The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-09
ASK TO
FIGHT WADSWORTH
Republicans Urge Upstate
Senator to Enter Race for
Seat at Washington.
STRONG ROOSEVELT MAN
Barnes, Suffrage and Prohibi-
ton Among Issues Put
Forward in Party.

Certain Republicans opposed to the
denomination Of United States Senator
James w. Wordsworth. Jr., are engaged
In sounding out sentiment on the avail
ability of State Senator Frederick Nor
gan Davenport as an anti-wadsworth
candidate In the primaries. They have
urged him to consider making the race.
but 80 far he has reached no decision on
the proposal.
From the time he entered politics
Senator Davenport has been opposed to
William Barnes. the political sponsor Of
Senator Wadsworth. and this " being
used as an argument to induce him TO
get into the race. It is urged upon him
that there will be an anti-Wadsworth
candidate anyway and that his record
makes him the natural opponent Of SEN
ator Wadsworth.
Senator Davenport has been called the
rschoohmaster in politics. but in many
political lights he has shown himself to
be two listed fighter. For many years
he has held the chair OF law and politics
in Hamilton College. having gone there
after getting an A. B. at Wesleyan. a
Phi. d at Columbia ana studying the
ology for a time
In 1908 he was elected to the State
Senate from the Utica district and
gained place In the Hughes group in
the Legislature, being particularly ac-
tive in the attempt to put through d.
rect primary measure. In the 1910 fight
between Vice President Sherman and
Col. Roosevelt for the temporary chair
manship OF the State convention Senator
Davenport was on the Colonel's side.
Later he accused the Sherman organiza-
ton in Utica Of treachery in failing to
support his candidacy for reelection
He was defeated because Of this fac
tional feeling.
Senator Davenport returned to the
Senate last November, having defeated
the organization candidate for the nomi-
nation. He was one OF the Ave insur-
gent Senators who defied the Republic
can leadership in the Senate last winter
and fought for the minimum wage,
health insurance and other welfare bills.
AS chairman of the Committee on Taxa
tion Senator Davenport sponsored the
State income tax bill. Although the
Democrats and Republicans united In
putting 1t on the statute books so that
It might not be made a partisan issue. It
Is thought that his opponents might use
this bill against his candidacy II he
should desire TO run for the United
States Senatorial nomination.
Senator Davenport followed Col.
Roosevelt out of the Republican party
in 1912 and ran on the Liberal ticket for
Lieutenant-Governor of New York
State that year. Two years later he
was the Liberal candidate for Governor.
In 1915 he returned to the Republican
organization. At the time he declared
the issue was the domination OF William
Barnes and that the Liberal Republi-
cans could not keep this leader out of
control unless the Liberals who had left
the Republican party returned to that
fold.
Friends of Senator Davenport say that
he would suit the suffragists. who are
determined to fight Senator wadsworth
| because Of his record on suffrage. They
also assert that he would appeal par
ticrlarly to the forces that are back OF
the prohibition movement and which
the Anti-Saloon League has started out
! TO line up against Senator Wadsworth.