Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-14
WEEKS WINS
Nomination for Junior Sen
at0r in Massachusetts,.
Victory Comes on 31st Ballot
Nomination Made Unanimous.
Democrats Decide on Sherman L.
WhippIe for ForIorn Hope.

Boston, Jan. 13.-Congressman John
w. Weeks of Newton received, today
the unanimous support Of the Republi-
can ma iority in the Legislature for the
junior senatorship of Massachusetts
now held by w. Murray Crane. The
action was reached after four-day
party caucus, in which 81 ballots were
necessary. After the Republican eau
Gus, Democratic legislators decided at
a conference to supper. as their can
didate sherman l.. Whipple a Boston
lawyer who was the opponent of
Senator Lodge in the last senatorial
contest in the Legislature The Leg
islature. which is Republican in both
branches, viii vote on the senatorship.
tomorrow The final ballot at the Re
publican caucus was; john w. Weeks.
81, Samuel w. Mccall, 81: Curtis
Guild, ). George P. Lawrence, /;
Robert Luce. 1.
The caucus had agreed at the start.
last Wednesday, that "a votes should
be necessary for nomination and af-
ter the ballot had been announced all
the opposition to Weeks disappeared
with the customary unanimous action
The struggle between Weeks and
Mccall in the three days of caucusing
last week, was so close that the Demo-
Gratis decided to take a hand in the
situation and, today, proposed a state
wide primary. The Republicans re-
fused to allow any interference and
shut off any such action by adjourn
ing the House and resuming their own
fight. When the caucus adjourned,
last Friday, Mccall led Weeks by two
votes, but on the first ballot, today,
the 23rd of the caucus. Weeks jumped
to the front and was never headed
With the exception of the 18th ballot,
when couple of Weeks men shifted
temporarily, the Newton congress-
mans vote steadily increased.
Just before the 30th ballot was taken,
Speakers Grafton Gushing. who had
been voting for Mccall, announced his
intention OF supporting Weeks. but
only n few members followed his lead
and Weeks was still two votes shy
of the necessary "a when the ballot
was announced.
Victory came in the 31st ballot, Rep
resentative Thomas W. White of New
ton, one of Capt. Weeks staunchest
supporters, casting the 9th ballot and
clinehing the contest. There was
brief demonstration and then follow
ed a number of speech by opposition
leaders in support of unanimous ac-
ton, TO which there was no dissent
when the vote was taken.
The Democratic members, who had
been watching the Republican contest,
then held caucus. opposition devel-
oped at once against any proposition
to bind the members by caucus ac-
ton, and when there seemed chance
of such action being taken, 90 men,
bers left the room. The conference
finally decided to support Sherman L.
Whipple.
John w. Weeks, the Republican
candidate for senator. was born in
Lancaster, n. H., in 1860. He is a
graduate of the United States Naval
Academy and served as a midshipman
before he resigned to enter the bank
ing business. He was one of the or
ganizers of the naval militia of Mas
saehusetts and served as a volunteer
officer in the Spanish-American war
Continued on Page Seven)