New Britain herald., 1916-07-15

nection with any possible plan of republican opposition to Mclean, it is said.
 McLean's friends, republicans and democrats and progressives, say that he is a great vote getter and would do as much as or more than any other republican candidate in Connecticut could do this year. He has been a-s loyal and regular republican, but at the same time he has not antagonized the progressive vote. On the contrary, he has many friends in the bull moose ranks in Connecticut, including men like "Joe' Alsop, Fred Griffin, Admiral Cowles and others like relatives of Roosevelt, Pinchot and Emo families He is admitted also to have quite number of friends and admirers among the ranks of the democrats.
 It is believed that Mclean might roll up more votes than Taft. Hence it is that republicans are anxious to know what his intentions are. Some of them have urged him to stand again for senator; many of them, in fact Perhaps others who have been more closely identified with the old Connecticut party organization would prefer to nominate Taft or somebody else. In due time, it is believed that
 Senator Mclean will indicate that he
 will be willing to run again if his
 party wants him.
 However, his tempered enthusiasm about serving in congress has been for
 some time the subject of reports and rumors from various quarters. Mr.
 Mclean is said to personally prefer his books, his country place and birds. fishing and nature more than he does Washington legislative, official and society life. There is no secret about that. Whenever he feels that
 he can, he runs out of town to spend
 a few days in the great outdoors close
 to nature.
 Before he was elected to congress~ the custom a general rule was for
 that body to be in session on the aver-
 age five or six months out of each year. During the last five years, more
 or less, the length of time when the national legislature is in session here has gradually increased. To such ahs extent is this true that Senator Mc- Lean and other members of congress- have had to spend most or all of the summer each year in Washington for some years past, except last year only. Whenever some of them compare the hot muggy weather of the capital to that of New England and some other sections of the country they would just about as soon leave congress per manently in order to get back home for good long stay
 Senator Mclean has a beautiful place at Simsbury, which he has not been able to enjoy fully in the sum- mer until last year. Though in good health, he is nat an enthusiast over hot weather. He is understood to be well fixed financially He will be about 60 years of age when his pres S ent term in the senate expires. He has made his mark in the senate along certain lines, but he is reported to feel at times that he would be as happy probably in Connecticut as he is in Washington.
 However, that he will retire from the senate at this time and under present circumstances is doubted byw those in touch with the situation. Few men, and probably he among them, like to quit the game of politics, legis- lative activity and public life Many men in congress and official circles here will tell you that. Some of them know they would be better off and happier and wealthier and healthier somewhere else engaged in private business or professional career, but they do not want to and will not quit x the game here. It has attractions to some, its certain glamor holds the imagination of others. There is a fas- cination about being behind the scenes and watching the wheels of govern ment go around and helping to form them, so to speak. Then, too, some of these men do not want to quit be- cause they are not quitters about anyz> thing. They will stay in the game as they would in some other line of &C., tivity until the finish. They do not want to have their places taken by else even if it were a case of free will and not compulsion.
 Connecticut people in Washington believe that Senator McLean's atti- tude is one of willingness, not anxiety about the senatorial campaign They believe that when the campaign opens his name will be found on the repub- lican ballot in Connecticut, immedi-~ ately beneath the names of Hughes and Fairbanks electors. It is said tha. he may be regarded as a receptive candidate, who will become active at the call of his party, feeling it his duty and pleasure to do so, as he has in the past as it's gubernatorial and senatorial candidate. v,