Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-05
Gossip from Washington

! WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The battle for
! the control of the United States Senate
| begins with the new year. The Legis-
! latures of many States convene within
the next few days. when the selections
J of United States Senators is their first
duty. In some of these States, such
as New York, New Jersey, Michigan,
! Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Tennes.
! see, the contest is merely one among
men, and it has no bearing upon the
! political complexion of the next
United States Senate. But in six of
| the contests of the West-Wyomlng,
Montana, Nebraska, California, Kan
sas and Nevada-there is battle royal
| which involves not only men but the
control of the United States Senate
| More than that, the determination of
, these contests will have an important
{ bearing on the future tariff legislation
! Of the country and upon the strength
/ of the coming administra ton.
| The Senators who are certain of
seats after March number as follows:
| Democrats Al, Republicans 80, Popu-
I lists 2. The forty -one Democrats are
/ made up of those who hold over or
| who come from States which have GER
tain Democratic Legislatures. In ad-
/ dition to these the new Senators from
| New York and Wisconsin are in.
| Guided The thirty nine Republicans
are made up of those who hold over or
who represent States certain to choose
| Republican Senators The two
Populists, PETER and Kyle, hold
over until 1897 These figures
are the basis from which the
various parties must start in their cal
culations on securing control of tho
next Senate. The total mem bership of
| the Senate is lightweight, so that
! forty five is majority. 1t is necessary
| therefore for the Democrats to secure
a total of forty-four Senators, which,
with the vote of Vice President Steven.
! son, will give them the requisite forty
| five votes over Republicans and Popu-
| lists com bined. On the other hand,
| the Republicans must have the full
! forty-fve votes. The Populists of
course have no chance of securing a
majority, but their hope of power rests
in keeping both the Republicans and
! Democrats below the requisite forty
! five votes, so that the few Populist
! Senators will hold the balance of
| power.
From the foregoing it is evident that
! the situation which confronts the
three parties is summed up thus: To
| insure a continuance of Republican
control of the Senate the Repu blicans
must carry all of the six doubtful SEN
atorial contests. To insure Demo
! cratic control of the Senate the Demo
J Gratis must carry at least three of the
) six doubtful Senatorial contests. To
insure Populist balance of power in
! the Senate the Populists must carry
| at least four of the six doubt Sena-
i torial contests. 1t is upon the fulfill
ment of one of the three foregoing
| propositions that the future of the
Senate depends.
! 1t is evident that the Republicans
are at the greatest disadvantage, for
! they must carry every one of the six
doubtful contests. To carry five or
less Chdn nVe WOGlQ leave them al the
mercy of the Popullsts.
The main hope of the Republicans is
conferred on Montana, Wyoming and
California, where their chances of sue
/ cess or defeat are about even. They
are expressing faint hopes of success
| in Kansas, Nebraska and Nevada, but
it is not hope warranted by the facts.
It is as good as certain before the Sem
atorial contest opens the Republicans
will not secure their requisite six and
that the control Of the Senate will
pass out of their hands.
The real contests of the next few
weeks will be between the Democrats
and Populists. The necessary three
which the Democrats must have are
looked for from Montana, Wyoming
and California, as it is about conceded
that the Populists will make their best
showing in Kansas, Nebraska and
Nevada. II the Democrats secure the
three States first named the complex
| ion of the next Senate is settled as
Democr tic. If they lose any one of
the three it practically settles that the
| Populisls will boil t 6Iltnce of
| poWer