Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-09
Editorial Comment.
Hale of Maine.

Hale of Maine.
(The Rochester, N. Y. Post EXpress.)
Nothing could be more foolish tnah
for the republicans of the State "i
Maine to retire Eugene Hale to private
life and send Judge Frederick A.
Powers in his place.
No doubt Judge Powers is an able
man, and as he is a brother of the late
Llewellyn Powers, a former governor
ana congressman, it may be that he
has strong political influence. But
WHY should Senator Hale be retired?
Eugene Hale is one of the abiest
men in public life. He was horn at
1uracr, oxford county, Maine, jane
Q 1896. so that lie is now nearly a
wears Of age; but he is nevertheless
one of the most active men in the SEN
ate. He was admitted to the bar III
1877 For nine years he was county
attorney; for three years member OF
the legislature. for ten years member
of the Federal house of representa-
tjves and while member of that body
he twice declined a seat in the Presi-
dents cabinet. In 1874 Grant wanted
him to be pnStmaSter-gener in 1871
Hayes wanted him to be secretary OF
the navy. In 1881 Mr.. Hale was elected
to the senate Of the United States to
succeed Hannibal Hamlin, who de-
clined reelection; each six years
thereafter Senator Hale was reelected,
so that he is now serving his twenty
ninth consecutive year in the greatest
legislative body in the wor!d-a body
So peculiarly constituted, organized,
and managed that a new senator, no
matter how able he may be, must take
a back scat, and wait long time pc
fore he can be influential or particu-
larlv useful to his state. Many very
able men have endeavOred to cfoWG
their way to the front, and nave Ut
terly failed the new senators go 10
the tail end of unimpOrtant commit
tees; they are forced to serve a period
of probation: nobody knows them;
they have no influence; they may
speak, but they have little opportuni-
ty to know the details of important
leg:slation which is prepared by COM
mittees composed of the older and
more experienced senators. Senator
Hale. notwithstanding his great abili-
ty and his long experience IN the
House of Representatives. could DO
nothing more than work his way slow
ly to a position of power and influence.
He is now one of the really great men
of the Senate; he has served longer
than any other senator. for it was
eleven days later that Mr. Frye. the
other distinguished senator from
Maine. entered that body. Senator
Hale is chairman of the committee on
aprrnpriations. he is second on naval
fIa
on census. and he is fourth on the
committee on finance. These are 1our
of the most important committees OF
the senate. In addition. he is CHAIR
man of the immensely important COM
mittee on expenditures new com
mittec of the senate, whose purpose Is
to decrease the appropriations OF tan-
eress-and he is also MEMBER Oh tle
unofficial steering committee when
to q large degree controls the calehual
Of the senate, pushing forward certain
hills for consideration and holding
back others.
Ii would be a great mistake Tor
Maine to retire the oldest and one OF
the abest senators. whose ntellectuai
powers show no signs of weakness ana
against whose record no criticism Can
be made, merely to provide place TOY
a man who has had no experience"
whatever in national affairs and who,
even if exceptionally able and exceed
inely fortunate. could not reach IN
twenty years. the commanding place IN
national legislation which Eugene Hale
holds today. Maine would lose hall
her present commanding influence IN
the senate by sending him back to prl-
vate life. and a great loss. an utterly
needless loss, would be inflicted upon
the whole country.