New Britain herald., 1930-11-13
CROSS TOO OLD' j. FOR DEANS POST
Newly Elected Governor Inter-
 ested in Politics When Six

New Haven, Nov 13 - Dr. Wilbur Lucius Cross may be too old to con- tinue his work at Yale university but his 6S years couldn't prevent him from giving his native state of Connecticut a few lessons in states manship Today he still is receiving congratulations on one of the most astonishing victories in the Novem- Der elections. He is the first demo. cratic governor elect in 20 years. the oldest of the new chief executives. and the youngest in point of political experience.
 Never before had Dr. Cross even considered running for office. Ills entire career has been in the field of education. He is internationally known as literary historian. one of the greatest of critics, editor of the Yale Review. the quarterly devoted to learning and letters which he has conducted since 1911, and as an author and editor of works dealing with 18th and 18th century English literature
 Last June as the result of an ar hitrary university rule regarding age limits. he was retired as dean emer- itus of the Yale Graduate school. And it was in the same month, at meeting of democratic leaders. that he was asked to make an address in the absence of a scheduled speaker Just say anything, Doc tor" the committee told him, apolo getically. wen put you on at the end of the program
 speech Won Attention
 The crisp old New England scholar spoke for less than five min utos Though personally dry he at tackled prohibition. The next morn- ing he awoke to find the morning papers mentioning his name as like ly gubernatorial material
 "I had no idea at the time that anything would come of it." said Dr. Cross. q made no move to secure the nomination. But he got it, by unanimous exclamation a few months later, and lost no time in going into action.
 He knew exactly what he want ed to do. Prohibition and machine government were the issues. He knew exactly who he wanted to manage his campaign, too. and began by demanding the resigna- ton of two prominent Democratic state central committeeman. When the organization baked, he threat ened to decline the nomination. T-L rit tn1o
 They tell how a group of polltl- clans made an appointment with Dr. Cross for a long conference in which they would impart to him their plans for the campaign. He listened for a few moment, put in few terse suggestion, told !. them very quietly what his ideas were, and abruptly ended the meeting. The politicians were on their way home in fifteen minutes.
 And it wasn't until I got home" chuckled one who can al ford to laugh about it now, that realized l was darned lucky 10 get away from there with my shirt.'
 Has Yankee HumOr
 Dr. Cross was a keen strateglSt. He followed his opponents into all the towns and rural districts O Connecticut. There never was any question about his stand, any equiyocation or any elaboration in his speeches. He spoke very slow ly with q deliberation that was de- vastating to his spell-binding ri- yals. He made effective use o' hs Yankee humor. Listeners could see his smile coming, under that close clipped moustache, and were ready to laugh with him. They understood his homely, barnyard similes, and honored him as a na- tive son whose ancestors have been New Englanders since the middle of the seventeenth century They were pleased to find no higf hat up his high brow and were glad to meet q celebrated scholar who had no qualms about using the Anglo Saxon conccntratlo "ain't."
 His 6S years were no handlCaI to his activity. He campaignec against bosssm. vet he vas th' most dctatoral politician of then all. He promised, if elected, tt be governor in fact as we'll as II name, and the organization, kicked through the campaign. already E !. speaking of him as the ungovern able governor
 When the returns came in, giv Ing him majority of about 5000 F while all other state officers cleo ed were Republican nominees, great crowd Of astonished friend and Yale students besieged hi house. He appeared, wearing little sheepishly the brown derb A; Smith once gave him, an' spoke a few conventional word O. thanks. But to group 0 7 friends he said:
 wouldn't have taken it if hadn't been an uphill fight. Bi normal Republican ma aiOritV f.