The Helena independent., 1891-06-18
THEIR LEASE EXPIRING.
Republican Control Of the United
States Senate May End Before
Long.
The Possibility of Reform Depends
Very Largely Upon That
Contingency.
Analysis OF tho Situation With Reference
to tho Upper House -Whatof
tho Year?

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE correspond
ent OF the st. Louis Republic sends that
Iaper the following: How soon can the
control of the United States senate be
wrested from the republicans?
This is this supreme question which ID
now engaging the attention of the leaders
of the democratic party. and, indeed, of oil
who wish TO see the infamous Mckinley
bill removed from the statute book and the
burdens it entails lifted from the shoulders
OF the people. For without the control of
that body how can the democratic party
hope to do anything in the line Of reform
They may re-elect democratic house in
1892, and elect pre4ident in sympathy with
it. but should the republicans retain the
senate and hold together, the repeal of the
present law would bc an impossibility.
There is much talk now going the rounds
regarding a possible secession Of certain
western republican senators from the high
tariff policy of their party. by the aid Of
whose votes the more Objectionable feat
ures of the Mckinley law might be elm
mated. Experience has demonstrated that
the republican party is we'll drilled, and
there is little likelihood Of enough repub-
lican senators joining hands with the dem
ocrats to accomplish any such purpose.
True, three af their senators, Paddock. Pet
tigrew and Plumb, representing respect
lively the agricultural states OF Nebraska
and South Dakota and Kansas. did bolt the
vote against the Mckinley bill at its pass
age. But does any sane man believe that
these gentlemen would have dared to do
this il tthere had been any danger of the bill
failing for lack of votes? They knew
their votes were not needed, and
they seized the occasion to reg
lister protest on their own behalf
which they knew would not affect The bill
but would strengthen them individually
with their constituents, and in doing this
they showed their sagaoity, but not, per-
haps, their sincerity. They are republicans
first, and then they may be said to favor
a lower tariff.
The prospects of the democrats securing
control of the senate in the next two or four
years, in the light of the recent election,
are certainly very encouraging. Let US an
nlyzs the situation as it stands at the pres
ent time. Prior to last falls election it was
universally conceded that the senate would
have n republican majority for at least ten
years to come. The republicans, having
secured the six senators from the new states
of North and South Dakota and Washing
ton on their merits determined to grab
everything in sight on the principle that
might is right and proceeded braz-
fny s9 steal h1. t1e two ssn.sots
they Immediately forced the ad-
mission to statehood of the two rotten bor-
ouRhs Of Idaho and Wyoming, and, drunk
with success exclaimed aloud: "We have
ths senate a for al tine; n no event can we
the republican majority in the next senate
will be only five, big drop from fourteen,
and all in one year. 1t is only through the
representatives of the new states tnat d
majority is preserved to the republicans at
all. The larceny of Montana and the ad
mission of Idaho and Wyoming seem to
have been their temporary salvation.
So much for the senate until March 3,
1893, when the terms of one third of the body
expire. The republicans are sure to controi
the senate until then, but what will be its
political complexion after that date? ihe
thirty senators whose terms expire then are
SEN ators Feltcn, California; Hawev Con
nectinut; Gray. Delaware Pasco, Florida;
Turpie, Indiana; Hale, Maine; Gormnn,
Maryland; Dawes, Mnssaohus IT'S stock
bridge, Michigan; Davis, Minnesota;
GEORGE, Mississipii; Cock, oil, Missouri;
Sanders, Montans; Paddock, Nebraska;
Stewart, Nevada; Rlodgett, New Je' sey;
Hiscock, New York; Casey, North Daspta;
Sherman. ONO; Quay, Pennsylvania; Aid |
rich, khode Islantt; Bate, Tennessee; Chill
ton, Texas; Edmunds, Vermont; Daniels,
Virginia; SAWYER, Wisconsin; Shonp, Idaho,
hnd War en-. Wyoming.
OF thesc, nineteen are republicans and |
eleven democrats. 7 bs democ nts frnna the |
etstes of Flo IDA, Indiana. .s,sryland, Mis- |
Rissippi. Missouri New Jarssy Tennessee, |
Texas aud Virginia, arc Suet 10 I've succeeded |
by men of their own olitical faith. There |
can ba no question about the seven southern !
stateg. In both Indiana and New ,Isrs-y. |
the red!strictin4 Ia In the ntarcst of the |
democrats, ana their ms 10 ity of hold-over
stAte s. snators racti1al!y assures them CON
troll of the legislature Which Hflre4c ct suo-
cessors TO Senators Turpis aud Boagott.
Calitornia. Delaware and West Virginia |
remain, In this former state the demo
crafts lost the legislature by decisiya mt
jority, hut Leland Stamford was candi-
date to succeed himself and money was no
object. The democrats invariably control
the legislature when Stamford is not run
ming. Ine next Legislature may have diff
ferant complexion. The Delaware legisla-
tn which elected Senator Higgins, the
frat republican ever sent to the ssnate
t ON that state was lost to tho democracy
IN 1883 through party ohchery and fac
tional qua r.ia, which are now st an end.
At the recent election The democrats re-
gained their lost ground. Senator Gray ia
morally ceItain to succeed himself West
Virginia has become u very close state
The democratic majority IN tho lecis-
la,uro of 1889 1850 was ono on Joint
ballot. The democrats, however, carried
the state at the last election by electiny all
four congressman and the odds Il, o in their
favo~ OF tho eleven democratic seats IN
the senate which will become vacant March
5, 1893, the democrats are sure of holding
toll and reasonably sure of eleven
How 10 il with the republicans? New
senators are to come in from Connecticut,
III Msiue, Massachusetts. Michigan, Mime
sots. Nebraska. Montana, Nevada. NV
York. North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsy yanin.
Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Idaho, l.
Wyoming and Nisconsln. IherepubIicnna
nra morally sure of senators from Mains.
Nevada, North Dakot,
Penn. ylvania, Vermont, Idaho, Wsomiuy
and Washingtcn--r,n states.
In nine more statea, judging by tho ex-
petence OF recent events. they have got to ,
i ght desperately to hold their own. and in
four of tt,cse nlno the chances are clenrly
against them. They are Michigan, Mon
tRna. Rhode Island and Wisconsin. In
the democtats control both
branches OF the legislature by coed mniori- ,
ties. Montana, naturally democratic. dem
1t beyond question last fnil
Rhods Island will hnve two democratic in
the next house OF representatives. Wiscon- I
~ has given the democrats largo m-ior-
lty on the state ticket and maior.tI of
Lwanty-hv q" tai " in tho legislature
The is ue which I'D 10 this nston ,sh;np re-
suit in tbs Badger ,tn'e i gcarcelr down
IN / 10 short period OF two years. In Con
ncctlcnt the democrats made epormaug
ra M and CONT oil the atafa In h,,u !