Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-12
in THREE STATES
Republican Leaders Are Anxious
Over the Senatorial Contests.
DEADLOCKS REMAIN UNBROKEN
How the Situation in the Senate
May Be Affected.
NO SIGNS OF CHAN GE

There is more than a little concern felt
by the republican leaders of the Senate
in regard to the situation In the three
states where there are senatorial contests
now pending. The result Is possible that
these states may fail to elect representa-
tives in the upper house and this will de-
prive the republicans of three seats after
the 4th of March. In two Of these states,
Oregon and Idaho this danger becomes i'm
minent daily, as the laws in those states
fix a limit to the life of the legislatures.
In Idaho the legislature begins its sessions
in January and continues for sixty days.
In Oregon the session is begun also in
January. but continues only for forty days.
So the contests in these states are drawing
to a close without any prospect, as far as
can be seen here, of result being reached.
In Delaware the situation is somewhat diff
ferent, as there, although there is no i'm
mediate prospect that the deadlock will be
broken, the legislature has no legal limit
and it continues Indefinitely.
Should They Fail to Elect.
Should the three states mentioned fail to
elect Senators by vote of the Legislature.
owing to contests and deadlocks, there is
no possibility of their being represented for
Senate in the cases of Mantle, Beckwith
and Allen, who were prevented in 1893
from taking their seats, will probably de-
ter the governors of Delaware, Idaho and
oregon from attempting to fill the va
canceS by appointment. In this event, the
republicans will be considerably handi-
capped in their efforts to bring about a re-
organization of the Senate. When Senator
Wilson of Washington arrives the Senate
Will contain. for the first time in two years,
its full quota of lightweight members. OF
these the democrats will have forty-three,
the republicans forty and the populists five.
Il majority being forty-five. Should all of
the three states that are now deadlocked
succeed in electing Senators the Senate,
after the 4th of March. will still contain
eIshty-eight members, of which the repub-
licans Will have fortY-three, the democrats
thirty-nine and the populists six. If, how
ever, these states should fail to elect the
condition of things two years ago will be
repeated, and the Senate will have but
eighty-live members,a majority being forty
three. The republicans viii have forty, the
democrats thirty-nine and the populists
six. Although the margin between the re-
publlcans and majority Will be increased
by this event the republicans will still be
in the plurality by one vote. The populists
will retain their balance of power
Utah Won't Change the Situation.
Ncr will the situation change after the
admis sion of Utah. On the convening OF
Congress in December, with Utah repre-
sented in the Senate, as is now generally
expected, by two republicans, the Senate
Will stand: Republicans, IL: democrats, 30;
pODuilStS. ia total OF eighty three
Vacancies still existing. The majority will
under those circumstances be forty-four or
two more than the republican strength.
With the vacancies filled, and the total
membership increased to Its normal num-
ber of ninety, the republicans Will have
forty-live votes, while forty-sX will be a
majority.
So 1T Will be seen that in a measure the
election in Utah will have considerable
bearing upon the complexion of the next
Senate, in this, that if the three vacancies
should not be filled. Utah might, by send
ing two democrats to the Senate, give the
democrats plurality after December 1 of
one vote over the republicans
In the DcadlocI1cd States.
The situation in the deadlocked states
does not appear to improve. In the case
of Mr. Dolph, it is the general opinion that
he Is beaten beyond any hope, and that
every day that he fails to secure ma
iority i'll the legislature his chances for
success become smaller. The difficulty in
Oregon is not that the opponents to Mr..
Dolph are unable to unite upon candi-
date, but that they have not enough votes
yet drawn from his strength to elect
man whom they might choose. 1t is under
stood here that the moment enough votes
are won from Dolph to give the opposition
a majority q caucus of his opponents will
Immediately be held and the candidate
chosen. This will unquestionably end the
fight. When that shall occur Is now a
problem, and the time for dissolution of
the legislature is drawing very near.
The fights in Idaho and Delaware are
three-cornered, in each case a third
man holding the balance of power
and refusing to yield 1T to either
of the two leading opponents. This
especially is true in Idaho. where Clagett,
the third man in the race, has enough
votes to elect one or the other of the two
leaders, Sweet or Shoup. In Delaware this
is also true. though not apparent on the
face of the returns. The votes that are
being cast for Massey, four in number,
would not elect Addicks, but would elect
Higgins. It is understood, however, that
Addicks can be elected If he can get Mas
sey's four votes, for then, 1T is said he
will be able to draw enough strength from
Higgins to give him majority over all.
This result is looked for any day by those
who have followed the fight from the be-
ginning, but the opinion is gaining ground
that there will be no election in Delaware
in, dol, nr