Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
Likely to Be Interesting in
Massachusetts,.
GOV. DOUGLAS SHY
HE HANGS FIRE ON STANDING
FOR DENOMINATION.
He is an Ideal Candidate for the Dem
ocrats, for He Puts Up
the Cash.

Massachusetts will soon I've agog with a
very interesting political campaign. The
prelminaries already are under considara-
ton and things Will begin to happen along
about the first week In October. when the
democrats and republicans will hold their
conventions for nomination OF state tickets.
For the moment the most interesting fea-
ture of the situation is whether Gov. Doug
las will consent to run agaln as the head
OF the democratic ticket. He has declared
he won't. but the rank and file hope La
will change his mind and likewise a, few
thousand-dollar bills and get into the game.
What Is needed most from the demoCrdtin
viewpoint is a candidate with dough ard
inclination to spend it, and Gov. Douglas is
regarded as the ideal in that particular.
The Governor Hangs Fire.
But the governor hangs back. They sly
he does not Ike the guberL4 ,or!al post IL
involves, In Massachusetts,. a lot OF fuss
and feathers, oratory and social activity
that is distasteful to this plain business
man. who knows the shoemaking craft
from sole to bowknot. He has not been
gratifed by his essay into the realms of
politics.
The party. however. needs him. He fell
out with the machine soon after his cleo
the patronage. Gov. Douglas allowed that
he was not under obligations to the ma
chine. as he had put up most OF the ex-
penses of the campaign, to the tune OF
S15.000 or $4,000, so he told the machine
to go hang
When the politicians began to look
around for a candidate for this fall they
concluded that Mr.. Douglas was still tho
best in sight They had experienced taste
of fat campaign contributions. and did not
want to go back to short commons, and
furnished by themselves at that. This
thing of having the candidate put up ihd
money fine.
Mr. CASTOR, who had spent about $500
600 they say. in unsuccessful campaigns
heretofore, said he had enough of politics
and they could not induce him to ante
again. Mr.. Thayer Is shy also. and that
seemed to cover the list OF available can
didates with cash assets. Then. too. MT
Douglas stands high with the labor men
throughout the state. SO the democratic
state committee sent delegation TO plead
with him to run again.
Among Massa chusetts politicians mo
story is current. although II may be only
gossip, that Gov Douglas stated 20 this
committee that one reason he did not waEt
to run again was, II he should be elected.
he might have to enter a campaign lor the
presidential nomination, and he WIS tired
of politics.
Gen. Miles q Possibility.
OF course. It is not TO be understood that
there is absolute dearth of democratic TIM
Der in Massachusetts There is Gen. Miles.
not only willing. but anxious to stand
Some of his friends say that GOV Douglas
who is very fond OF Gen. Miles. might put
up for him. and that Col Pope. million
aire. democrat. would also contribute. So
that the question of an adequate campaign
fund might be solved satisfactorily, but
there are disadvantages to Gen. Miles cam
ddacy In the opinion of some OF the prac~
teal politicians.
The republicans will nominate for gov
ernor Curtis Guild, the present lieutenant
governor This nomination will be made
without opposition. There are three pos
sible candidates for lieutenant governor on
the republican ticket-Eben s. Draper.
brother of Gen. Draper: f. S. Hail. men,
Der of the governors council, and Col. a.
II. Goettig of Springfield, former chairman
of the state committee.
The republicans are confident or victory
this fall They claim that Gov. Douglas
was elected by reason of the detection OF
republican votes on account or their nom
inee's personal unpopularity, and that this
objection will be removed in the next cleo
ton They realize that Gov. Douglas
would present the most formidable candi-
date but they are reasonably sure they
will be able 10 defeat even Mr.. Douglas
with a strong ticket next time.
Curtis Guild has made an excellent rec
ord. and 1t is said has not antagonized any
faction In the party, SO that he VIII be ex-
pected to draw out the full republican vote
Reciprocity by Both Parties.
Reciprocity will probably be harped upon
by both parties In convention. 1t Is a very
catchy word in Massachusetts. and at this
time very popular. In the last campaign
the democrats proposed 10 put into their
platform, when their convention met. an
extract from one of President Roosevelt's
speeches on reciprocity, but the republicans
heard OF II and headed them Off using the
extract in their own platform. 1t recon-
mended reciprocity on the plan OF the max
imum of good to American trade with the
minimum of injury to American industries
Reciprocity as understood I'm Massachu-
SETS il Is said. means the expansion or
trade, but the protection OF
Massachusetts, Industries. As construed
10 oil IN no highly commended