Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-31
ondence o. The Evening s.s-.


BosroS, Mass. Dec. 20, 1892.
Next Wednesday the legislature which j. to
choose the successor of Senator Dawes will as
semble on Bracon Hill. II. as is alleged.
Henry Caho, Lodge. alive to his own interests
in the Issue. is devo.ing the holidays TO looking
over his senatorial fences he seems to have
found them in decidedly thrifty state of POI
litical husbandry if his owa attitude be taken
as criterion. Those who call on political or
social errands at No. 81 Beacon street scarcely
recognize under the Christmas-tide serenity Of
their host the statesman militant of ante-elec-
ton days. His public addresses contain moth
ing to indicate that any kind Of campaign is on
Congressman Lodge gave the address on Fore
fathers Day before the Congregational Club
and those present remarked that his tes-
timony had the calm faith of one who felt
Ibis calling and election sure" He
spoke Tuesday evening at the banquet Of the
Mystic Valley Club on The Present system Of
Banking" and kept strictly to his text though
he was in the house Of his friends. and their
enthusiasm was temptation TO confidential
discourse on his candidacy and its prospects
But these outward and visible signs Of con-
test well in hand do not lead any of the know
ing ones to imagine for a moment that there
has been any relaxing of the vigilance which
has from the start characterized Mr.. Lodges
Il
generaiship thus far has been admirable. The
fight began early in September in the republi-
can state convention. Inasmuch as several
senatorial contests have been decided on the
joint ballot by democratic support focking
to republican candidates, the friends OF Mr.
Lodge inserted the following 'out-and-out"
plank in the platform:
I'VE are 20 choose n state legislature which
shall elect United States Senator as well as
care for our state affairs. We believe that the
republicans in that BODY should nominate in
caucus and elect United States Senator with
out seeking the advice or combination with any
other political party or parties
There were some dissen;ers, however. and
Speaker Barrett was among them. HIS papers,
the Advertiser and Record. did not think the
legislature could be instructed before it was
chosen and might conclude TO do as it pleased
when it assembled.
Speaker w. E. Barrett was then Mr.. Lodges
most formidable opponent for senatorial honors
the only other being ex-Congressman W. W.
Grape. Barrett's strength lay in the fact that
be had been chosen speaker by four successive
legislatures. He came TO be looked upon az a
kind OF wizard. master of political legerde-
main. He seemed to be past master in the
art OF manipulating Massachusetts Legislatures.
AID as the legislature has to choose The United
States Senator Mr.. Barretts aspirations pre-
scented formidable front.
But just here the ''plain people OF Massachu-
this ambitious young speaker was. He had at
least never served that apprenticeship in the
national House of Representatives which Mas
sachusctts is wont TO require of it's United
States Senators Ii looked if he was trying
short cut 70 the seat honored BY Webster.
Choate and Sumner. When the legislative con-
ventions began to be called the preferences of
the rank aud file of the party began TO make
themselves felt So strong did the current of
favor set toward Mr.. Lodge that even Mr.. Bar
rett's friends were in maay instances obliged to
undergo a change of heart or else give up al
thought Of being candidates themselves.
At least 100 Legislative conventions instructed
their candidates TO vote for Lodge for senator
and scores adopted anti-Barrett resolutions.
The result, SO far from jeopardizing republican
success, swelled the legislative republican ma
jority from &C TO ITO on join. ballot, or two
thirds of each branch.
Mr.. Barrett is no longer a senatorial posi-
bility, if indeed he is any longer an aspirant
He was obliged to choose between a fighting
chance of reelection speaker and a sena-
torial forlorn hope. He selected the alterna-
tive, thus leaving the field TO Mr.. Lodge and
Mr.. Grape, with the star of Nahant far in the
ascendant.
NOT TO BE WALK OVER.
A restless and spectacle-loving public does not
readily consent to have the race become a walk
over, though they are perfectly willing Mr.
Lodge should win. They recall the exciting
scenes of six years ago, when the ..old Guard.
led by Beard and Thaye-. rallied for the re-elec-
ton OF Senator Dawes, and the Young Repub-
licans," captaincd by Lodge. Burden and
others, put forward ex-Gov. Long for the sena-
torial scat only to see their forces divided on
the eve of battle By the unexpected appearance
of eXGov. Robinson in the field
The story of tie contest when Mr.. Dawes
seat was up before il eoncisoly told in the votes
that were taken. The vote in each branch prior
to the joint ballot stood as follows: