his home At the outset he
plunged into politics and he has
never been out of the game since.
His first nomination was for the Of
flee of presidential elector, but not
on the republican ticket. When that
party was organized in 1856, Uncle
Shelby" did not at first join the
movement. The republicans that
year nominated for president and
vice president John c. Fremont of
California, and William L. Dayton Of
New Jersey. 1t was about the time
Lincoln and Douglas were rival lead
ers in the Prairie state, but Cul-
lom did not then cast his lot with
Lincoln. Instead, he espoused the
cause of Willard Fillmore, of New
York, former president, and A. j.
/ Donelson, Of Tennessee, who were
candidates for president and vice :
president, respectively, of the Ameri-
can party, new and short lived
| political organization of that day. Cul
lom was a candidate for presidential
elector on the Fillmore and Donel-
son ticket and was defeated. James
Buchanan, the democratic nominee
of that year, was elected and with
his election the American party ceas-
ed to exist, most of its members going
into the newly formed republican
party, Cullom being one of them.
So rapid and complete was Cullom'
conversion to the republican party
to which he has ever since been loya
that he was almost Immediately
elected to the house of representa-
tives Of the Illinois legislature. where
he served for many years, twice be
Ing speaker Of that body, once il
1861 and again in 1878. Next he
+ came to congress and served in the
lower branch for six years. He qul
the house to return to the Illinois
LEGISLATURE and it was during thi'
service in the legislature that he va.
a second time elected to the speak
ership. In 1876 he was elected SOW
ernor Of Illinois for four years an'
in 1880 he was reelected to success
himself While serving his sec9a,
term as governor he was chosel
United states senator, which office n
has continuously filled up to th
present time, a period. of 80 years
representing five full terms.
Uncle Shelby" was a candidate i
the republican primaries Of the las
year for a sixth term, but owing t
the fractional strife in his party fai
ed to gain the nomination, which, eN
en- If he had been successful, woul
have proven an empty honor in vie