The Washington herald., 1914-01-21
POLITICAL PROCESSION.
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Joseph Warren Fordney has had eight
elections to coneress from tne ,, ssxinaw
cog In the days Of progressive folly and
lrsmains - fervent Republican ~ when
he cast his frst vote for Prudent Hayes
In 1s76. Fordney was born IN the county
OF Biackford. indiana the smallest
county Of the State. up I'm the Wabash
region and he has never forgotten his
early struggles on Q farm nor his bitter
resentment toward Biackford County
Democrats who were inclined TO SYM
pathy with the South during the war.
Fcrdney began operations in the Michi-
gan lumber camps long before he was
voter, but he had made up his mind down
in benighted Blackford how he would
vote when old enough ~
He has kept on voting straight Repub-
bcan tickets and he vas careful not
to run for ONCE until sure Of something
good. He did try term a. alderman
/ lust to learn the lingo OF legislative
| bodies so that he might 60 to Congress
later. Once he had made q big fortune
In lumber without any straining Of the
hat band. he turned his attention to
Congress and has been faithful In watch
ing tho interests of Michigan without
overlooking the @. o. p.
What II more, there are thirteen chill
dIen in the Fordney family, seven girls
and six boys. with Mrs. Fordney as
young as any of them and the Saginaw
statesman proudly proclaiming each son
a Republican Of the old-fashioned sort.
The girls have one majority. thanks to
| twins but all are happy and they come
to Washington occasionally. but never all
at once. The Saginaw district keeps
firm in the Republican faith and Fordney
will continue his efforts to make the en-
tire Michigan delegation Republican this
year with no Progressive detection.
Here is another way Of putting the
West Virginia Senatorial proposition.
Since December Z. 1865. West Virginia has
had 100 years Of representation in the
United States Senate. The northern
range of counties have had eighty-two
years of the Senatorial honor as against
eighteen years given the southern half OF
the Commonwealth. Is II any wonder the
Republicans Of the southern counties
think IL about time for them to have
Senator doing business in Washington?
The counties along the line of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad were most loyal
in time of war and naturally were given
the Senator's. but they kept on electing
them In Democratic days and In years
following the Republican sweep Of 1894.
The first Senators were Welley, OF Nor
gantown. and Van winkle. OF Parkers-
burg. Later on came Henry g. Davis and
]. n. Camden; then Boreman and Charles
]. Faulkner. all Democrats, and all to
the north. Allen 7. Caperton was the
first Senator from the southern section.
but he died at the beginning Of his term.
and two Democrats, Price and Hereford,
filled it out. John Z. Kcnna, of Char
lesion, was the next Democratic Sena-
tor from the lower half OF the State and
he died after ten years service. No
Democrat or Republican was chosen
from Lower West Virginia until William
f. Chiffon. OF Charleston. came on with
the 1910 victory. Once the Republicans
took hold in 1894 they sent Elkins, then
Scott, both from the north. Elkins was
elected three times and died after six
teen years service. His third term was
completed by his son. Davis Elkins and
Clarence Watson, a Democrat. both from
the northern range of counties. Scott
was from the extreme north, and had
two terms. What wonder the southern
Republicans are already organizing to
elect the next Senator and win demand
the nomination as against Chiffon. a
Democrat, also from the south, and who
is not threatened with any opposition in
his own party. Isaac T. Mann. who has
been an unselfish and powerful figure in
Republican affairs for years, continues
the most available man for the Repub-
lican side. even II he modestIy disclaims
any ambition after the long Legislative
contest Of a year ago. when Goff. Of the
northern range. was chosen
With the return of Chairman Woods
from several executive sessions of Iowa
Republicans that finally decided not to
oppose Senator Cummins, there will be
renewed activity. hope and silence in
the Republican Congressional committee
rooms.
Evidently some fine political work has
been doneNin Iowa and some OF IL with
out the advice Of the debonair chairman
who possibly appreciates the age and
experience of the old Republican leaders
who are not inclined to any dickering
with Progressives. Just why the new
Congressional committee managers were
so eager to put on Cramton, of Michigan.
as member from his State is not clear
to real Republicans Of other States like
Iowa as they fesx Cramton is reaching
out for Progressive aid this year of our
Lord. However, the Woods-Eversman
committee continues confident that a Re-
publican House will be doing business
after March 4, 1915, and there is the
occasional diversion of assigning loyal
Republicans sure of election to desirable
committee chairmanships. 1t gives cheer
to the ambitious ones and helps things
along. Several Republicans who would be
in line for high chairmanships In a Re
publican House are not coming back
Bartholdt might be chairman OF Foreign
Affairs, but he leaves Congress of his own
accord with the close Of the present term.
Burke, of South Dakota, could be chair
man of Indian Affairs, but he is trying
to be Senator before much older.
Hayes. of California, is in the front for
Banking and Currency, with Frank Guern-
sey, of Maine, close second.
James Francis Burke. of Pennsylvania.
is at the head of the minority list of the
Educational Committee. but with a Re-
publican House he might prefer another
committee after half dozen years OF
The Man Who Died