St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-06-16
A New England Candidate

There are indications that New
England will have an active candi-
date for the republican nomination
for the presidency in 1915 in Sen.
John w. Weeks of Massachusetts,
1t will be remembered that he made
a tour across the continent some
weeks ago to feel the public pulse"
on the subject and is reported to
have been we'll satisfied with what
he found. A slight personal ac-
quaintance with him has made a ia
vorable impression on us and we
have watched with much interest
the clear and decisive stand he took
at the time our naval and military
deficiencies were under discussion.
1t is evident he is a believer in a
potent America, able to defend it
self from any aggression but not a
militarily aggressive America.
We have already given some facts
about Sen. Borah of Idaho as a pos
sible candidate and the name of
Theodore E. Burton of Ohio, is also
being quite freely discussed in po-
litical circles. We give below, as a
matter of news, some excerpts from
a special Chicago dispatch to the
New York Herald to show some of
the claims made in behalf of Sen.
Weeks.
The Ohio Legislature recently went
on record as favoring TAR. Burton as
the favorite son of the Buckeye
state, and this naturally strengthens
him all over. In fact, he has been
moving steadily into the limelight,
and, according to leaders with whom
have talked, he occupies second
place in the midsummer speculation
to Senator Weeks of Massachusetts.
Senator Weeks appears at present
to be the man on whom the most
potent republicans have their eye.
He would loom still larger were he
resident of one of the so-called
great states, such as New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio or Illinois, but
Massachusetts is no picayune COM
monwealth and would be highly de-
sirable acquisition to the republican
column in an uncertain year, or any
year for that matter. Eastern poll
ticians who have been out West look
ing over the situation assert that Mr. |
Weeks is very popular in the Bay
State, and could easily carry it, as
well as insure victory in all the other
New England States. Ordinarily the |
republicans do not worry over the |
New England group of states, but af-
ter what has happened in the last |
few years they just naturally worry |
about every section.
Persons representing Eastern poll |
ticians have been touring the west
ern country during the last few
weeks and have gathered here to
notes. Prefacing their ut
with the statement that it
is little too early to make predic-
tons, they say that from what they
have learned Mr.. Weeks has taken
a lively hold upon the republicans
in many states, and is very likely to
continue his grip.
Because he is one of the original
and Simon Pure advocates of a large
navy for national defence, Mr.. Weeks
S doubly popular just now, with the
United States in danger of interna-
fonal complications and the whole
situation dependent largely upon the !
lavy. He is a naval expert himself,
md is a graduate of the United
states Naval Academy at Annapolis.
n scrutinizing his record, the re- :
'ublicans with whom l have talked [
ay they find much to recommend I
i'm as a standard bearer of his .
arty. He is a business man, hav-
ng for years been a member of the
'oston banking firm of Hornblower i
, Weeks. He has served in the +
OuSe of representatives and in 1919
'as elected to the United States
enate, where his influence has been I
teadily felt. t
TIL Middle West republicans say n
e combines many of the qualities :.
the conservative and the progress
i've. He is said to be one of the o
ew republicans thus far talked of v
no would be assured of the support O
the progressive or Bull Moose ,
arty. He is fifty-five years old and =
resident of West Newton, Mass. q