The Washington herald., 1914-04-12
MEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
Famous Statesmen Who Held High
Office in Their Old Age.


Uncle Joe Cannon deprecates with
words metaphorical and varied any In
timation that he will be too old for a
renewed Congressional service, citing
also thst several other statesmen have
done well when beyond the fourscore
mark. President John Adams was a
delegate to a constitutional convention at
the age Of eighty-hve, while President
John Quincy Adams served eighteen
years in the House after his PresidcT-
tiaI term and died In the hall at the age
OF eighty-one. Senator Justin Morrell, OF
Vermont, died with part of his sixth
term unserved at the age Of eighty-eight
and his last election was given when
he was eighty -four. John T. Morgan died
at eighty three. also in the midst of a
term.
Thomas Jefferson did not seek political
honors after leaving the White House
but lived to be eighty-three years old,
surviving seventeen years after closing
second term. James Madison was eighty
five at death and lived nineteen years after
retirement. James Buchanan was seventy
when he gave way to Lincoln In 1861, and
lived seven years longer at Wheatland'
his Pennsylvania home.
members Of the present Congress will
be older than he before their service
ends and older, too, than he will be 1T the
end OF another term.
In the Senate, Bankhead. of Alabama;
Du Pont. of Delaware; Burleigh, OF
Maine: Nelson. of Minnesota: Galliger.
of New Hampshire; Dillingham; and
Page, Of Vermont. and Warren, Of wy
oming, will all be nearing the eighty
hi. ant torn ms
and not one has indicated an intention of
retiring.
The luck of Charles William Frederick
Dick has long been by-word in Ohio.
especially the real luck disguised WIZ N
he met defeat and mourned thereat HIS
chief ambition a few years back vas
to be State auditor. He was county
auditor at home. and the State job was
alluring as a promotion. Alas. he iame
upon the GAINESVILLE convention Of 1898
with banners flying and went home with
the aforesaid banner trailing In the dust
The future seemed a forlorn hope to
Charles William and he was a trifie limp
when the Mckinley campaign came on
year later. : The strong arm Of Hanna
had need of Dick and put him in resDon-
sible place with the national committee.
Later he was secretary and more shan
all was valuable in giving Hanna election
to the Senate. Quickly enough DIrk
wondered why he ever thought of such a
modest job as State auditor when he had
gotten in close communion with President
makers and heads of the government at
Washington. Good old NOrthway, mem
Der OF Congress from the famous Gar
field district. died and Dick. backed up
by the Mckinley and Hanna all-powerful
dictum. came readily and happily TO Con-
gress- He kept on coming and thus
wanted to remain secretary Of the ma
tional committee There was not SO much
objection 10 Dick as a demand for some
one outside OF the chairman's State and
following a soothing talk from Mckinley,
Dick dropped out to remain State chair
man.
That was another blessing in disguise,
for when Hanna died after achieving
reelection and to him a vindicatiOn due
largely to Dicks organization work, the
one thought Sas Dick for Senator, sue
ceeding his chief. So he came into seven
years Of the Senate, retaining his grip
on Ohio until the smash of 1910
Now with his usual pertinacity any
long-headednsss hA has been. careful u
announce, week before Burton's with
drawal. modest ambition to be the
Republican nominee for Senator two
years hence. Wisely enough Dick deferred
to Foraker. Burton and all others who
might be candidates this year and asked
only that he be kept in mind for 1916. to
succeed POmerene the Democrat who
had the honor of succeeding Dick four
years ago. Dick made this announcement
before he knew Of Burton getting out
hut il was more of the Dick luck
Burton comes from Cleveland and Dick
from Akron. sixty miles south. II the
Senatorial nomination goes south this
year to Foraker or any one else, the
northern section will be given the honor
two years hence and Dick will be in line
with much in his favor that will not at
tach to the effort OF candidates who are
in the running under adverse conditions
this year.