Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-02
Editorial Comment.
Senator Hale Should Be Returned.
(Piscataquis Observer

| (Piscataquis Observer)
| Wonder has often been expressed
that Maine, situated in the far north
eastern limit of the Union, has been
able in spite of it's comparative scanty
| population and wealth to take the
| dominant part it has in the counsels OF
| the nation. Even the great state OF
| New York has not retained the same
| position of power in the senate that
| Maine has. And there are just two
| factors that bring this result about,
| the character and ability OF the men
| whom the State has sent to the senate,
| and it's custom of continuing them in
| office until it reaps the harvest of their
ability and experience.
But while Maine, thanks to this wise
custom. has had an illustrious roll of
United States senators, including
| Hamlin, F'essenden and Blaine, no one
| of them has risen to position of such
| eminence in the senate as has Senator
| Hale, who is often termed the most
powerful man in that body.
When a man attains such a com
| handing position as is that of Names
senior senator he can do much for his
State if he will, and it is indeed a
source of congratulation that in spite
of his national prominence Senator
| Hale has remained true to the State he
represents. He has never permitted
| himself to become so wrapped up in
national affairs as to lose sight for a
moment of the welfare of Maine and
| our people owe much to his sagacity
and energy.
Thus when the Dingley tariff bill was
passed Senator Hale. with Senator
| Frye, took charge of it in the senate
and worked in conjunction with Rep
resentative Dingley in framing and
passing that measure in which the in
terests of Maine were so carefully safe
guarded.
| And the same was true of the tariff
| bill just passed. Although the western
sections of the country have out
stripped the eastern in their growth.
and were, therefore, inclined to domi-
nate this measure Senator Hale fought
steadily for the interests of Maine and
obtained many important concessions.
| So it is that our agricultural interests
| our granite. lime, pulp. paper, and
manufacturing interests generally
have been well treated and this fact is
| due especially to Senator Hale.
| BY reason Of his experience and
| ability he has become the floor leader
! of the senate and is at the head of the
very important committee on appro-
priations. He is also member of the
committee on finance and Of the new
| committee on public expenditures
while the work he has done on the
committee on naval affairs is we'll
known all over the country
For many years chairman of that
committee, Senator Hale has been the
chief instrument in the construction of
our present splendid navy, but it is
greatly to his credit that he has not
Iallowed his enthusiasm for this de-.
partment with which he has been so
closely identified, to permit him to
counsel extravaganza. Indeed the con-
trary has been true and his contro-
versy with President Roosevelt when
the latter wished to increase the navy
suddenly is fresh in the minds of all.
1t Is also noteworthy that the hands
of Senator Hale were upheld in this
matter by his colleagues
| Senator Hale is on very friendly
terms with President Taft and is
reckoned one of the most important
councillors of the chief executive who
has high admiration for the ability
and judgment Of Names senior sena-
tor, and this friendship is by no means
a bad asset for Maine
Senator Hale does not indulge much
in argument in these later years of his
service but when he does speak on
the floor of the senate he is always
heard with much interest He is a
logical and forceful speaker and few of
the senators care to provoke him to
| debate.
No man, however great his ability
| can expect to attain to Senator Hale's
standing in the senate except after
many years of service in that body,
| and for this reason If for no other, the
removal of Senator Hale would be a
great blow to the nation and particu-
larly to Maine.
This fact, we believe. is well realized
by the people and the proof of it is
seen in the manner in which leading
men and papers all over the State are
expressing their belief that the cleo
ton of a successor to Senator Hale
would be a dire calamity.
That Senator Hale will be renomi-
mated and reelected is almost a
certainty as in not more than two or
three counties in the State is the eff
fort to defeat him for denomination
making any Roadway whatever This
outcome is no surprise to thinking men
for Maine and the Republican party
owe great debt to Eugene Hale and
realizing his splendid ability and pow
err, will not for moment seriously
consider the proposition of replacing
J. him while he remains willing and able
Ito serve.