The Washington times., 1905-05-07
BRANOEG GEE To Be
THE STATE LEADER
What Connecticut Expects
From Coming Senator.
HAS SMASHED OLD MACHINE
Views of a Party Lieutenant-Ee
England Freedom of Thought.
Power of Small Towns.
HAS SMASHED OLD MACHINE

Connecticut politicians in Washington
see in Representative Brandegee's vie
tory in the Senatorship contest yester-
day = smashing of the Republican ma
chine IN the Nutmeg State. They be
heVe Il means the Development OF
Erandegee as the new State leader. and
as he is only fcrty-one years old, they
predict for him a long career Of useful
ness 10 his party and To the nation.
In support of this view they point OUT
that Connecticut has always made il a
practice To keep a good Senator in Of
fee. The late Senator Platt took his
seat March Is, 1879, III succession to d
Democrat, Senator Barnum, who slipped
IL for Il short time in consequence of
the death OF Senator Ferry, Republican.
Plat was reelected IN 1885. 1881. 1887,
and 1909 his term running TO 1863. The
late Senator Hawley took his seat in
the upper house March 4. 1881. succeed
ing Senator Eaton. Democrat. and was
reelected in 1887. 1893. and 1883, his term
expiring only Il few weeks before his
death this spring.
New Regime at Hand.
The death Of Senator Piatt following
So soon after that Of his colleague of
thirty years has put the State leader
All JNOithAAN1 4Si TIC GNSAAN pOtHisN4<N.A|
who have been holding it, This is so
not because Hawley and Platt were
typical machine Ieaders-far from it,
Hawley had a much better oTganiza-
Iien than Platt. but that is only be-
cause Platt had none at all. The lat
ter depended wholly lpon his states
manship and the wish OF the people OF
the whole State that ne be retained in
office. When Hawley came up for re-
election in 1899 he had 10 call on Gov
eTnor Bulkeley for help, showing there
by that the Senator himself did not
control the organization. His recon-
pense 10 the governor was the promise
OF the Ioga al the end of that term, IN
1866. and this was brought about a few
II onths ago.
Hawley's hold upon part OF the or
ganization had passed long before his
death and Buike1ey has been grooming
fof the place. Plat, had he lived. would
willingly have left machine matters to
the new Senator. who has a taste for
spch things. which the veteran had not.
But the passing Of Platt and the entry
OF Brandegee puts the whole situation
ii new light and there is much dis
cussion as 10 how matters VIII evolve
themselves now.
BTandegee q Conner.
Comparing the two men, especially in
the light OF the Connecticut practice of
selecting the best leader in sight with q
view to his continuance in office as long
as the party stays inpower, Nutmeg
politicians here expect to see the mantle
OF leadership fail On Brandegee's should
ers.
Both Bulkeiey ana Brandegee have
qualifications. The former has done
FuflaTt fpr hi s~ox~e,-v,.,t.
gained a strong hold on the party. He
gave some evidence Of his political
sfrensth when he disposed of his aggres-
sive opponent. Samuel Fessenden, last
January. Brandegee has just shown,
however. that Bulkeley does not own
the State and that now. as the junior
Senator ne must be consulted by Bulke-
ley at every turn.
4 State Leaders Views.
4 declaration on the smashing of the
old State machine has been uttered by
State Senator Paige, of Bridgeport, who
WAS one OF the candidates for the Plat
vacancy. He says:
you must put it down that the great
est feature of the caucus, apart from
recognizing the undeniable ability and
the deserts OF Representative Brandc-
gee. 3 that ii has smashed the machine
that has .hogged It over this State for
many years There viii be another ma
chine. but it wiz not hog things as its
predecessor has done. II viii give
fair division OF the offices according TO
locality
This announcement is taken as notifi-
cation OF an alliance between Brandegee
and some of the more prominent leaders
OF the State 10 control the party pa
tronage. Bulkeley. as Senator, will re
ceive at the White House the consid-
eration which President Roosevelt gives
as matter of course TO the national
representatives from each State Their
wishes are paramount in the eyes of
the President. and Bulkeley Will have
his share. But that viii not spike the
Brandegee plans for a new organization
machine
"Sman Town" Influence
The proba bility is that the Junior Sen
ator. who comes from New London,
where he is popular viii be able to
work up strong sentiment OF mutual
interests among the small towns of the
State, as opposed TO Bulkeley's s control
az Hartford
The New England town sentiment" is
especially strong IN Connecticut, sand the
habit Of Independent thinking among the
rugged folk who live In the hamlets
and towns Is a big factor in opposition
10 the machine hold IN the citiez How
ever, If anything is needed 10 give a city
touch TO AFFAIRS IL is provided by Fes-
sender, at Stamford and Paige. at
Bridgeport. with others yet to announce
formally their allegiance TO the new
Senator'S 5 leadership.
Altogether. Brandegee's star seems in
the ascendent as the coming leader of
Connecticut Republicanism.
HIS TRIAL BALANCE.