New-York tribune., 1910-11-30
ross AND THE SENATORSHIP

So far as IL is possible 10 judge from
the newspapers of Massachusetts Gov
ernor-elect Fosss boisterous entrance
into the senatorial question has I'M
proved Senator Lodges chances of s'ic-
ceeding himself The sentiment OF the
state is distinctly against Mr. Foss and
there is general approval of Mr- Lodges
refusal TO plunge into debate with
him. Republican newspapers which are
critical of Mr.. Lodge resent Mr.. Foss's
interference In party question. THE
Lowell Courier-Citizen." for example re
marks that there remain good many
people who entertain no abiding love
for Henry Cabot Lodge who likewise
revolt from the notion that it is the
specially appointed mission Of Eugene
IN Foss to bullyrag him"
And it advises the Governor elect to
sing small instead of presuming to be
''the whole thing in Massachusetts
| bosses" The New Bedford Standard
also, which would prefer another than
Mr. Lodge as Senator. tells the Governor
elect that the senatorship is mo busi-
ness of his
Mr.. Foss evidently perceives that the
state regards coldly the ''shindy he
bumptiously proposed and feels that he
has behaved like a political ''bounder."
He is already defending himself and
apologizing for his action He says:
Now l want to call their attention TO
a like case: it is of Governor elect Wood
row Wilson of New Jersey. / see by the
New York papers he is beginning quite
fight down there / wish all MY critics
could read about that and understand
that DR. Woodrow Wilson, as well as my
self. is active in a senatorship fight
Then there will at least be a parallel
case.
Without regard TO the difference ID
| methods of the two men Mr. Foss's
action is not In the remotest degree
parallel with what is expected OF Dr
| Wilson. DR.. Wilson has quietly assumed
the nosition that as Governor he is his
party's leader in New Jersey. With
| that position no one Will quarrel V1o-
| lently. except perhaps the New Jersey
| Democratic bosses. and their opposlnop
will be to DR.. Wilson's advantage with
the public DIR. Wilson's party controls
the New Jersey Legislature, which VIII
elect a Democrat as United States
Senator. DR. Wilson proposes to take a
hand In this selection not because he Is
Governor of New Jersey, but because he
is leader Of his party.
With Mr.. Foss the situation Is very
different 1t is not his party but the
Republican party which Will choose the
| Massachusetts Senator. He has no duty
as the leader Of his party IN the premises.
The selection of q Senator Is not his
affair in any way. As Governor he will
not be responsible for what the Leg1sla-
ture does As a Democrat he will not
be responsible for what the Republican
party does He is an outsider with re
spect to the situation. Now ii is one
| thing TO assume that when you have
been elected Governor your party de
sires Won to act as its leader during
your term of office That has been as
Sumed before. with more or less sue
! cess. by various state executives, and we
think the position popular one But IT
is quite different thing to assume that
an election to the goyernorship confers
a charter to act as public mouthpfece
Mr. Foss appears TO think, not with DE-
| Wilson that the public would welcome
his leadership Of his party If he can
establish it. but that the people elected
! him to be its voice upon all occasions.
The distinction between what DR.. VII
son is reported to be doing and what Mr..
Foss has doce is the distinction between
attending to your own business and at
tending to some one else's business. 1t
seems to have eluded Mr. Foss. prob
ably with disastrous results to his self
/ romrlacencV