The Washington herald., 1913-11-20

father. Stephen B. Elkins, In the Senate.
and almost succeeded in succeeding the
Hon. Clarence Watson for full term,
came to Washington this week no less
buoyant and firm in the Republican faith
than IL he had made sure Of keeping the
name Of Elkins on the Senate roll call.
The wonder is that the younger Elkins
indicates SO little resentment over the
way things were handed to him In the
late Senatorial contest. He was the only
Republican in the State who had the
courage and confidence 10 make cam
paign for the election Of Republican
Legislature. There were others. million
aires. and older in politics than young
Elkins, but they were simply afraid, or
thought It useless expense TO make a
fight against the lons-headed, resourceful
Watson. who had grown wonderfully In
the estimation OF West Virginia citizens
during two years OF Senatorial service.
Young ElIkins, with the pertinacity OF
his father, and the perspicacity of Grand
father Davis, could see the Watson weak
places and kept Watson from seeing them
SO that the election returns caused shud-
ders, spasms and swift shutting Of feet
among other Republicans who had failed
to get in the running. They had almost
sneered at the Elkins efforts prior to cleo
tion, but hastened to check up friendly
members of the Legislature, once Re-
publican majority was assured, even II 1t
had been mainly secured by Davis Elkins
alone. However justified young Elkins
would be in giving his opinion of certain
fckle citizens up Kanawha way and the
Tygart Valley region, he Is discreetly
silent, biding his time and rejoicing that
he is only thirty-seyen years old. He
can reflect that Senator Con and Nathan
Snott ara naarIv tuutca N old and the
younger aspirants for Senatorial honors
in West Virginia have much to repent.
also explain, before they get actively in
the next running.
While the results OF year ago were a
trihe discouraging to Charles F. Brooker,
the Connecticut member of the Repub-
lican National Committee. his home ad-
mirers hardly forgive him for resigning
his committee membership at this time.
He did good work in the national organ
ization, both before and after the Taft
nomination last year, and without any
ambition for ONCE The result was all
else than satisfactory, but no worse than
in other States usually more reliably Re-
publican than the compact little Common
wealth Of Connecticut. The Brooker an
that he seeks 20 drop out
three years before another national cam
paign will no doubt cause many OF his
old associates on the executive committee
to urge a reconsideration and a continua-
tion of Brokers efforts for 1916, not over
looking the Congressional campaigns next
year in fiye districts. Not many years
back the Connecticut delegation was
solidly Republican.
Now every House member Is Demo
crat, with Reilly OF Meriden serving q
second term.
The other four came in with the Demo
cratic wave OF last year, and were aided
by the Progressive detection. Each one
can thank the Progressive vote for vlc-
tory. and all five are praying that the
detection will continue a year hence.
Also each one rejoices to see a big, vigor-
Gus, resourceful Republican like BROOKE.
drop out of the game, wondering who will
succeed him on the national committee
and aid Senator Brandegee to a third
election. The New London statesman
has quietly built up his own organization
throughout the State in the eight years
Of Senatorial membership. and may be
chosen the successor Of Brooker.
Brandegee is not yet fifty, and served
three terms in the House after . consid-
erable service in the Legislature. He
was also corporation counsel OF New Lon
oon, ana delegate 10 Iour ndllonal con-
In fact. he has had some sort OF on |
cial connection with the Republican Or
ganization since he was a voter. and his
father was in Congress before him The |
Brandegee luck has become a byword |
in the Nutmeg State and he continues
confident about the campaign OF
next year.
Connecticut has not had Democratic |
Senator's since Eaton and Ferry back OF |
the 1850 campaign. and the Republicans |
were careful to continue their Senators |
in office a Ions time
Joseph R Hawley was given four full |
terms after considerable service in the
House. He went out March 1 1906. and
lied two weeks later, having been made |
a brigadier general on the retired list of
the regular army.
Orville Platt was elected to five full |
terms in the Senate with four years COM
ng to him at his death in 1906. He had
years of unb oxen service and
both he and Hawley were powerful |
igures not only in the Senate. but in 1
a compact Republican or
yanization in the State. The long sus-
tained loyalty OF Connecticut Repub-