The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-22
ROOT MAY SUCCEED
TO THE LEADERSHIP
Retirement of Massachusetts
Man Means Loss to Conser-
vatives on Eve of the
Great Political Battle.
Isy Intcrna lIonal News Service.

NM tor Winthrop Murray Crane OF
Wv Massac husetts, one Of the
three acknowledge leaders OF
the senate the richest member Of that
body, and the one living senator who
never made A speech in his life, an.
pouDccd tonight that at the end Of his
present term he would retire from pub
lie life for all time. Senator Crane
said:
"Some months ago ] definitely de
cided not TO become candidate for
reelection as United States senator,
but intended to defer making a state
ment to that effect until after the
Republican national convention. There
is. however, proposition pending in
the Massachusetts Legislature for the
nomination Of United States senators
similar to the existing law relating to
the nomination of candidates for the
presidency, representatives III con-
gress and state elective offices. If
this proposed law is enacted, a much
earlier campaign for this office will
~ htNIoShlNf - tutiCiOItp In0hS
known my position at this time in
order that those who may be inter
ested in becoming candidates may have
the fullest opportunity to have their
candidates. considered.
In making public my decision not
TO become a candidate again, + wish to
assure the people of Massachusetts, OF
my deep appreciation Of the loyal sup
port and confidence which they have
always given me-
Retires From Politics.
To this statement Crane would add
nothing save the admission that his
retirement from the senate means his
retirement from all politics forever.
Cranes defeat for delegate large
in the Massachusetts primaries hurt
him deeply. No one doubts that he is
convinced that he would not survive
the coming senatorial primaries. Pow
erful as he is in the party, he is al
wavs curled up under criticism And
the fusillade that has been directed
against him has really driven him out
Of politics before he ever had a real
fight.
Crane became power in the senate
during his first term. At the retire
ment of Senator Aldrich he, with Pen
rose of Pennsylvania, and Smoot Of
Utah took active command of the sen
ate.
His methods were utterly unlike
those of AIdrich He never made
speech. He never issued orders, he
never bulied. Silently he fitted in
aud out Of the chamber and commit
tee rooms. whlspcrig suggestions and
pointing out easy ways to get things
done. His still small voice was al
WAYS for compromise inside the party,
never with the enemy.
Fought From Cover,
From the beginning the progressives
felt the force Of his keen intellect. Al
WAYS from cover he fought stubhornly
and often successfully. They could sell
dom trace the opposition that he or
eanized. but they usually suspected
n0UCP IL ChIHt, hHu III Is uuP 10 MS
stratagems and schemes that the con-
servativo forces did not crumblc at the
retirement Of Aldrich.
Crane WAS dragged into the fight
for Taft largely because of his dislike
for Roosevelt. The colonel once called
him pussyfooted busybody. And
Crane mover forgot it, He did not ap-
prove of many things that Taft and
his ,itular manager. Mckinley, had
planned. lie stopped many schemes
that spelled shipwreck to him.
DAYS and nights and Sundays he kept
on the lob through the campaign at
the white house in the senate cloak
room, evcrywbere but at the front He |
never for anybody exposed himself face
to face to personal attack,
Crane was bitterly opposed to giving |
assachusetts direct primaries. When |
the Roosevelt people started the agtta- |
ton he sent out orders TO head 1t off, |
But the colonel and Senator Dixon kept |
out .and- out fight and the president fnaly |
persuaded Crane TO Yield, His ennis |
saries who had the legislature IN hand |
were called off and the bill passed. 4
Crane was thus made the goat. for he
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