Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-11-26
Four Democrats Being Men
toned as Successor to
Senator Kern in the Up
per House of the Newly
Elected Congress.
LEWIS AND WALSH
MEET WITH FAVOR
Pomerene, Without Political
Enemies in the Ranks of
His Own Party, Has Good
Chance-Martin Is Fa-
vored by Southerners.

Washington. Nov. 25.-Whom will
the Democrats choose as their leader
in the United States senate to succeed
John w. Kern Of Indiana, who was
among the vanquished in the recent
election? Martin of Virginia, Walsh of
Montana, Lewis of Illinois and Pom
creme of Ohio are the senators whose
names are now most frequently men,
toned in connection with the honor.
Sectionalism is likely to be the de-
Gliding factor in the contest. Senator
Martin Of Virginia probably can Sc
cure the solid support of the south,
but his candidacy will be handicapped
by the fact that the south already has
the house leadership. The splendid
showing made by the Democrats of the
far west in the recent election has
placed that section in a position to de-
mand goodly share of the honors The
first choice of the western Democrats
for the senate leadership is likely to
be the Montana senator, who added to
his popularity and prestige by his eff
Gent management of the Chicago head
quarters in the late campaign.
SOUTH AND FAR WEST.
Among political observers In Wash
ington the opinion is gaining ground
that the rivalry between the south and
the far west is likely to result in the
choice of a compromise candidate
either Pomerene of Ohio or Lewis of
Illinois. The selection of either of these
senators would be satisfactory to the
administration. But among the Demo-
cratic members Of the senate, who have
the bestowal of the honor in their
hands, the silent statesman from the
Buckeye state would probably have the
edge in "a dual contest with the elo-
quent j. Ham Lewis of illinois, The
Illinois senator is a man of unquestlon-
able ability but his forceful person
ality has on mere than one occasion
stirred up animosities that would
probably lose hir, the votes Of more
than one Of his colleagues in a contest
for the leadership.
Senator Pomerene, on the other hand.
is believed to have no political enemies
within the ranks of his own party. |
even though he may have few close per
sonal friends. He was the first Ohio
Democrat to enter the senate In many
years and his political prestige has
been strengthened by the recent sweep |
Ing victory of the Democrats in his
state, when virtually all of the neigh
boring commemorative were won by |
the Republicans
USES JACkSON'S EXPRESSION,
If Pomerene is chosen for the leader /
ship the Democratic party in the Senate
VIII have for its standard bearer a man
who does not use tobacco in any form |
who is practical abstainer from in
toxicants and who cannot be induced.
even II stirred to wrath, to indulge in
profanity. Not that the Ohio senator
lacks forceful expression. When occa-
sion demands it, he clangs his laws
shut with firm teeth, makes up his
mind as to his course of action and
then with "by the eternal"-for An
drew Jackson's expression is a favorite
with him-he proceeds to execute the
thing in mind.
Pomerene has rushed into promi-
hence in public life with the speed of
Halley's comet. Less than a decade
ago, as one writer has remarked, ito
most people in his own state his was a
name that suggested only some frag-
rant and luscious tropical fruit"
ii was the late Tom l.. johnson OF
Cleveland who discovered him. In his
home city of Canton, Pomerene pre-
sided over Democratic mass meeting
at which Johnson spoke in his cam
paign for the Ohio governorship. john
son discerned the abilities of the young
attorney and was pleased to find that
Pomerene's progressive views on pub
Tic questions were in line with his own
beliefs. So he decided to push him :
to the front. The result was that the
Canton man was elected to the lieuten-
ant governorship and from that posi- ]
lion stepped into the United States ,
senate.
MAN WITHOUT A HOBBY.
In habits Senator Pomerene is over [
yet not without a brilliant !
social nature. He has no athletic {
hobby. He neither COLTS, nor boats.
lor rides, nor plays tennis. When not
in the duties of his office, he {
can be found at home or in I
he companionship of his wife and {
trends. |
Mr.. Pomerene will be SO years old
lext month. though in appearance he
night pass for a man in his early
critics. He was the son of a country C
Ioctor one Of large family. In his $
'outh he worked on a farm in summer
nd earned enough to pay his way a
through college, graduating from C
in the class of "a. After be-
ng admitted to the oar he hung out 81
is shingle in Canton. Ten years later
c was selected prosecuting attorney o
'hich marked the beginning of his T
ublic career ii