Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-11-13
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.


litical complexion of the United
States Senate as probable. That
body is now composed of forty-two
Republicans and thirty-three Demo
Gratis. This is counting Malone and
Riddleberger as members of the
Republican party, which Is the
proper place for them, as they have
always voted with it. 1t is in the
power of the Republicans to increase
their membership by senator from
Oregon. They have a majority in
the Legislature of that state, but
have not as yet been able to agree
upon a candidate. With this sena-
tor secured their majority would Be
ten in the Senate. 1t is not to be
expected that this will be changed
during President Cleveland's admin
istration. The Democrats have Just
gained senator in Virginia by the.
defeat of Malone. This still leaves
the Republican majority eight. The
only apparent opportunities for
them to make further gains are in
Connecticut, Indiana, New Jersey,
and New York. Should they carry
all these states, the Senate would
still be left a tie. Should they fail
in any one of them, the Republican
majority remains. 1t can hardly be
said that the probabilities are in
their favor in more than two of
them-Indiana and New Jersey,
and the report is that New jersey
has just elected a Republican Lcgis-
lature. In New York and in Con
necticut, the Democrats have made
gains, and it is probable that they
are in a majority in the popular vote
OF Connecticut, as well as in New
York; but it is exceedingly difficult
for them to elect a majority of the
Legislature in either of these states.
The bulk Of the strength of the
Democrats in New York is in the
cities. The Republicans have a
smaller, but still reliable prepond-
GRANGE distributed through the rural
portions Of the state which may
give them the Legislature when the
popular vote is considerably against
them. Under the present appor-
tionment of the state, too, the cities
have not their fair proportion of
representation in the Legislature.
Connecticut is not represented in
that body on population at all.
Each small town there is allowed
one representative, while no city,
however great It's size, can send
more than two. This gave Connect
cut a Republican Legislature last
year, with several thousand major
ity against that party in the state.
If the Democrats carry the Legis-
latures Of Indiana and New Jersey,
therefore, next year, and the Repub-
licans those of New York and Con
nectlcut, as now seems probable, the
Republican majority in the United
States Senate would still be four in
the last two years Of President
Cleveland's administration. The
only other states where even an ac-
cident could aid the Democrats are
California, Wisconsin and Michigan.
There is bare possibility, it may
be, of their electing in the first and
last named of these States, though
they have been in bad way in Cali
fornia of late. On the other hand,
they may lose senator in Nevada,
provided the preseNt Democratic in
cumbent doesn't care to buy his
election again, or some Republican
outbid him in that pocket borough.
The chances are that the Republi.
cans will hold the Senate by from
four to six majority. 1t will be
seen that their smart election OF
Gen. Logan in Illinois, and the vic
tory they have won this fall in Ohio
were highly important in this point
of view. The Senate was really
saved to them in this way. There
is piece of legislation which may
aid them also. Dakota, which has
amply sufficient population for a
state government, would come in
with two Republican senator's, thus
making the party perhaps secure
still further into the future. But
the Democratic House Of Repre-
sentatives can deny Dakota admis
sion, and, if it is necessary to do thi.
|
in order to save that party the Sen
ate, this action is to be apprehended
Boston Herald.