The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-23
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
All of the changes in the United
States senate have now been made,
and all the vacancies filled except
three. Kentucky, Oregon and Florida
have still to name the men who will
succeed the senators from those states
whose terms expire on the 4th of
March. In Kentucky there can be no
election unless an extra session of the
legislature is called. In Oregon both
sides have given up the hope of break
Ing the deadlock over the reelection of
Senator Mitchell. In Florida the leg
islature which must choose a successor
to Senator Call will not meet until
April, although the governor may fill
the vacancy by appointment before
that, as he probably will do. Whoever
the new senator from Florida may be,
he will be a Democrat. Classifying the
senators already chosen according to
their political preferences, it will be
seen that, Of the eighty-seven or
Lightweight members who will consti-
tute a full senate after the 4th of
March, forty-seven can be counted
upon on all ordinary occasions, and
aside from the financial question, to
vote with the Republicans. There are
thirty-three Democrats and seven Pop
ulists. The straight Republicans whose
votes can be counted upon for any
measure that carries the label of par
ty regularity, are forty-two. In addi-
ton to these Senators Cannon, Mantle,
Pettigrew and Teller still claim a par
ty status and can undoubtedly be de-
pended upon to follow the ordinary
party lead. Mr.. Kyle, who owes his
election to Republican votes, is ALSO
included in the list. The Populists
have properly rejected him, and in full
filing the bargain to which he owes
his reelection he will probably be the
most subservient Republican partisan
of them all. The Populists just about
hold their strength with their seven
members.
Those who have counted upon pre-
venting the Republicans from control
ling the upper house will thus find
their hopes dashed For all necessary
purposes there is Republican ma
jority in the senate. Those purposes
include, undoubtedly, the passage of
a tariff bill, through the bargain that
Mr.. Hanna has made with the silver
men. Enough of these have been ar
wit n criI fhn 20,
ty-five votes at the outside. On a
straight question Of finance the SEN
ate would divide pretty equally;
enough sound money Democrats
joining with the Republicans to
make the vote practically even.
On any other issue the Repub-
icans have straight working major
ity. To all who love to see political re-
sponsibility fixed and parties thereaf-
ter held strictly accountable for their
acts, this is desirable condition. 1t
is just as well to give the Republican
party plenty of rope, and, with the
executive and both houses of congress
under its control, it cannot claim the
went VI OPpOA C"AllIy VI lAc lIIW dI tIIIS
of it's beneficent policies by wicked
Democrats. The senate is safely Re-
publican, as well as the house, and we
shall now see what that party can
accomplish for the country in the next
two years. Unless we are much mis-
taken, and unless there is a radical
change in its policy and an impossible
revolution in it's leadership, it will
so live during that term that it's obse-
quies at the expiration of it will be
held with great emphasis and universal