The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-09-24
Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept. %, 1897.

w NASHlNGION, IL ", DopI. u, lSJl.
Much interest is felt in the Senatorial
contests in the several states, especially
Ohio, Maryland, New jersey, Texas and
Iowa, for portions of the legislatures which
are to be chosen in Iowa and New Jersey
are to participate in the election of sena-
tors.
While all senatorial elections are sub
iects of especial interest here, those this
fall, especially in Ohio and Maryland, are
particularly so, because the control of the
Senate from March 4, 1899, to 1901 may be
determined by them. On the Ohio cleo
tion will depend the complexion of the
senate between this and 1899, provided a
republican is seated from Oregon.
So Ohio is the first to attract attention,
because she may determine the control of
the senate for the next two years, while
she may with the other states above
named, control it for two years more. 1t
is not surprising, then, that every politician
from Ohio is eagerly questioned on his ar
rival here, and that those from other states
are also the subject of attentionwhen they
put in an appearance. On the states above
named may depend the control of the SEN
ate during all of President McKinley's
term.
fThere are now 43 republicans in the
senate, % silver democrats. silver re-
publicans, so-called, populists, and 8
sOund-money democrats The death of
Senator George and the absence of SEN
ator from Oregon leaves the total number
but S8. With a republican seated from
Oregan and one elected in Ohio, that party
would, with the cooperation of one popu-
list, control the senate. Even if a Demo-
crat was appointed to succeed Senator
George, it is considered probable that at
least one OF the populist would cooperate
with the republicans, thus leaving that
party in control of the senate with the aid
of the ice-president's vote.
Thirty-one seats in the senate are to be
filled between now and March 4, 1899.
Eleven of these are now filled by republi-
cans, fifteen by silver democrats, two by
popullStS, two by silver republicans, and
one by a sound-money democrat. 1t is
senators from Maine, Vermont, MasSachu-
setts, Rhode Island Connecticut, Pennsyl-
yanla, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota; the
Democrats in Virginia, Florida, South Car
olina, Texas and probably Missouri and
Tennessee; and the silverites in Nevada,
Montana and Utah. With the Ohio re-
publicans successful this fall the repub-
iican party is practically sure OF Al votes
in the senate in the last half of McKin-
ley's term, and the silver democrats %.
There is reason to believe that the re-
publicans may be successful in sending
members of their own party from Mary
land West Virginia Indiana, Wisconsin,
Ne - Jersey to succeed democrats now
hOaang seats from these states. Should
this happen it would give the party an
easy control of the senate. Should they
win in only one-half these state they
would be able to control the senate with
the vote of the vice-president
1t will be seen, then, that there is good
reason for the intense interest with which
the Ohio election of this fall is being
watched. Upon it alone may depend the
control of the senate between this time
and March 4, 1899, while upon Ohio, Mary
land, and few other close states will de-
pend the control after March 4, 1899, to
the end of President McKiney's term.
Therefore all eyes are on Ohio as to her
possible control of the senate during the
next 1S months, and on Ohio, Maryland,
and afew other close states as to the con-
trol'of that body during the remainder of
President McKinley's term.
Happily, the reports from all of these
states are very encouraging to the repub
licans. In Ohio there now remains no
doubt of success, provided the members of
the party in that state do not allow their
good prospects to lead to a neglect of duty.
They have some very shrewd men to deal
with, and some very unScrupulous ones,
too, and between these two they need to
get out every vote. But if they do so, it
is conceded that they will win. In Mary
land the republicans are very hopeful.
They are all standing now well in line,
and when the good round majority by
which they carried the state last year is
it is apparent that they have
good chances of success. Yet they have
as shrewd and unscrupulOus man to
fight as have the Ohioans, for Arthur p.
German is a man who can only be beaten
by the most heroic work ON the part of the
republicans of Maryland.
Advices from Ohio Indicate that the
voters there understand pretty clearly the |
heavy responsibility which rests upon
them. A failure to elect republican
from that state passes the control of the |
senate into the hands of those opposed to |
President Mckinley, at least until March |
4, 1899, perhaps to the end Of his term. 1t |
is big responsibility, and it is well that |
the Ohio republicans recognize it.