Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-09-05
BALANCE OF POWER.
SIX PoPuLiST SENATORS NAV CON-
TRC. THE NEXT SENATE.

The Contested Seat From Delaware IN
Democrats and Republicans May Angle
For the Popuiiss vote-May Result In .
Deadlock.
Every vote will count on the organiza.
ton Of the next United States senate. and
II Is still question which political party
will be in control The returns which are
at hand in Washington show the election
up 10 date Of ~ Republicans, 50 Dem,
ocrats and s PopulistS, with one scat In
dispute, That seat Is the junior senator.
ship from Delaware heretofore held by
Anthony Higgins Republican. Colonel
Du Pont claims To have boon elected by the
recent legislature, He is Republican,
and his title rs the successor OF Mr., Hig.
gins is not admitted by tho Democrats
and Is disputed even by ono faction of tho
Republicans His admission or rejection
will depend upon tho vote OF the senators,
and, MS the case stands at present, with
only 40 members, the Republicans have
not votes enough to seat him. They could
accomplish this result with the co-opera
ton Of the PopulistS, but 1t is not at all
probable that the latter, who have keen
eye for political advantage, would, by seat
ing Colonel Du Pont, aid in dcpriving them.
selves of the balance of power which they
now hold between the two parties
Should the Republicans succeed in hav
ing Colonel Du Pont admitted there will
be u full senate OF SO members, As being
necessary for majority, without Colonel
Du Pont and with ono of the seats of Della
ware vacant, tho senate would consist OF
81 members, of whom Al would constitute
majority, SO that this disputed senatorial
seat, however tho matter may be decided,
would not give the Republicans control of
the senate. They will in any case DO two
votes short and must look for these to tho
Populists or to an alliance with at least
some of the Populists.
The six Populist senators arc PETER of
Kansas, Alton of Nebraska, Jones and
Stewart of Nevada, Butler of North Caro-
lima and Tillman of South Carolina Four
of these senators were former Republicans
and two former Democrats, and should
the Populist senators vote as individuals
tho Republicans would probably win
Should on the other hand, tho six Pop
ulistS vote together an alliance with the
Democrats would be much moro likely
than one with the Republicans for two
reaSOnS-urSt, because large nunlner vi
tho Democratic senators have Populistic
leanings, and, second, because for two
years to come the patronage of the FEEDER.
al government will be In the hands of
Democrats, and senators on friendly rcla.
tions with the administration can hope for
more for their constituents than senators
who, without the justification of party
principle, arc arraycd against 1t. Should
the Populist senator's, rs some Populist
leaders expect refuse to make an alliance
with either political party, their former
Republican friends may be unable TO or
ganize the senate, and there would be u
deadlock over the offices, with the Pop
ulists in practical control Control of tho
senate at the next session will outrun the
period of nominations for president in
1896 and for that reason some Republic
ans are reluctant about organizing, and
avow the conviction that they would do
better TO remain IN minority for another
year than secure control of the senate by
an alliance with Populist members New
York sun