Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-27
Withdraws from the New
York Senatorial Fight.
Martin Litt|eton Calls on Muf-
ply 10 Take Out Sheehan.
1t May Be Remarked that lliileton
Himself Is a Candidate,

New York, Feb. 26.-In a letter to-
night to his trusted friend, Mont
gomery Hare, Edward NJ. Shepard Of
Brooklyn announced his retirement
from the fight for the United States
senatorship to succeed Chauncey De-
pew. He adds that in his opinion
William +. Sheenhan's retirement is
imminent and he warns the Demo-
cratic members of the Legislature that
unless they promptly unite, the ex-
ira session of Congress will find the
state of New York but half repre-
sented." Earlier in the day Martin W.
Littleton, congressman elect and self
announced candidate for the senator
slip, had issued a statement. point
ing. as Mr.. Shepard does, to the grave
responsibility resting upon the Dem
ocratic legislators and calling upon
Charles i. Murphy, leader of Tam
many Hall. to cause the retirement of
Mr. Sheehan and break the five-weeks
deadlock at Albany. Mr., Shepards
letter says in part:
Tan it be that We must remain
longer in an utterly unnecessary dill
emma between Incompetence and sur
render? Has not the dilemma already
Leen sufficiently disastrous? May it
not soon prove fatal to the parties
future at least for our day and gen
Grafton?
1t was plain. u month or more ago,
that Mr.. Sheehans caucus nomination
had aroused Democratic opposition
so important and persistent as to ren-
der impossible his election by Demo-
Gratis. He could be elected only if, By
some means. Republican Legislators
should be found willing to infict inf
mite discredit upon their party and
themselves. In these latter and better
or at least, more alert days of ours.
they are not likely to be found willing
to sacrifice their own careers by pro-
curing or permitting the election of
political adversary. who solely because
of the overwhelming public belief that
he should not be chosen. is unable to
command a sufficient vote from his
own party. [ assume. therefore, not
only that Mr.. Sheehan will not be
chosen. but that, It this late day, that
fact is clear to hnself and to his sup
porters. Rut like everybody else in the
state he must know, that. SO long as
the ma iority of the Democratic legis-
lators continue to vote for him in def
erence purely to the imaginary obli-
cation Of their caucus, no solution or
this Democratic difficulty will be pos
sihe. Assuming, however. as we must
that there is to be solGtion-assum-
ing, as we surely may. that Mr.. Shee-
hans Withdrawal is imlninent--there
rests upon the Democratic minority
grave further responsibility. And. since
you have had so signal part in pre-
Senting to them the sentiment of other
Independently minded Democrats. will
you not say to them what YOU could
not say without seeming-at to the
memhers If the minority-to injure
their case and myself to promote Mr.
Sheehan's elettion-a result which l
should peremptorily refuse to promote.
whether directly or indirectly for to-
day the caus OF the minority is 10 me
the toren,as, all political causes
within our state.
The impending end of the candi-
dacy of Mr. Sheehan seems to me to
require some change of program to
which in a slight degree can per-
haps contribute. Now. that the one
long continued obstruction to a gen.
ended the votes for myself ought to
give way to other and more effective
votes | should be glad if you, as my
friends would make it clear to the mi
uority who already have voted or who
might hereafter vote for me, that
am definitely and absolutely outside
nj the list from which candidates can
be chosen"
With himself finally removed as
candidate, Mr.. Shepard addresses some
friendly words to the minority WIKI
the hope that they will make their
choice with q view to the serious diio
far-reaching relations which this sem
atorship bears to the Democratic par
ty in our state and the nation
He adds that he hopes also WIN
the removal of the difficulties INSOFAR
abIv attached to Mr.. Sheehan'S can
didacv and to any candidacy compell-
ing Democratic and popular miStrusr
that the majority must wish to make
a fit choice.
/ He denounces Tammany dominance
of the caucus which chose Mr.. SheehaH
and SAYS that the Democratic party
can never succeed in this state when
it is generally believed that Talnmany
controls the nomination.
He continues: 1.-THE health and life
of the Democratic party requires that.
as long as there shall continue the
one man voting trust of Tammany Hall
and the influence which are behind II,
there shall be- the power and the right
of any sufficient and respectable min
ority to decline to be bound by any
caucus controlled by that trust. In
that way, and in no other, can any
exalted or honest purposes of the
Continued on Page Ten.l