Senate Changes

With the adjournment of congress at noon, March 4, the senatorial careers of thirteen members of the United States senate terminated, six republicans and seven democrats. The net result of these thirteen changes is to leave the relative party strength just the same as at present. Of the six democrats who retire, four are succeeded by republicans, and of the seven outgoing republicans four are succeeded by democrats. The republican gains are all in the northwest and the democratic gains are all in southern states or border states.

The terms of thirty senators expired with the falling of the gavel at noon yesterday and of this number thirteen failed of re-election either through defeat or refusal to again be candidates. The democrats who retire are Senators Harris of Kansas, Turner of Washington, Hatfield of Idaho, McLaurin of South Carolina, Jones of Arkansas, Rawlins of Utah, and Vest of Missouri. The first three were elected as populists, but have voted with the democrats generally, while McLaurin of South Carolina has voted with the republicans more, probably, than with the democrats, though claiming all the time to be a democrat. The most conspicuous and able of the seven are Vest and Jones. Senator Vest is a senator of the old school and one of the most scholarly men in the senate. During the past few years he has been in bad health and almost blind, but has always been in his place in the senate and always when speaking on any question commanded the close attention of the senate. Jones is chairman of the democratic national committee and recognized as an able leader.

The republicans who retire to private life are Jones of Nevada, Wellington of Maryland, Deboe of Kentucky, Pritchard of North Carolina, Mason of Illinois, and Simon of Oregon. Of these Jones has for a portion of his last term acted with the democrats as has also Wellington of Maryland. Jones has been in the senate for thirty years and had arisen to conspicuous leadership. He has not been a speechmaker and has introduced few bills, yet has been a powerful influence in shaping legislation. When Jones became senator Simon Cameron and Hannibal Hamlin were prominent characters there. James G. Blaine was not yet in the senate, but Roscoe Conkling, Gen. Logan, Allen G. Thurman, Cari Schurz, Oliver P. Morton, John J. Ingalls and Thomas F. Bayard were among the great names of the senate.

To such a man with such a record retirement from the scene of so much of his life work must seem almost like taking leave of life itself.