Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-21
NEWS OF THE LEGISLATURE
UNIQUE EVENT
in THE SENATE
Two Members Resign to Be-
come States Highest Off
GERS; Paintings Unveiled

GERS; Paintings Unveiled
Retirement of Governor William
c. Sproul as State Senator after
more than a quarter of century of
service to become the chief execu-
tive of Pennsylvania. and of sena-
tor Edward e. Beidleman to assume
the duties of lieutenant governor.
made last nights brief session of
the state senate unique in history.
Never before have two members of
the upper branch of the Legislature
been SO honored by a state election
and their colleagues gave them an
affectionate farewell.
Before the senators resigned the
two panels painted for the senate by
Miss Violet Oakley were unveiled
with remarks by Lieutenant Gov
ernor McClain and then Miss Oak
ley briefly explained the themes. The
senate chamber was crowded and
great interest was shown in the cere-
mony. ..-.
Then the new Governor, whose
| family were presented. presented his
resignation and made short ad-
dress. He was so heartily applaud
ed that he laughingly remarked
! that the senator's seemed glad to see
their father" go. The Delaware
| senator held the record for con-
tinuous service.
! Mr.. Beidleman then resigned
with some brief remarks and was
! given generous applause.
Lieutenant Governor McClain, a
warm personal friend of both, made
some felicitious remarks which were
applauded by senators and visitors
alike.
The senate adopted the Brady
resolution from the house relative
to soldiers pay.
Governor Sprouts Speech
Governor-elect Sproul, in present
ing his resignation, said:
'Mr. President, 1 am forced to the
reluctant conclusion that my leaving
this body meets with popular ap-
proval. Laughter and applause1.
I never have been able, in my long
experience, to strike such respon-
sive chord, either in the Senate or
in the audience before. But, really.
Mr.. President, I cannot think of any
other reason which would have made
me willingly lay down my duties as
a Senator of Pennsylvania except the
charge to take up a more serious OBJ
legation even than this is, and, filled
as L am with gratitude and eXpec-
fancy as to what is before me, /
leave this body with the sincerest
regret.
Il have been q member of the
Senate of Pennsylvania ever since I
was old enough to be member, and
l cannot think of anything else in
my life which fills me with more
pride than to be able to say that l
am retiring after having participated
IN thirteen sessions of the General
Assembly - counting this as one,
twelve of them regular sessions and
one special-and cannot think of
anything that brings me greater
gratitude than if 1 can retire now
with your goodwill and affection.
And here tonight, in the presence OF
my fellow-Senators and those who
are near to me-the mayor of the
government of my home city and all
OF those who have come here to see
the Senate start and to pay their re-
spects to my splendid colleague also
in this body who is with me and who
has been with me through the cam
paign and who goes with me, into a
higher office-I want to say that
consider membership in the Senate
of Pennsylvania as one of the great
est honors that a man may have
And 1 want to say that I hope that
the members here, and the people of
the state also, will realize how great
Pennsylvania is and what mem ber-
ship in this body stands for. 1t is
rather strange, as the writers say,
that two members of the Senate
should be picked this year for the
high state offices. There is nothing
strange about it, because there has
always been a great deal of good
material here. If discerning public
had only looked here more closely
they could always have found ma
teria1 in the Senate of Pennsylvania
TO MI these offices or any other Of
nces that the nation has. Applause,
want also to express my appre-
citation of the long years of courtesy
that l received here, and when l
come to think of it that even the
venerable Senators who will now be
left have served here ten years less
than my patient constituency has
borne with me, and 1 have some
thanks to return at least to those
who have borne with me here. There
is no Senator here who was then in
this body and only three of the Of
hcers and employees of the Senate
/ who were here in the Session of 1897
are here to-day. 1 cannot leave
without mentioning the fact that
Herman p. Miller, the Senate libra
rian, was efficient and painstaking
and cared for us then as he does
to-day, and that this most efficient
young man, among all the men
whom know referring to w.
Harry Baker1. who is now the Sec
retary of the Senate, was then. as
now, an indispensable feature of this
organization. Another one is our
dear old friend Toney-Anthony
Frenie-who has gone through many
a close situation with us.
I'm conclusion, 1 want to say that
tomorrow will have some matters
which l want to make plain to the
Senate in all seriousness, and to-
night I want to tell you that 1 shall
never forget the fact that / have
been Senator so long, and I shall
never forget how much pleased I
have been to have been a member of
this body. ] shall never forget.
either, how important a Senator is
in the government of the State ~