The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-14
SCANNING STATE
 FOR CANDIDATE Republican Leaders Are Deeply Grieved Because of Illness of Former Senator Barnum WEBSTER AND MITCHELSON: GOV. WEEKS AND SLOPER Senator Perry No Longer in Good Standing Because of Father hood of Direct Primaries
(Hartford Times1


 There was a, conference of Repub- Hcan chieftains at the Allyn House last week following the publication of the news about the breakdown of for mer Senator Charles w. Barnuna. Mr., Barnum had already been designated by an important element in the G. o. P. in this state, as the next can didate of the party for governor. The element which had fixed upon MT. Barnun1 for the party is that which is successful in controlling conven- tions, and handing out nominations, but has not been successful in the two past campaigns in bringing it's nominees under the wire as winners. It was felt that MT. Barnum's illness eliminated him, and there was keen disappointment, for the machinists assembled, believed they had likely candidate in the former senator, whose father at one time had held the post of chairman of the Democratic ma tiona1 committee.
 Weeks and Sloper.
 The machinists were flushed with their success in again defeating any prospect of burdening the state with a primary system, which would allow the ordinary voters in party to name the men they cared to vote for on the state ticket, instead of having the places parce1led out by such gather
 
 of the way, a new man had to be picked. and the names of the eligible were run over. Attention was called to the qualifications of former Cover nor Weeks. His good record, when the death of Governor LilIey hoisted the duties of the higher executive of fee ons the then 1ieutenant-go was gone over, and the Midd1etown man was not laid away for good, but only put aside temporarily, while oth- CT possible candidates were consid- cred. A combination like Weeks for governor and A. J. S1oper, the New Britain banker, for Iieutenant-g gover- quite acceptable. It was pointed out that it would have some strength at the po1ls,~too.
 Among the Discards.
 The Republicans in the present gen eral assembly were scanned over. Judge John H. Perry, Republican mi nortty leader, was eliminated the first crack out of the box, when one of thet best-known machine politicians of the party remarked, with the position of the Southport man on the direct primary bill fresh in mind: Count him out; we can't regard him as a Republican any more." Senator Hook CT was scratched as too independent and Senator Isbe1l as too technical tc pc COnLTO11SO, 0ttH0T dS d IO1L4I6O O4 as a governor. This ended the pos abilities in the senate and the lower body was scanned. Man after man was mentioned and placed one side save Ariel Mitchelson of Sfnsbury Some of the slate-nakers thought the president of the Farmers club was ec- quiring just the elements of popular ity which might help the Republicans redeem the state." as they viewed it
 orH NFi+rsE1Rleovn
 But.it soon developed that this talk was really only the pre1ininaries to conceal the real candidate that the party managers had in mind. When the discussion had been allowed to go far enough one of the party chiefs asked quietly: Whats the mater with Webster ?''
 There was quiet when the speaker name was put forth at first, and then there was a chorus of "Yes; why not the speaker? I've know what he will do.'' We can get behind him." He's a farmer from Litchfeld county with Hartford county connections and Fairfield and New Haven county back ing; why not Webster % and that is the way they were talking, The Times man is told, when the party was brok- en up by the desire of the delegation from the southern part df the state to make the late afternoon train for New Haven and Bridgeport.
 And there has been a lot of quiet talk about both Webster and Mitchell son ever since in Republican party circles.