The Washington times., 1912-05-22
PROSPECT Of FIGHT
IN MASSACHUSETTS
MAKES CRANE QUIT
Bay State Senator Dislikes
Growing Radicalism and
Likely Opposition.

Colleagues of Senator winthrop Muir
ray Crane in the Senate today were
busy expressing regret to the Massachu-
sets Senator over his decision not to
permit his name to be used as can
didate for reelection.
Both Republicans and Democrats,
without regard to faction or party, said
they were sorry that Senator Crane had
decided to retire from the Senate at
the end of his present term, and most
of them voiced their surprise at his
decision.
While Senator Crane has been thor
oughly identified with the Old Guard,
and Is one of the ablest and strongest
members of that contingent in the SEN
ate, he has been well liked personally.
He was identified with the Aldrich ma
chine in the Senate, and since the re-
tirement Of Aldrich has acted as whip"
in the. upper house, though that office
technically does not exist.
After the Place.
Senator Cranes retirement opens the
way to a warm fight in Massachusetts
over the succession. A number of Re-
publican candidates are already loom
Ing up. Mayor John F. Fitzgerald, Of
Boston, is already announced as
Among the Republican possibilities
are Ambassador Curtis Guild, now at
St Petersburg; Congressman Weeks,
former Governor Draper, Charles Bax-
ter, and Joseph Walker, former speaker
Of the MASSACHUSETTS House of Repre-
sentatives. Baxter and Walker are
progressives, 1t Is expected the list Of
aspirants will soon become long one.
Senator Cranes announcement that
he would not seek another term was
given out late last evening. He said:
Some months ago l definitely decided
ton as United States Senator, but 1
intended to defer making a statement
to that effect until after the Republican
national convention. There Is, however
proposition, pending in the nNn,;ss Massa-
ton Of United States Senators sub
stantially similar to the existing law
relating to the nomination of candidates
for the
IF this proposed law is enacted a
much earlier campaign for this office
will be necessary, and l therefore make
der that those who may be interested
in becoming candidates may have the
fullest opportunity to have their can
didacies considered"
His Real Reason.
Only few Senatorial intimates knew
of the purpose Of Senator Crane before
his announcement.
While he has said nothing further
than his announcement, the real reason
for his retirement lies in the fact he dis
likes the growing radicalism of the
party and that he foresees strong op-
position to his return to the Senate.
The recent primaries in Massachusetts
for Presidential delegates, in which SEN
ator Crane on the face Of the returns,
ran behind. were interpreted in some
quarters as foreshadowing trouble for
him. In reality, he received a majority
Of the popular vote and his friends say
that II he ran for the Senate he COULD
command a. big majority. At the same
and apparently he has no desire to make
one.
Moreover, the retirement of Senator
Crane Is looked on in many quarters as
indicating his belief that the State OF
Massachusetts is headed for the Dem
ocratic camp. This Is the interpreta-
ton many Of the Democrats put on the
announcement that Senator Crane will
not run.