New-York tribune., 1911-01-18
A CONNECTICUT SENATOR
The Election of McLean-Look
ing to the Future.

New Haven, Jan. II (SpeciaO.-The sens-
torial contest. which closed to-day at Hart
ford IN the election Of George p. Mclean
by each house OF the Legislature. has been
remarkable political incident from sew
eral points OF view To begin with, II
marked the parting Of two Old friends.
For many years Mclean was the legal
and political adviser Of Senator Bulkeley.
whose place he now takes. and he was
largely instrumental in securing Bulkeleys
victory over Fessenden six years ago. II
vas the common opinion then that all Mr..
Bulkeley wanted Of the senatorship was
to get It and call his own the prize that
he had twice tried for and missed, and
that Mclean would have his assistance
and be his successor-very likely before
the six years were up.
Mclean Is brilliant and able man, stll
young, who was elected Governor in 1900
after the bitterest personal campaign the
state had ever gone through, and then
won over his opponents by his admirable
course while in the Office. Since then he
has been (outside the delegation at Wash
ington) the chief figure in the Republican
party IN the state, though for while
sickness drove him into retirement He is
now in fine form.
When Senator Platt's sudden death oc-
CURED, soon after the burial Of Hawley
Mclean was persuaded TO be candidate
for the succession, and came very near
winning, but he was beaten by Brandesee,
the verbal argument that told being that
Mclean and Bulkeley had Offices in the
same building in Hartford and would In et-
~. H. tu.o
Little did the public then foresee that in so
short a time the two would not be on
speaking terns-rivals, fghung for the
same seat
The divergence between Bulkeley and
Mclean began with the Presidential con-
test in 1905 Mclean was cordial sup
porter OF Taft, while Bulkeley and Bran
dcgee stood cf and refused 10 commit
themselves The state was overwhelming
ly for Taft, as II is to-day. Then came the
brilliant campaign OF Congressman Hill FOR
Brandegee's seat, concerning which the
veterans Of the fight admit now that "Hil
had us beat up to twenty-four hours be
fore the caucus" Bulkeley was for Bran
deGee and Mclean for Hill.
After this Senator Buckley let 1t be
known that he was going back for an
other six years. and denied emphaticaliy
that he had any agreement or understand.
ing or had announced any purpose 10 re-
tire. lie rldiculed McIAan's candidacy and
told the reporters that he didn't know that
there was any contest FOR his seat. His po-
s'tion was certainly a strong one. He had
been in Office nearly six years, and had
behind him practically all the patronage
Of that period. Henry, Congressman from
the Hartford district naturally follows
Bulkeley Brandegee, OF course. was with
him, and presumably Brandegee carried
Higgins. the Congressman from his dis
trict Sperry, from New Haven. was su-
rerannuated, and Tilson, Congressman-st-
Large had too much hay out TO JUSTIFY
altruistic attention to any other man
harvest. Congressman Hin, alone OF the
Washington contingent, was active and
outspoken In behalf OF Mclean.
Besides all this backing Buckley had the
leading sheriffs and the chairman md Sec
retary Of the State Central Committee. and
these two called in as an assistant secretary
and these two called in as an assistant sec
rotary for the campaign a man who had
come on from Washington. as announced at
the time, ito put some ginger into Bulke-
ley's canvass" II Ues a lineup to enc"ur-
age an old campaigner, inclined 10 forget
that young men grow up.
CuriouSly enough the most active Bulke-
ley men we're among those who six years
earlier were fighting him tooth and nail 10
elect Fesrenden. number Of Havieys =
old hackers IN and about Hartford Joined
the Rulkeiey forces, too, but through the
state generally the old "Hawley Guard"
so far as II still could be counted, was for
Mclean, as was Hawley's own paper, The
Hartford Courant."
The Mclean managers set about can
vass OF the state. and found, rather 10 their