New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-08
PERENNIAL CANDIDATE.

About this time of year the buds begin TO
burst on Boston Common and the Hon Henry
NJ. Whitney begins to run for Governor OF Mas
sachusetts. The fond delusiOn also revives that
if the voters should elect him Governor Massa-
chusetts would within thirty days thereafter De
enjoying reciprocity with Canada and Nova
Scotia coal would be unloading duty free at
the Boston docks Mr.. Whitney wisely takes
time by the forelock in announcing his candl-
dacies. He generally runs to his hearts content
In the spring and summer months, and then, II
the auspices are unfavOrable, lets somebody else
take the knocks OF the fall campaign as the head
of the Democratic state ticket. But his issue
and his candidacy are perennial Without them
Massachusetts might forget that she had hlgh
and special mission in North American politics,
that mission being to compel a reluctant gov
eminent at ottawa TO consent 10 Zolverein
between Canada and Massachusetts,
Mr. Whitney did his best last year to per
suade and enlighten the zollverein skeptics on
both sides of the border. To deal effectively
with the Canadians he asked the people of Mas
sachusetts to give him n mandate and vote of
confidence. He carefully pointed out to the
leaders of the Democratic organization that he
was the logical choice q the party for Gov
ernor. But the party did not seem disposed to
bow to logic Some of the leaders said that
they had nominees IN their minds eye quite as
logical as Mr. Whitney, and the Hon. j. b.
Moran burst into the arena with the announce
ment that he was going to run for Governor
on at least three other tickets and that the
Democratic party would save both time and
trouble by indorsing him. Mr.. Moran offered to
submit his own claims and Mr.. Whitney's TO the
Hon. William ]. Bryan and 10 stand or fall by
the latters sentence Mr.. Whitneys soul re-
belled, however, at a proposition to call in an
outside umpire who had not mastered the Mas
sachusetts idea and might not understand the
subtleties Of Back Bay logic" Enchanting
against the narrowness and blindness of an I'M
regenerate party Mr. Whitney quit the field and
nervous Canadians heayed a sigh of relief
because they knew that the Hon. J. Il. Moran,
thus left in possession, would be too busy reg
uating things at home to bother about ''com-
mercial outlets across the border
This year hope springs afresh and logic" IS
again being appealed TO. Mr.. Whitney has CON
Quoted a friendly correspondence with the Hon.
William J. Bryan and has let the impression get
abroad that he and Mr.. Bryan at last under
stand each other. He has also publicly con-
sented to lead the Democratic party in the cam
paigu this year, with the Canadian market rs
his objective point He has duly testified his
reverence for the referendum and talks of max
ing his candidacy a referendum to ascertain
public opinion" If there is anything in the
logic Of the situation Mr.. Whitney should be
the unanimous choice of the next Democratic
State Convention. But this is a perverse world
and we notice that no sooner had Mr. Whitney
readmitted his willingness to run for Governor
than General Bartlett, the candidate OF 1905
announced that there would certainly be a con
test for the nomination. The story Of 1906 we
trust, is not to be repeated in 1901 But if it IS
there will still remain 1903 1909 1910 and so on
till 1920 You can't down candidate with an
impershable issue and an implicit faith in the
value Of his own candidacy as a referendum"