New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-26
ORANGES IN THE SENATE.

All but three of the seats in the United states
Senate becoming vacant on March next nave
now been filed by the action of state legiS-
latures In two states-New Jersey and Rhode
Observation-Disclosures exist and in third-GeOr-
ga-the Legislature will not meet In regular
session until three months after the term of the
present senior Senator. Augustus o. Bacon. has
expired. This contingency seems to have been
overlooked when the date for the meeting or
the Georgia Legislature shifted from Octo-
Der 10 June Mr.. Bacon ceases to be Sen
ator on March 4 and It is doubtful whether the
Senate would recognize the validity Of a recess
appointment given him by the Governor of
Georgia, since in recent years the line has been
drawn very strictly between vacancies occur
ring by death. resignation other fOrtuitous
happenings and vacancies due 10 a lapse of title
which can be clearly foreseen. The same sort
of interregnum used TO be precipitated in New
Hampshire and Florida and those states were
finally driven to elect their Senators in advance
in order TO avoid disputes to title. If there
is special session of the Senate next March
Mr.. Bacon will find the situation rather embar-
RAISING. since he is an aspirant for the Demo
cratic leadership which Mr.. Blackburn is to
surrender at the close of the present session.
The elections just made will alter the Sen
ate's political complexion in one important re-
spect. With a Republican from Oregon. Mr..
cess appOintee the Senate now contains fifty
eight Republicans and thirty-twO Democrats.
After March 4Or rather after the election of
Senators in Georgia, New Jersey and Rhode
Island-there will be sixty-o Republicans and
twenty mine Democrats. This will be the small
est representation propOrtOnately which the
Democratic party has had in the Senate since
the close OF the Reconstruction period. No
Democratic votes will be needed 10 ratify a
-a.ooA Co Ill,
the convention with SantO Domingo. In person
mel the Senate suffers on the whole. no losses
On the Republican side no influential leader has
been displaced. Mr.. Frye returns from Maine
Mr. Crane from Massachusetts Mr. Cullom
from Illinois, Mr.. Elkins from West Virginia,
Mr. Nelson from Minnesota Mr. Doiver from
Iowa and Mr.. Warren from Wyoming These
Senators have all strongly intrenched them
selves with their constituencies and were re-
elected with Tifling opposition. Mr. Burnham
gets second term from New Hampshire and
Mr.. Gamble second term from South Da-
kOta. Three newcomers have been promoted
from the House of RepresentatveS-Mr. Will
lam Alden Smith 10 succeed Mr. Alger from
Michigan, Mr.. Curtis to succeed Mr. Burton
from Kansas and Mr. Dixon TO succeed Mr.
Clark. Democrat, from Montana Mr. Rich
ardson replaces Mr.. Alice in Delaware. and Mr.
Brown follows Mr. Willard in Nebraska In
oregon. Idaho and Colorado three incoming
Republicans displace three Democrats. These
changes augment rather than weaken the
strength of the majority party.
On the Democratic side there have been more
losses than gains. Mr. German is dead and his
successor in the minority leadership. Mr. Black
burn has been defeated for reelection With
MI bIackbuTn disappear also Mr. Carmack Of
Tennessee: Mr.. Berry. of Arkansas; Mr. PAT
terson of Colorado: Mr. Clark. of Montana and
MI Dubois. Of, Idaho. Messrs Martin Sim
mons. 11ilman. Morgan. McLaurin. Foster and
BAILEY nave been reelected. and Mr. Bacon
VIII also be returned. But the task of organ
lzng and leading the minority seems beyond the
powers OF any of the present aspirants for Mr.
Gormans title Mr.. Bailey has been mora ar
Jess acclaimed as the natural leader Of the
democratic forces. But he has been reelected
10 me Senate under a cloud and his Influence
VIII he dipinished. Moreover has dictatoriaI
manner and excessive self-esteem unf,t him for
lhe delicate duties Of party manager. The
democracy in the Senate is not only weak mn
merlcally, but 1t is weak because of its on
pacy Tor discussions. 1t has no policv and
no unity of ideas, and will probably continue
10 drlft with the current just as II has
dr1fted ever since the collapse Of Mr. Cor
mans misJudged effort to defeat the ra+ifca-
uon or the Panama Canal treaty AT the session
OF 10000