New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-30


THE PROSPECT As TO THE SENATE
By stealing the Legislature of this state, the
Democrats hope to be able to capture the
United States Senate in 1898. They reckon
the next Legislature certain to be Democratic
and to elect a Democrat in PLACE OF Senator
Hiscock Gains in some Western states arc
also expected. but the attempt TO carry Rhode
Island was defeated. was the attempt 10
Dust Mr. Sherman in Ohio. Only 20 Repub-
lican Senators hold over, % Democrats, and
the 9 Alliance members who vote on most
questions with the Democrats. in order to
secure clear majority the Republicans have
to elect in place of l6 OF the Senators whose
terms expire. These are Is Republicans ana
IL Democrats, but if Mr.. lIiscOck should be
set aside for Democrat, and the Republicans
should lose two Others they would lack ma
iority, and the Alliance men would have the
balance of power.
In Maine. Massachusetts and Vermont the
Republicans are safe, and they have carried
the Legislature in Rhode Island, and have u
majority on Joint ballot Of the present Legis-
lature in Connecticut. Undoubtedly they will
be greatly helped there 10y the performances
of Democrats in Ncw-York. Pennsylvania Is
not in danger in Presidential year, and Mr..
sherman has carried Ohio. In Michigan and
Wisconsin the Legislatures elected in 1890
were largely Democratic. bat the complete re-
action of feeling shown i'll Ohio and III cities
and towns throughout the West gives fair
promise that those States will give the usual
Republican majorities in a Presidential year.
North Dakota, Wyoming Washington Nevada
and California may fairly be termed safe.
There remain Newly ork where the Democrats
expect to win by their gcrrymander Nebraska
and Minnesota where the Alliance is expected
to help them. and Montana. which will bc close
" contested. The chances Of "A fusion between
Democrats and the Alliance, such AZ is con
templatcd in Minnesota. are not often prom
ising. Neither party has the satisfaction Of
honestly voting for lis principles IN such a
middle and neither trusts the other. Demo
Gratis who care for sound money, especially
practical business men, are liable TO vote with
the Republicans against such combinations.
Republicans who have acted with the Alliance
are certain to be repealed by the fusion, and
to return to their party lines in great number.
Under the circumstances. there seems Ia be
victories in Nebraska and Minnesota, the more
because both States have felt the good effects
Of the tariff In neither has the silver qucS-
ton any practical interest, but in Montana il
has. Senator Saunders, however, while ear
nestly advocating the claims of the silver men.
has not forgotten that another important in
dustry in Montana needs defence, and that the
Democratic party proposes to abolish the duties
by which wool growing has been defended and
greatly encouraged. With about 200, 900
sheep in which a large number of owners and
workers are interested, the farmers OF Montana
are not likely to be easily persuaded that the
Free Wool bill would be blessing, and that
one measure may easily turn the scale in a
closely divided State and insure the election
of Il Republican Senator.
Thus outside OF NcwYork there seems TO be
no Republican seat in the Senate 10 be filled
next year which the Republicans have not u
more than equal prospect Of retaining. Were
there not a Presidential contest to insure n full
vote, and TO bring National issues strongly
before the voters, it might be otherwise. But
with the Free Wool bill 10 help in wool grow
ing Western States, and the Freeze Oinagc bill
TO drive business men away from the Demo
cratic party, the Republicans may fairly hope
to lose no Senator unless by fraud in this State
But there arc also many Democrats whose
terms expire in 1898, and more than one Of
these may give place to Republicans.
ii was noticed in Democratic dispatches some
time ago that the payment Of taxes by an UNI
! usual number of voters in one of the three
counties of De1avarc showed that the Repub-
b.I lniJ obro,,1 ,,ln Il.
electoral vote and the Legislature Fears were
expressed that it might be too late for Demo-
Gratis to overcome the advantage thus gained
The total vote at the state election OF 1890
was 500 greater than at the previous PrcSi-
dental election, and about as much greater
than at any other election ever held in the
State. and while the Democratic vote was the
largest ever cast yet the plurality was only
SAB. A change of only $50 votes in one coun-
ty would have given the Republicans the Lcgis-
lature then. In West Virginia and Virginia
Democratic Senators also go ont and in both
States the plurality al the last full vote was
extremely small. The chance of carry ing the
Legislature in either is probably less than the
chance of securing plurality of the popular
vote, but no one can TIL exactly what may
happen with Alliance tickets to divide the Dem
ocrats Mr.. German in Maryland Mr. Blodgett
in Sew-Jersey, Mr.. Pasco in Florida Mr.
George in Mississippi and Mr.. Cockrell in Mis-
souri, will doubtless be succeeded by Democrats
But the fight in Indiana may also result in
surprise for Senator Turpic, who consented to
take and 10 hold seat secured by the gross
frauds of his party. With at least four Dem
ocratic States in doubt, and not an even pros
pcct of gaining any ut the West the Demo
Gratis can scarcely expect to wrest the control