Evening star., 1938-09-10

picture Of health--he has been lead
ing an outdoor life during the summer
recess Of the Senate. He looks at least
10 years younger than his 63-almost
64-years. He is getting out of the
Senate, not because Of the burden, but
| because he does not feel himself in
tune with politics and legislation as
they go today. Furthermore, most of
his old and close friends in the Upper
House have died or been retired from
public life. The Hardings, the
Frelinghuysens. the Moses, the Wat
sons and many more have all gone
from the Senate portals.
Rattles Maine Politics.
The announcement Of Senator Hale
that he would not be a candidate was
| made at meeting of the Young Re-
publlcanS not long ago. 1t came as
surprise to Maine Republicans gen.
orally. although the Senator had been
considering the matter for a year or
two. More than that, it stirred the
political cauldron in the Pine Tree
State to its depths. Republicans there
ever since have been discussing pos
sible candidates to succeed Hale.
Others have written to the Senator
urging him strongly not to retire at
the end of his present term. Senator
Hale, however, insists that he has
made his decision and will stick
| to 1t.
I'm not in the habit of changing
my mind he says when asked if he
would accept the nomination if Maine
Republicans attempted to draft him" "
As a probable successor to Senator
Hale, Representative Ralph o. Brew
ster, former Governor, is most fire.
quently mentioned Mr.. Brewster is
up for reelection to the House
election day falls on Monday II he
wins lmpressively, his senatorial
candidacy will become even more
probable. 1t has been suspected in
some quarters that Brewster would
| make the effort in 1910 to defeat
Senator Hale for denomination. He
tried once before, but Senator Hale
| turned him back.
Brewster Is An active politician
active all the time in his district and
the State. He rode into oflce a.
Governor when the Ku Klux Klap
was strong in Maine-although he
was bitterly opposed by many Of the
old line Republicans in the State. He
will be just as distasteful to many OF
these same Republicans when he seeks
the senatorial nomination ii he
does. But there seems at the presen,
time no one sufficiently strong to de-
feat him. Another year may brinl
q formidable opponent-but none i.
50 FAR in sight. There is talk Of
drafting former Gov. Percy Baxter
If 1t Is found impossible to win Sem
ator Hale over to recanting his in
tention not to run again. Baxter /.
an older man, but has been very pop.
ular. Gov. Barrows, the incumbent
If he is reelected. might make a
bid for the senatorial nomination
too.
Hales Monopolize Seat.
During the last 81 years there has
been a Hale from Maine in the Sen
ate Of the United States continuous
ly, except for the six years, from
1911 to 1917. The hiatus came when
the late Senator Eugene Hale, father
Of Senator Frederick Hale, declined to
stand for reelection in 1910 He had
served five terms-30 years-in the
Senate when he decided to quit. He
lived until 1918. long enough to see
his son enter the Senate in 1917. The
Hale tradition in Maine politics, there
fore, is strongly imbedded. The pres
ent Senator is not only the son oi
a Senator, but also the grandson o1
a Senator. His maternal grandfather
was Senator zachariah Chandler OF
Michigan. -.
Senator Eugene Hale was domi-
mating personality. He was leader
in his party, and twice he was offered
positions in presidential Cabinets. once
by President Grant, who wanted him
for Postmaster General, and later
by President Hayes who offered him
the post of Secretary Of the Navy.