Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-04-13
The Senatorial Fight.


The political battle which il to be
vaged in Maine this fall seems prsdes-
tined 70 centre ABOUT Senator Hale,
whom the ili-sss OF mis- distinguished
colleague, Senator Frye, leaves at the
present moment the only active sur
vivor of this States famous congress
sionsi delegation OF dozen years
ago, and III the event OF Senator Frye
becoming permanently incapacisatsd,
the sole repository Of Maine's com
mand over the course of legislation al
the national capital.
A Maine Congressman arose IN the
House the other day TO complain be-
cause In that body the voice OF Massa-
chusests was accepted as the voice Of
New England, condition Of which no
one had any reason 30 comp plain while
Dingsey. Reed, Bouselie and Milliken
survived and were retained as the
representatives of Maine in the
House.
A dozen years have fallen so far
short of reesrablishing in the House
the influence Maine exerted through
the "Big Four"Fthat Mr.. Guernsey
was afraid Maine would be overlooked.
Fortunately, while the Maine repre-
sentatives are making a place for
themselves in the House, the prestige
due TO length of service and the
abilities OF Haze and Frye have made
them the foremost men in the Senate,
the one chairman of appropriations
and leader Of the republican majority,
and the other chairman of commerce
and president pro tenn.
In body where length OF service
carries SO much honor and prestige,
the two gentlemen from Maine rank
drsr and second, each is recognized
and deferred 20 as an authority in his
own departments, and together they
exercise an influence upon legislation
which amounts to omnipotence.
With Senator Frye i'll, certain politi-
cal influences in Maine are seeking to
strike down Senator Hale, not because
he has not served the State we'll, bu.
because they wish to exercise his
power, not pausing to consider the
extent TO which his power is INSOFAR
able from the man who erected and
administers it. With these oppo-
-nents Of Senator Hale, petty matters
~of State politics are allowed to weigh
against efficient representation of the
State in Washington.
Throughout his long career, Senator
Hale has worked constantly and as
Biduously to promote the welfare and
influence of Maine. In him Bath has
had good friend, whom she proposes
to stand by. In him Maine has had
the honor OF giving to the nation one
sof It's greatest statesmen, whom it
would be worse than folly to with
draw from public life.
For Maine to replace Senator Hale,
would be to exchange a certainty OF
influence and OF dut;ful as we'll as
powerful service, for an uncertainty.
For the nation the loss OF his services
would be the loss of one of the most
gifted and one OF the best informed
mon at Washington, whether on
finance, the navy, or number of
other subjects of the most supreme
importance.
We cannot believe that Maine will
consider seriously directing such
blow at her own and the nations best
Interests. Now that we are facing
reduction OF our representation at
Washington numerically, we should
be the more careful to conserve the
influence it is possible to exert through
the craftsmanship and experience of
our incompatible senatorial delega-
ton.