The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-19
THE sENaTORSuIr.

It was commonly supposed that when the state election was ended that the political peace of Connccti- cut would follow. We were all to turn suddenly to an offusiyc greeting to the children of prosperity, who were on their way to brighten our lives and make things worth while The cn- trance of Congressman Hill into the race for the United States senatorship, to succeed Senator Prank Rrandegcc, has changed all this, and tho little cniIdren of prosperity are running about in amusing neglect Iris a fun. ny old world
 Fortunately for thc state of Conuec- ticut the element of fitness cannot be made an issue in MT Hilrs campaign. He Is recognized as q man in every way fitted to don thc senatorial tugt. He personally explains his entrance Into the race on the ground that ccr- tain republican editors voluntarily at- tracted him into 1t, and by the same token. We suppose Mr Brookcr, an- other gentleman of senatorial size, an- nounced that while nc had been asked to make the run against Senator Brandcgee, ne had al no time deter mined to do so, and is quite sure now that he will not do so This leaves as the sole antagonist of Senator Brandegee a man who has made an enviable record as member of con- gross from the Fourth district He has devoted himself to the tas, set nim with remarkable faithfulness and moral courage. If the conditions were not exactly what they are, and the proposition was to nll shoes made va cant by death or voluntary retirement MT. Hill would probably find the sen tlment of his party and of the state behind him.
 Mr. Brandegce is by no means an easy man to dislodge even though he has ovHSed the dspIeasure of a pow- erful element in the republican party which has set out to punish him His friends can fairly claim for lim, that he has not had a chance to prove his worthiness to sit in the senate of the United States He was elected to ill the unexpired term of Senator Plat and has had but little oyer three years to adjust himself to the compli, cated traditions and practices of that legislative body, the hardest to make an impression on in the civilized world 1t may be claimed for him that all things considered, he has done as well as a successor could do This would all be generally admitted We take it, if it were not for the at. titudo he assumed towards Judge Taft's Philippine tariff bill and latci towards Judge Taft's presidential can. didacy. We thought that in both in. stances he showed lamcntable judg ment but we did not view his conduc as fatal to his political future
 The question, therefore, which vii confront the incoming general assem- bly, is the politically practical one whether in view of his previous rec. ord for useful deeds, his extensiv, training for public life, his youth anc the promise which attaches to it anc his unquestoned repubicanism, he i to be personally sacrificed on the al tar of a 1ectIng spirit of local Taft ism, even though the beneficiary O the act may be man well fitted {, represent Connecticut in the upper house of congress and happy in tho possession of the good will of the peo pie of the state regardless of polluca affiliations. In a large sense it is family disagreement into which w have no desire to poke finger but w shall, as a newspaper, watch th struggle between conflicting interest 
 with the liyelest curiosity As VI have had occasion to say frequently o late, history is being made these day in Connecticut, and the consequence may be far roachipg,