Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/357

Rh part in the senate of the United States in the establishment of the existing financial system, and in the preparatory legislation for the return to specie payment. In 1872, after a spirited and bitter contest consuming almost the entire session of the legislature, Senator Corbett was defeated for re-election by John H. Mitchell. Senator Corbett is a pronounced republican of the old school, adhering with great firmness to his political convictions and at the same time is conservative and respectful toward the opinions of others. The legislative assembly in 1897 failing to elect a successor to Senator Mitchell, Senator Corbett was appointed by Governor Lord to fill the vacancy thereby occasioned; but under the rule claimed to have, been established by the senate in previous cases, he was not admitted to a seat in the senate, and at the extra session of the legislative assembly chosen in June, 1898, and which convened in October in that year, he was the most prominent candidate for election to the office, and received the support of a large majority of the republican members, but not enough to secure the election. In the interest of harmony, and to avoid failure to elect, he withdrew his name, and Joseph Simon was elected for the unexpired term. Henry W. Corbett, William S. Ladd, Henry Failing, and C. H. Lewis may justly be said to have had the largest influence in the upbuilding and development of the City of Portland, of all the men prominently known to the financial world, and at this time Mr. Corbett is the leading figure in the financial circles of the state, and his influence upon its business and political interests is perhaps superior to that of any other public man.

James K. Kelly, who succeeded George H. Williams as United States Senator, and who was elected at the session of the legislative assembly for the year 1870, took office March 4, 1871, and served until March 3, 1877.