New-York tribune., 1908-03-07
NEW ENGLAND LEADERS.

Redfeld Proctor of Vermont who died on
Wednesday had served seventeen years in the
United States Senate and had attained 4 fair
measure of influence in that body. Only eight
of his colleagues outranked him in length of
service He had had varied political ex-
perience beforeshis appointment in 1891 TO sue
ceod Mr.. EdmuDds. having been member of
each house of the Vermont LegiSla ture. Lieu
tenant Governor and Governor of that state
and Secretary of War in President Harrisons
Cabinet His training as Il colonel Of volun-
teers in the Civil War gave him q taste for
military affairs. and he took an important part
in shaping legislation for the development Of
the regular army. He was also deeply inter
esred in the work OF the Department Of Agrj-
culture. and as member of the Senate Ap-
preparations Committee frequently took charge
Of the army and agricultural appropriation
bills. His ideas and methods We're essentially
practical He had fervor. enthusiasms
and no idealism He could not stir ideas in
others and therefore had no real capacity for
political leadership
Mr.. ProctorS career in the Senate. though
useful and creditable. reflects perhaps a Ger
tain change which in recent years has come
over the spirit of New England craftsmanship.
It bridged an interval of time in which the
political influence Of New England has suffered
a good deal Of diminution. Mr. Proctor was in 4
way link between the New England leaders
Of twenty years ago and the New England
leaders of today. In the sos and 90s -ha
six New England states exercised power in
The United States Senate quite out of proper
ton 10 their size and voting strength. Mr..
Blaine had just retired from that body, and
Maine was represented III il by Eugene Hale
and William p FRYE. The Vermont Senators
were Justin $ Morrill, and George + Edmunds.
Massachusetts sent George +. HO3r and Henry
/. Dawes. replacing the latter with Henry
Cabot Lodge. ConDecticut supplied Joseph r.
Hawley and Orville II. Platt. Rhode Island
Nelson W Aldrich and New Hampshire VIII
lam T. Chandler. These men were all workers
and leaders. with unusual average of capac-
ity fortified by long political experience
Their tenure was secure. and they filled among
them most Of the important places on the most
important legislative committees
IN the lower branch of Congress during the
same period New England represented
nv men Ike Thomas +. Reed, Nelson Dingley,
John D. Long. +. T. Greenhalge Nathaniel I.
Banks. William Cogswell. Patrick A Collins
and William Everett. IN fSS9-'31 Thomas T.
Reed was Speaker of the House, Nelson Ding
lev and Henry Cabot Lodge were his trusted
Iietltenants Justin s. Morrill, was chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee. George +
Edmunds was chairman of the judiciary Com
n1ittee William l. Frye of the Committee on
Commerce. George I. HOar of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections. Joseph K. Hawley
of the Committee on Military Affairs. and ku-
gene Hale and Nelson w. Aldrich the most
active factors in the two great committees OF
Finance and Appropriations. In 1S97-99 Mr.
Reed was Speaker Mr.. Dingley was chairman
of the House Ways and Means Committee MI
FRYE was President pro tCmp0rc of the Seil-
ate and Mr. Aldrich was practically chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee
In the Senate Messrs Hale Frye AIdrlch
and Lodge survive. bur the places of the others
have been filed with men of different qualities,
whose capacity for leadership, owing in part. o.
course 10 their relatively limited service stu
remains to be demonstrated. 1t is 10 be hoped
that the tradition of long tenure VIII survive
for efficiency comes with experience.