Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-03-17
Editorial Comment
Mr.. Frye's 40 Years in Congress.
,Boston Transcript


Today is the thirtieth anniversary
of the election OF Senator Frye t. the
Scrate. He was chosen March L.. 1881.
To fiji out the unexpired term of James
g. Blaine, who had been appointed
Secretary Of state in GartieIdS Cabi :
net. Mr. Frye took his seat in the
Senate three days later. on March Is.
lSsl, and his service has since been
continued. Previous Ia his promotion
To the Svrate he passed ten years in
the House should he live to serve out
his Present term. which expires March
4. 1913 hr Will have had forty three
wears service in both branches of
Congress to his credit, Il record equal
ling the late Senator Allison's and sur
pa Sscd only by that of Justin :. Nor
rill.
Senator Frye is usually associated in
the public mind with him who is now
ox- Senator Hale. Hale and Frye
sounded almost like the name of Il
business partnership. 81 frequently
was the combination mentioned when
ever Maine interests attracted atten-
ton. Men had become accustomed to
think of this association as, if not an
institution. "nt of the fixtures of Con
gress Nor was il simply as senators
from Maine that they attained the
celebrity. but as senators of the United
States. Ttmperamentally different,
each has beer in the first rank OF SEN
ators, ard each has eNerted great in
fluence an legislation. Mr.. FRYE is the
more amiable. the more deliberate. and
is probably entitled t. longer list of
achievements than his colleague.
whose disposition to oppose his party
AT times, and his party's administra
ton 1t most times. though conspicu-
Gus. never vent 50 tar beyond the crit
ical stage as to turn the course of
events. The two had their differences
on great questions OF policy notably
during the course of the Spanish War
and the negotiations that followed it.
Mr.. Hale fought expansion: Mr.. Frye
was one OF the neeOtiatorS at Paris
who brought us and bought us the
Philippines. Despite these differences
on one great question. the two worked
together whenever possible, and the
senatorial survivor who today observes
the anniversary of his election may
well be touched by the political fate
of his long time colleague. who is now
ex-senator Hale and whose retirement
was forced by his realization of the
impending overturn in Maine.
Mr. Frye is living link with the
political past. He formed his style
in the DAYS when our politics We're still
deeply Influenced by the Civil War.
He was IT. Congress when that war
was but a few Years over The con-
victiGns he then imbibed he has re-
taine@ Iet he has never been an in
tolerant partisan. for all his regu-
larity, but 4 senator of broad national
ideas. He came very near having
presidential greatness thrust upon him.
Had ne yielded to the pressure put
upon him in the national convention
Of 1880 % accept the vice presidential
nomination, a proposal made to him
before il was made 70 Arthur. he
might nave inherited all the trying
consequences of the Garfield tragedy.
Mr.. Frye as Blaine's grea; friend and
advocate. ould. as the rhnnins matc
of Garfield, have been of great assist
anca to the Republicans, but, loyal t.
his PARTY as he was, he refused the
honor He has been heard to rejoice
that ne declined the proposal. and to
speak of poor Arthur in tones sur
ficiently indicative of his sympathy
with that unappreciated President, If
Mr.. Frye were to write his recollec-
tions he would give to the world
work both authoritative and interest
ing.