New-York tribune., 1908-12-08
CONNECTICUT POLITICS
A LIFELY SEN4TORSHIP
FIGHT IN PROGRESS. X
HTiH Mr. Brandegec Succeed HIM
sclf?-Uhat Dir. Hills Supporters
Are Saying and Doing.

New Haven. Dec. Cspecian.-Connectieut is Iiv-
ins well Up this year to the reputation that Ike
Bromley. Of The Tribune. gave her years ago. when
Re said raised more politics TO the acre than
sny other state in the Unicn We have just gone
through Of the most exciting campaigns in our
history. ana here now up against Sen
atoria1 contest that promises 10 be equally sharp
rnd serious its the habit OF the people, and per
hsps not a Bss one.
Taft carried Connecticut by about 5000 plural
ity. fully 5usJifyins the most extravagant claims
s his popularity that his enthusiastic friends
here a made But Lilley- the party nominee for
Governor was elected by only about 5000 owing
the most persistent and the ugliest personal
position thai any candidate ever received here
within his party. The belief (and Isl that
much q this instigated by the submarine
people q Washington. whom he attacked SO vigor-
cusly and who beat him completely before Con
E-ess bat many who enlisted in the fight had
more interest in the submarine boats than they
had Noahs srk-not much, indeed. for they
owed their presence here to the ark The anti
I4leyites fairly bristled with hostility. AL they
seemed think Of talk of for weeks before
the election that Liiley must be beaten. They
were they had it all done until the votes
were counted and as result Of their extreme con-
fGenCe the Dmocratic candidate, Judge Robert
soH. Of New Haven, the most surprised and
disappointed citizen OF Connecticut after sundoEn
of November 8. He is said still TO be nursing his
grief and Mr. Lilley is said even in the hour
of his victory 20 be mindful Of those who sought
huniiiate and ruin him. his defeat would
surely have done His memory is unimpaired-
And now. while this fire is still burning. there
comes along another contest perhaps more irnpor-
tsut. which is going make new slgnmects ana
nay possibly bengnly cause first fight TO be for
gotten in the interest the new one is sure 10
provoke Ehenezer J. Hill. member Of Congress
from the 4th District, is for the United States
Senztorship 10 succeed Frank B. Brandegee- OF New
London whose term as 10 O. II Platt, is
tust closing. Hf is strong Taft man. was one OF
state delegation 10 Chicago and made no move
until after election lest he might eTnbarTass the
Il arger interests involved. Brandeges an anti-ad-
N rrnistration man. left of the Chicago delesa-
tion. and has been busy about reelection all the
faIl He made the largest contribution 70 the
state campaign fund conditioned. it is reported. on
having an experienced politician at the party head
quarters 20 look after his interests; all events
The man there and busy. This year members
The Legislature were nominated weeks before the
election. and their names were forwarded at once
70 headquarters. under party rule This gave
hose on the spot a fine start The chairman Of the
state committee IS Mr.. Brandegees partner. and he.
Senator Bulkeley. former Chairman Gates. OF
Hartford; Sheriff Hawley, the power IN Fairfield
County Frank Healey, the power in Hartford
County; Sheriff sprasue the power in TolIand Coun-
" Governor-eect Llley go 1t is said) and pretty
nearly everybody IN WindhaIn and New London
counties lined in the Brandegee column.
Former Chairman Fyer Of Torrington, the strong
political in the state. is understood to be
doing nothing, having announced far in advance
that 81 there came 4 contest this winter ne was
E,-rg for once 10 watch the fight from the side
lines He's been too deep in previous contests 10
SO much Of them, though he has Won them Just the
same.
With such start and such backing. 1t seemed
IS II Brandagee had a walkover until Hills can
didacy was formally announced The way that
took all over the state surprised and Jared Mr
R-sn6eeees overconhdent friends At present they
&c wondering what the situation is The basis on
which M HIS campaign is being conducted may
be outlined as follows: Connecticut is a business
community. and its commercial and manufacturing
interests are Of the largest importance; for years
Hi has been the one in the state delegation
a. Washington that Connecticut's business inter
eets have turned to- he Is authority on currency,
banking and the tariff. there is hardly a bust
ness community in the that has sent q rep
-esentstive delegation to Washington but will say
tat il was Hill who looked after their interests.
secured them hearing at some department or
p the President and proved himself their reliance,
snd this has brought 10 his support at once great
inference among the solid people Of the state; they
sre in earnest for him, especially now when they
fesI trat his experience in framing the new tariff
lsu ia the Ways and Means Committee would be
s. raluable on the floor of the Senate.
Another factor OF great Importance in Hills cam
= izn is his cordial support Of Taft The argument
is that the man who has just carried the state by
the greatest plurality IN its history except McKin-
ls- honest money 52,545. should be supported by
TIE state at Washington; that it is sef-stultifca
zion 20 rote this way FOR Taft and then elect a
Senator who opposed his nomination and has been
fE7r lng the administration of which he part
This taking all the state and the drift
seems distinctly toward Hill Outside Of
F-endegee's own district there Is hardly Re
publican newspaper Of prominence that favors his
re-eferrion save only The New Haven Journal
CoIr1=r' which I'D and spoke for the ant-LAlley
increment That paper is urging that IL isn't fair
- condemn : four years trial, and that
F-s0degee ought to have another chance TO prove
himself. His opponents retort that he has had
seen Years already. having been three years IN
House before was elected TO the Senate:
that in 1e05 he defeated Mclean IN = hot right.
where the conclusive argument vas that Mclean