The National tribune., 1908-12-03
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
AND CONGRESS.
Continued from page one.)

vermont mas dlTSduy eicCltQ tNo
Senator'S ex-Gov. Page to fill out the
unexpired term of the late Senator
Proctor and Senator Dillingham; to sue
cee6 himself Death has made two re-
cent vacancies i the Senate, the other
being from 10 1, where Gov A. S.
Cummins has just been chosen to fill
out the tern of the late Senator Alli-
son. Gov Cummins, who was desig-
mated first by primary. and eX-Gov.
Page will be the only two Senators to
be sworn in when Congress meets next
month. The other two New England
States where the Legislature chose Sem
ators this year are Connecticut and
New Hampshire. Representative E. j.
Hill is already vieing with Senator
Brandegee for the Nutmeg State toga.
The Senator From Ohio.
Now that the New York Senatorial
contest is as good as settled by very
general agreement among the Repub-
lican leaders to name Secretary of State
Elihu Root, the remaining contest of
most National interest is in Ohio where
the Republican Governor will soon call
an extra session of the Legislature to
prevent an incoming Democratic Gov
ernor from appointing Senator of his
own party TO serve for about a year.
There was some slip in drawing a con-
stitutionaI amendment for holding Gu
the even rather than the odd years, so
that without an extra session, the
Buckeye lawmakers could not meet till
early in 1910. c. p. Taft. half-brother
of the President-elect; Representative
T. E. Burton and Senator ]. B. Foraker
are the leading candidates.
3Primary, Senator's.
Utah's election of Senator to sue
ceed Reed Smoot, the Mormon apostle,
may command some National atten-
tion, altho the chances favor Mr.. Smoot
for another six years. The California
Legislature has the choice of a Senator
who will probably be George c. Perkins
for another term.
The States that have held primaries
for the guidance of Legislatures which
meet this Winter are: Iowa, Washing
ton, Arkansas, Georgia, Oregon, Okla
f1oma. North Dakota, South Dakota
Illinois. Florida, Alabama, South Caro-
lima, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wiscon-
sin and Missouri
The Kentucky primary was held last
year, when Gov. Beckham was desig-
mated as the choice of the Democratic
Party. Altho the Legislature was DEM
ocratic on Joint ballot, Gov. Beckham
did not win. and ex-Gov Bradley, Re-
publican. was elected in his stead, be-
cause of the bitter factional differences.
1t is said TO be the only instance to
date where a Legislature has failed to
elect a party candidate designated at
the polls.
A very unique case is presented in
Oregon. which State has the nearest
approach TO popular elections of Sem
ators of any State in the Union. George
e. Chamberlain. Democrat, twice elect
ed for four-years term from that Re-
publican stronghold, was given a popu-
larity majority at the polls last June
for United States Senator. BY the pri-
mary law candidates for the Legislature
are allowed to pledge themselves to
vote for the popular choice for Senator.
Gov Chamberlain has pledges from a
small ma iority of all the Legislature,
which is Republican in both branches.
His election is expected. altho not yet
assured. A spirited campaign is on to
persuade the Republican members of
the Legislature to recant their pledges.
North Dakota's Senatorial primary
failed to give any candidate last Sum-
mer a requisite majority. The law was
peculiarly worded in making certain
instructions binding upon members of
the LEGISLATURE The State Supreme
Court recently declared 1t unconstitu-
tional. But II is claimed the Legisla-
ture will regard the law in substance,
at least to the extent of refusing to re-
elect Senator Hansbrough, who was de-
feated at the primary. The toga is said
to be between Representa- tive T. z. Mar
shall and ex-Representat've Martin N.
johnson, who lead in the primary ball
ioting.
The Illinois Senatorial primary also
resulted in some confusion. so that the
reelection of Senator Albert J. Hop
kins who led in the vote, is not alto
gether certain The law was loosely
drawn. and the fact that Mr.. Hopkins
lost his own city and fell far short of a
majority of the entire Republican vote
cast may give Representative George
Foss, Chairman of the House Navy
Committee. a chance to win the seat
In other States the election of Sen
ator this Winter promises to be only ar
incident of the sessions Of the Legisla
lures. Indiana has several Democrat,
aspirauts. but Tom Taegsrt has recently
Withdrawn. and II is probable that th'
election of John w. Kern to succeed
Senator James A Hemenway. who nov
occupies the seat once held by Vie
President Fairbanks. viii be general,
acceded to- He represents the onl.
Democratic gain in the Senate at tn
recent elections.
Trouble in Missouri.
There is still the possibility Of trou
BILE in the Missouri Legislature. Taf
and the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor carried Missouri, but the Demo
Gratis have the Legislature on joint bal
lot by eight votes. The democrats held
spirited primary. in which Senate. VIM
Joel Stone, called "Gumshoe Bill" de
feated Gov. Folk for the designation
1t has been said that some Folk mem
bers OF the Legislature might refuse I
vote for Stone. the two men represent
ing different Democratic factions. Blu
such a fight would utterly disrupt III
party in Missouri. and strong pressur
IS being brought to bear to prevent 4
There was talk OF ruction in the Wis
consin Legislature, because of the pr
mary nomination OF Senator Isaa
Stephenson for reelection. The L
Toilette members resent his expenditur
of very large sums in the primary an
his refusal to make his expenses publi
But il now appears that his election
likely, and that the promised conte'
there. as in three or four other State
win not materialize.
Efforts will be made In many State
this Winter to amend the Senatori;
primary laws. The results to date hay
been fairly satisfactory to the friend
of primary designation in Wester
States, hut the laws in many instance
were crude, and can now be modifie
in the light of information gained frol
their operation.
Most of the Senatorial elections wi
be held in January. In all probabil
the entire class of 81 will have be,
named by the middle OF February.
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