The Washington herald., 1914-06-19
Kenineky's New Ssaatsr.
sy FRANCIs .. GRssxER

! When the Hon johnson N. camdeE
was sworn in a. Senator from Kentucky
three minutes after the fall Of the gave
yesterday, there was hearkenlng bach
thirty three years, when his distinguished
father took the oath for the drst tim<
as Senator from West Virginia
/, The Senator Camden Of today recalla
that event when, he little dreaped OF 9
like honor for himself and from a diff
lferent State, when he had reached fh<
full vigor of manhood.
The second Senator Camden was but
q lad when the fine figure Of his father
came down the center aisle with hand
on the arm Of Senator Henry Gassaway
Davis. then the senior Senator from West
Virginia: but the younger Camden has
never forgotten the occasion and IL came
to mind vividly as he came forward on
the arm Of Senator Ollie James. his
senior colleague from old Kentucky.
One minute before the Senate gavel fell,
Johnson N. Camden, private citizen. came
In from the cloakfoon. escorted not alone
by his colleague. but by ex-senator Joe
Blackburn. who years ago had been a
colleague and warm personal friend Of
the parent Camden. and whose home Is
at Versailles, where the new Senator
has long made his abiding place. There
n
IBlackburn's escort Of his Old friends
son, now his ow-townsman, and 1t was
appreciated by other Senators. especially
those who had known the Hon. Joseph
c., in days of his eminence and popularity
in the Chamber. There was no dramatic
flourish in the induction OF the new
statesman, but no one on floor or gallery
missed the sentimental touch Of the
Blackburn presence. and his fervent con-
graduation when the short ceremony
ended.
There was a line in the prayer Of the
Chaplain which had pertience, and no
one missed it-'.No man can enter upon
any great undertaking without thy aid
and favor, oh Lord''-a line suggested
perhaps by the impending coming into
the Senatorial circle of q new member.
and It added to the quiet. dramatic fea-
lures of the occasion.
There was a quick brushing aside OF
Senate routine by the new senior Senator
from Kentucky, Ollie James, as he made
a motion for such action and lost no
time in presenting the credentials Of his
esteemed colleague. This done. the giant
frame Of the Hon. Ollie. with the tall
young man on his arm. came down the
center aisle. The oath was taken and
the private citizen who had entered the
Chamber exactly five minutes before was
a Senator of the United States. Follow
ing the induction there was the usual
coming over one by one Of fellow-Sen-
ators with due dehberation, but no lack
of cordial congratulation- The first
House member to grasp the Camden
hand was a Republican, the Hon. Bas-
com Slemp. of Virginia. but he Is asso-
ciated with Senator Camden In big busi-
ness operations. along with Senator Wat
son, of West Virginia Later there was
a general coming over of Kentucky
House members. and Mr.. Camden's first
hour as a Senator was very much given
to hearing the kind expressions of fu-
ture colleagues from many States.
His seat had already been chosen for
him, and he found himself next TO
the erudite and even-delightful Hamilton
Lewis, Senator from Illinois Splendid
floral tributes waited the new statesman.
and more congratulations from friends
who had witnessed with satisfaction and
pride the coming OF a second Camden
TO the Senate
Looking over the Chamber the younger
Camden saw no Senator who was there
when his father first came In; while a
second looking over. and thinking back.
recalled that Senators Warren and Gal
linger were the oply two Senators OF
today who were out on the roll call when
the senior Camden came in for second
term on January g, 1898.
His first day as Senator found the now
first citizen of Versailles, KY, receiving
old friends and new at the Shoreham,
and he admitted that the Senatorial prop
osition looked very good. and promised
wall after ono DAYS observation.