Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-04
The Massachusetts Contest.

In Massachusetts, the senatorial con-
test is mainly personal against Mr..
Hoar. A bitter opposition To the Hoar
family has existed in the Bay State for
many years, and as Judge Il. r.. Hoar
has been practically eliminated from
public life, it has been compelled to
manifest itself against the senator.
He is not popular with Washington
people generally, owing to sort of
holier-than-thou panoply in which he
perpetually envelopes himself, and he
is not popular in the senate because of
a tendency to vinegary manners in
debate. His great ability is every
where recognized, and his honesty is
never questioned, but there is little
doubt that his defeat would please
u greater number of people than
that of any other man in
the senate. His course in
defending the river and harbor bill
last summer gave his home enemies an
advantage which they have never
failed TO press at every opportunity.
This was used to defeat Mr.. Grapes
nomination for governor, and 1t is felt
that ii could scarcely be consistent to
retain Mr.. Hoar in a position where
he could repeat that act while con-
demning Mr. Crapo's candidacy for u
place in which his record on this sub
lect could never be repeated. Then,
too, the old feud between the Hoars
and General Butler has broken out
anew since the remarkable success of
the latter in reaching the long coveted
position of governor. This has given
the general II power he has never be-
fore been able to command, and it is
quite generally assumed that he Will
use it for all ii is worth.
The stalwart influence, led by Col
lector Worthincton, is i'll bitter oppo-
sition to Mr.. Hoar, and in close alli-
ance with the new governor, OF whom
nearly all its members have been faith
full followers. Taking all these things
into consideration, Mr.. Hoar's senate
rial pathway liz not streWn with roses,
and he has been busily engaged since
the election in moulding INTO Il more
compact organization the orces nj his
| command. He has drawn letters OF
! Endorsement from General Walker, eX-
superintendent of the census, from
| Professor Seelye, the college president,
whose election to congress cost him
/ a oue-cent stamp, and from John q.
! Whittier, the Quaker poet, and
others of less prominence. The result Is
that his chances appear TO have
| improved within the past few weeks.
His danger lies in the candidacy of
John D. Long, the present governor
! and member-elect of the next house,
who is one of the happiest illustrations
| of good luck in public life. A smooth,
I oily, plausible sort of man, who makes
| no enemies, knows the face and name
| of every man he ever met, who goes to
all the religious festivals and all the
! agricultural fairs, and makes happy
| atter-diuner speeches--he has actually
seemed to drift into every office he has
ever held. He and General Butler are
good personal friends, aud il If he
! whom the latter will use as club to
! break Mr.. Hoar's head, If IL is found
possible and practical. The Democrats
| have fully twice rs many members OF
! the present legislatureasi they nave had
/ in any previous one and II Is "a
minority which will he ooedient TO the
/ slightest wish of the new governor.
| The Republicans have been aceus-
toned for some years 10 choose seila-
/ tor without the intervention OF eau
Gus and Mr.. Hear was so elected; but
this wear he and his friends are fighting
! for caucus, and upon their success I'D
this demand hangs all OF his chances
: Tor reelection. III the ciipltt ~ ihauS
! in open legislature the Democrats may
then be manipulated in iavorf gov
ernor Long or any man 10 defeat Mr,
Hoar and the Butler influence will be
como potent as that of his old enemies
become nothing. The chances are
4 now pretty even, inclining slightly,
I however, 10 the success of some other
man than Mr.. Hoar though the sue
cessful candidate will be al undoubted
Repu biican.