The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-19
A Senatorial Majority Of Only One
Will Comfort Them After
March 4th.
Twenty Of Them Would be Sue
ceeded by Democrats
Should They Die.
Their Control of That BODY Uncertain
Asperities softened by Terrapin
and Temperance.

the chamber. 1t has come to be matter
Of common note that everybody is petulant
and impatient. Undoubtedly the republi-
can prospects are responsible for this state
OF things. After the fourth Of next March,
the republican majority, which is now fif-
teen, will be but one and what makes the
future darker is the fact that the death of
any one of the thirteen senators would
place the democrats in control Of the SEN
ate. Here ia the list of senators whose
states would at once elect democratic sue
cessor to any Of them, should any of them
die or resign: Power and Sanders, of Mon
tana; Pettigrew, fof South Dakota: Stock
bridge and Mcmillan, of Michigan; Saw
yer. of Wisconsin: Sherman, of Ohio; His
cock, Of New York; Plumb, Of Kansas;
Cullom. of Illinois; Higgins, of Delaware;
Paddock and Manderson, of Nebraska.
Furthermore, there are six other states with
democratic governors, who would appoint
democratic senators in case of q vacancy in
the interval before their state legislature
should meet. In some of these states the
interval would be nearly two years before .
Legislature would assemble to elect republic
can senators. For instance, should either
Senators Allison or Wilson. Of Iowa; hoar
or Dawes, of Massachusetts,; Hawley or
Platt of Connecticut; Quay or Cameron, of
Pennsylvania; Dolph or Mitchell, Of Ore
gon, or Senator Chandler, of New Hamp-
shire, die or resign, they would be succeeded
by democrat. With this fearful odds
against the republicans. it is not strange
that there should be rather gloomy feel
ing on their side of the senate chamber
1t is very difficult thing to sustain a
party policy with majority of one
vote. The republican had full experience
Of this when Riddleburger was in the
senate. The old saving that God and one
make majority 10 the simplest thing
Imaginable when compared with great
party trying to maintain itself in the senate
with a majority of but single vote.
Uncle Philetus Sawyer has undertaken to
soften down the asperities that have arisen
among his fellow republicans In the senate
over the election bin. His method il the
terrapin method. The caucus which dis
cussod Senator Plumb's ten O'Clock resolu-
tion was held at Mr.. Sawyer's beautiful
mansion ut the head of Connecticut avenue.
There were forty-fve senators present and
no ladies', except the senator's daughter.
Mrs. White, who acted as hostess. The
evening WAS spent in the senator's library,
which is one OF the finest ''dens"
in the city, discussing the prob
able fate of the election law. The general
expression of views was cut in two in the
middle by refreshments, which the grave
and reverend senators found in great album
dance down. stairs in the dining room.
Some OF them have remarked since that
the terrapin was the finest absolutely they
had ever tasted. Not even Secretary Bay
ards famous stews could equal those OF the
Wisconsin senator. II is said that when
the caucus had dined aud returned mp stairs
to resume consideration Of the election bill,
everybody was in such genial humor that
conclusions were quickly reached, even the
malcontents voted to crowd the bill to a
vote. Enough terrapin was left to feed a
small regiment of cavalry. The senator
preached a very effective, although silent
sermon on temperance in the absence of all
liquors and wines; not even champagne was
to be had. The only drink at all near the
line Of exhilaration was claret punch.