The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-26
THE NEXT SENATE.

has been matter of much speculation
ever since the general election last
November, and the senatorial cleo
tionS in the various legislatures have
not served as yet to shed much more
light upon the problem as to how that
body will be controlled, or whether
any party will have majority of its
membership. The outlook at present
with three vacancies to fill, is that no
party will have d majority for the next
two years in that body. The Pioneer
Press in commenting upon its makeup
says that it's composition sis so tangled
up by heterogeneous elements that 1t
will only be by the aid of their adversa-
ries on the money issue that the Re-
publicans can hope to pass a tariff
bill at the coming session TO be called
in March. Even with the aid of the
gold Democrats it can hardly hope TO
enact any measures looking TO re-
form Of the currency. The outlook
for the passage of a Republican tariff
bill was somewhat improved by the
reelection of Kyle by the solid Re-
publican vote of the South Dakota
legislature. For it was preceded by
assurances on his part which indicate
that he can be counted on to support
the tariff policy of the Republican
party. A further reinforcement may
be expected from the election of a
Republican to take the place of
Blackburn, whose term expires on
March 4, if, as is expected, Gov.
Bradley should call special session
of the legislature for that purpose.
The would be two other vacancies,
Senator Call of Florida retiring to
give place to another Democrat who
will probably be elected in April, but
Senator Mitchell's seat, which he will
leave vacant on March 4, is likely to
remain vacant for year, for there is
no prospect that the deadlock in the
Oregon legislature will be broken.
AS matters stand at this writing,
when the senate meets on the 4th Of
March it will be composed as follows:
Republicans .....-42I Silver Republicans.
Democrats. ........- SO Independent. -.....
Populists. .........-- Vacancies ...,-...-. 3
If Kentucky should elect Republi-
can in March this would raise their
strength to forty-three. On organiza-
tion and the tariff question Kyle will
probably vote with the Republicans.
They will need two more votes to
carry a tariff BILL. and these and more
they are pretty sure to get from some
of the silver: Republicans, such as
Mantle of Montana and probably
Teller, to say nothing of German and
other protectionist Democrats. The
chances that tariff bill will pass at
the special session to be called by
President Mckinley in March are de-
cidedly good: But the complexion of
the senate makes it evident that the
Republican party, even with the aid
Of the gold Democrats, will not be
able to carry out any of the contem-
plated measures of monetary reform
during the life of the next congress.
These will have to be deferred till the
next succeeding congress which meets
in 1899, when there are good grounds
for expecting that the Republicans
and gold Democrats will have control
of both branches, of congress-"
This is,a very conservative view of
the situation and unquestionably a
correct one. And in view of this the
rawlings that have been INDUCED in by,
some Democratic journals like the st.
Paul Globe, that the Republicans have
no intention Of doing anything look
ing to reform of our currency sys-
tenn, look most childish indeed. What
ever can be done without doubt will
be done. 1T is possible that enough
votes can be gotten in the senate to
put a. satisfactory measure in that re-
speet, but as the Pioneer Press, says,
the outlook is against it. One thing
can be- banked upon as certain, and
that is that the radical silver element
an.be depended to oppose any measure
designed to reform our currency sys-
tems for the success Of such a measure
would drive the last nail in the coffin
that holds the remains of their cause
But the reform the people want, will
come, and the radical silverites can
not stop it's final success.
THE suggestion has been made that
a monument be erected to, the
memory of Harriet Beecher Stowe, as
commemorative of the great work she
did toward freeing the slaves by her
great work-"Uncle Toms Cabin. "
Her son, Rev. Stowe, objects to this