The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-18
FIGHT IS NOW ON
FOR CRANES SEAT
Gumshoe Boss Would Like
to Have Former Govern
or Guild Succeed Him.
National News Assectatton,


BOSTON, Mass, July 18.-The an
nouncement Of United States Senator
w. Murray Crane that he will retire
from congress at the close of the pre-
sent term has set all the Bay State
politicians by the ears and has started
the buzzing of numerous senatorial
bees on both sides the political fence.
The leaders have awakened to the fact
that there is little time to lose in
preparing for the contest, as Senator
Cranes term will expire next March
and his successor must be selected by
the legislature that will be elected
next November.
The first name that flew to the
minds and the lips of the Republican
politicians when the Crane announce
ment was made, was that of Curtis
Guild, Jr., who served two terms as
governor of Massachusetts and is now
the United States ambassador to Rus
STA. By seeming coincidence Ambas-
sador Guild arrived in New York from
st. Petersburg on the day following
the announcement of Senator Crane
of his intention to retire. The Ambas-
sador's visit home was very brief and
its real purpose has never been made
public. The general opinion is that Mr..
Guild would like to be elected senator
but would not enter into any active
contest for the honor. His selection,
it is believed, would meet with the
unqualified approval of Senator Crane.
But sonce Ambassador Guild return
ed to his post at ST. Petersburg with
out making known his position in re-
CARDS to the senatorship, a number of
other leading men of the Republican
party are preparing to get into the
Congressman Samuel w. Mccall will
shortly announce his candidacy. That
Congressman John w. Weeks will
do the same thing is regarded as equal
ly certain. Another who may cast his
hat into the ring is Congressman Au-
gustus P. Gardner. Mr.. Gardeners
plans, however, hinges on those of Mr.
Guild. II the latter is candidate, Mr..
Gardner will not enter the race.
Another possibility on the Republi-
can side is Eben S. Draper, former
governor and millionaire manufactur-
er. In speaking of the senatorship Mr..
! Draper says: II esteem the United
States senatorship very highly. The
place has a great attraction for me.
/ am seriously considering becoming a
candidate for it,
But the fight for Senator Cranes
seat is not to be confined to the Re.
publican party by any means. Believ-
ing that the nomination of Woodrow
Wilson will have the effect of bringing
out heavy Democratic vote in Massa-
chusetts next November, the Massa-
chusetts Democrats feel that a good
Democratic candidate for the senate
would not be wasting his time by max
ing the fight.
So far Mayor John F. Fitzgerald of
Boston, is the only Democratic candi-
date actively in the field for the sena-
torship. The name of Governor Foss
has been mentioned in connection with
the toga, but so far he has taken no
step to enter the race. Mr.. Foss recent
ly gave out that he intended to retire
from the governorship at the end of
his present term, but his closest politi.
cal friends expect that he will become
a candidate for denomination this fall
A few weeks hence Mayor Fitzgerald
will begin his speaking campaign for
the senatorship. Governor Foss has
assured me that he will not be a can
didate for the United States senate
against me-" says Mayor Fitzgerald.
call reports to the contrary, notwith-
standing. l do not know whether the
governor intends to seek reelection.
There is no reason in my mind why
the next legislature should not be
Democratic. The people will certainly
see campaign by our party worthy of
the name"