Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-11-16
With Our State
Contemporaries



and anti-Newberry Republicans, pro
Townsend Republicans and anti
Townsend Republicans, pro-Groes-
beck Republicans and anti-Groesbcck
Republicans, etc, etc. Indeed, this
is the main trouble. Personal blocks,
encouraged by Primary divisions, are
the Republican substitute for party
solidarity. Dropping all these ny
phens, for the moment, here are some
hard and impersonal Republican facts
Michigan's only senatorial veteran
has been defeated Not only viii he
be succeeded by a new Senator; also
he Will be succeeded By a Senator on
the Democratic side This is not a
particularly useful combination Of
credentials. Senator Ferris will
make a place for himself in Washing
ton. No question about that. His party
colleagues, if they are wise, will give
him every possible advantage. No
question Of that either He viii be a
spectacular figure; and he viii Go his
best for Michigan. No question about
that But neither he nor any other
Democratic Senator can be wholly
effectual, representing a Republican
State during a Republican admins
tration. We are dealing, remember,
in impersonal facts. Michgan's other
Senatorship, therefore, now becomes
OF paramount Importance
Michigan's other Senator is Hon.
Truman II. Newbcrry. Around him
has swept so long and so strenous
n storm that it is difficult to hope for
unprecedented consideration Of any OBJ
scrvations related thereto. Bat,
again facts are facts. The newly
elected Senate viii vote MS election,
one Of the first things IL does. Can
did analysis Of the new roll call can
leave no ether verdict. There is
minimum majority Of six (cvon Civ
ing Newberry the votes Of Johnson
Of California and Fess OF Ohio
against the Michigan Senator; and
more probably a majority Of eight or
nine.
Mind you we are not attempting
TO argue political moralties or polit-
ical prophecies. We are dissectng
facts-things as they are-that's all.
One cannot escape facts by ignoring
them. That has been tried and has
failed. Remember too,we gre asking
Michigan Republicans to think in the
impersonal terms Of their partys
need. The party is biGger-or ought
to be-than any individual in IT,
Some Of our troubles resulted from
our failure to remember this axiom
Within the next two years, Cover
nor Groesbeck Will have the appoint
mont of Senator Newberry's success
sor. If his Republican successor
takes his seat in the next session, in
stead of the next Congress, he will
gain seniority (supremely important
in the Senate) over all Of The many
new Senators who enter public life
next March. Senator Newberry's inn
mediate resignation pursuant to his
ultimate purpose if yesterdays
Washington gossip may be believed,
would permit this advantage to the
next Republican Senator from Mich
igan, and therefore to Michigan it.
self.
To complete this advantage for
Michigan Senator Newberry's sue
cessor should be reasonably eligible
$50 far as is possible to forsee poiiti-
cal events) to succeed himself, and
reasonably likely to be able to do so
at the 1924 election. Otherwise once
more all the seniority advantage is
lost Therefore, considering party
welfare and State advantage, the APP
pointivc choice is a matter Of high
Importance.
Remember we are talking facts.
Among other facts, is the suggestion
that Governor Groesbeck will him
self be candidate for Senator I'm
1924. Therefore, on the basis Of
some candidate being considered
for interim appointment although
he can scarcely consider himself
thusly while he himself is the
Governor and the appointing pow
or, and has been commissioned
to an unfinished task at Lansing.
This is one of the many facts involved
in this equation. If Groesbeck is the
nest eligible Republican nominee for
Senator in 1924, he should be New
berry's successor in 1922. We do not
say that he is. We name no man
who is. We are discussing imper-
sonal facts. But, under these cir
cumstanccs, the Governor-if con-
fronted witt the responsibility Of an
interim az ointment-would be doub-
~ justif ed in taking counsel Of a
represen ,ative body Of Michigan Re-
publicans. And when we say "repre-
sentative" we mean REPRESEN-
TAFIVE.
Senator-elect Ferris was original
" designated to his task by an unof-
fetal conference Of Michigan Demo-
crats--not a small kitchen cabinet
but representative group of sever
al hundred. His victory, not wholly
unrelated TO this process Of making
ing party responsibility alticulate,
might well recommend similar meth
DDS to Michigan Republicans. There