The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-13

of the chamber, but the leadership
and the spirit of the ancient conser-
vatism will be questioned.
| It seems hardly necessary to- refer
/ to Nelson w. Aldrich. If all the
other representatives of things as
| once they were still had lasting
claims on their seats, the whole
phase of things would. have changed
with the passing of Aldrich. The
| main supporters of the Rhode Island
l. er, however, will be missing when
the Vice-President calls the Senators
to attention at the first meeting of
he Sixty-second Congress. Hale, Bur-
rows. Elkins, Scott, Depew, Piles,
Dick, Flint, Warner, Carter, Bulke-
ley and Kean, all men who. could be
ed, will be absent. Death has
claimed one of them and defeat the
others.
When Senator AIdrich announced
nine or ten months ago that he would
not be a candidate for xe-election, the
stantly presented itself to the Sena-
tors 1t was virtually agreed that
Senator Hale of Maine would assume
the responsibility and the troubles of
the Rhode Island Senator. Then
Mr.. Hale heard from Maine, and con-
cluded that he did not care to ask
the Pine Tree people for another
lease of Office life. Next to Hale in
length of service and ranking him in
native ability is Senator William p.
Frye, Mr.. Hale's Maine colleag que.
Senator Frye, however, is an old man.
and it is not likely that he will care
to attempt to direct the policy of his
party in the Senate. This Maine Sena-
tor is at heart a good deal of a pro-
gressive. He has been getting more
progressive in recent years.
Crane Not COveting Leadership.
Senator Crane of Massachusetts
commands as much respect, and as
strong a following on the Republican
side, as any Senator in -the> Cham
Der. He has been one of Mr.. AL
drich's closest associates and 'lieuten-
ants in the leadership of the Senate.
1t is to be doubted whether Mr..
Crane would care to become the SEN
ate leader in the sense that Mr.. AL
drich has been. He does not like
floor work and debating. If he is not
made the titular Republican leader in
the Senate, he will retain his pres
ent large share in the management
of the Republican majority so long as
that majority shall continue to exist.
This, quite regardless of who may
bear the title of leader. Mr.. Crane
is too able in advice and capacity for
management to ever hold a less
strong position than he holds now. He
has no enemies in the Senate, and
that counts for much.
Senator Cullom of Illinois stands
next to Senator Frye in years of SER
vice, but Senator Cullom, while still
able to attend to all his legislative du-
ties, is probably too old a man to
undertake leadership task involving
as it does, constant mental perturba-
ton and physical effort. Senator Gull
lom will be eighty-two years old next
Gallinger of New Hampshire, who is
a comparative youngster, being only
seventy three years old, has neither
taste nor aptitude for leadership, and
there is virtually no chance that he
will be. considered in connection
not be returned to the Senate. Mr..
Lodge, like some other Senators, re-
Gently has undergone a process of
change. He is more of progressive
than he was, but the Massachusetts,
man generally is looked upon as be-
ing temperamentally untitled for
The Progressives.
In the progressive Republican ranks
there are two or three men fit for the
leadership, but the majority is
a gainst the progresSives, and the best
that they can hope for is the selection
of one of their number who, never
has been as sharply and as prodding-
ly progressive as have Mr.. La Toilette
and Mr.. Cummins. La Toilette in
particular never has spared the feel
ings of the reactionaries, and person
al antagonism would enter into any
to give him the party chief
To-day the Republican Senators
who will continue in Office after Mar.
are giving serious attention to the
question. The conservatives are not
in position to force things, not
the fact that they will
have a majority. for the drift of opin-
ion seems against them. Some man
vet unnamed directly in connection
with the directing power probably
will be chosen, and the chances seem
to be that he will be one who claims
a home in g. Western State.