The Washington times., 1911-01-06
REPUBLICANS LOSING
CONTROL OF SENATE
Prospects That Democrats
Will Be In Majority After
March 4, 1913.
MARGIN CUT FROM
80 TO s IN 2 YEARS
Members Go More Rapidly That
Those of the
House.
By JUDSON C. wELLIvER.

Two years ago tnere were SiXty-One
Republican Senators and thirty-one
Democratic. Today there are fifty
eight Republicans, thirty-three Demo-
Gratis, and one vacancy
After March 4, from present indica-
tions, there will be fifty Republicans and
forty-two Democrats. The present va
cancy is In the seat which was occu-
pied by Senator McEnery of Louisiana
A special election has been called TO
fill this seat.
In two years the Republican majority
in the Senate has fallen from 80 to s.
On the face of the figures, it appears
that Republicans. though they have not
actually lost control of the Senate.
have actually lost Senators more rapid
ly, in proportion, than they have Repre-
sentatfveS.
Changing the political complexion OF
the Senate always is a slower process
than changing that of the House.
Whether the Senate will. before the end
of the present Democratic movement
go over to Democratic control, can
only be conjectured at present. But
there is increasing belief in political
circles that it will do so.
May OQSSdL LOIlmeI.
That there will be another vacancy
in the not distant future is coming to
be quite widely believed. This means
that the possibility of unseating Sena-
tor Lorimer, Republican, of Illinois, is
regarded as by no means remote. \
recent count is said to have developed
thirty-one Senators who declared them
selves tentatively in favor of unseating
Many had declined to express them
selves. 1t would require forty-six votes
to displace Senator Lorimer. and with
two-thirds enough already claimed, and
public opinion fast developing against
him and producing remarkable effects
on Senatorial sentiment, his removal is
not at all impossible.
The following Republicans who are
now members of the Senate, will be sue
ceeded by Democrats March 4:
Hale of Maine, Beveridge of Indiana,
Depew of New York, Kean Of New Jer-
scy. Scott of West Virginia, Dick of
Ohio, Burkett of Nebraska, Carter of
Montana, Warner of Missouri.
Besides these changes, the following
Republicans now serving will be suo-
ceeded by other Republicans after
March 4:
AIdrich of Rhode Island, Burrows of
Michigan, Bulkeley of Connecticut.
Flint of California. Piles of Washing
ton, Young Of Iowa.
Republican Would Succeed.
If Senator Lorimer should be ousted,
Republican would take his place, though
il is not impossible that the Illinois
Legislature would be long time dead
locked before a choice could be made.
Deadlocks, it is anticipated. may play
considerable part in determining the
color of the Senate for some time in
the future. West Virginia is threatened
with one, involving two seats. Its Leg
islature is Democratic, but a long way
from agreement on successors to Sena-
tors EIkins and Scott.
California is seriously threatened with
deadlocked Legislature, which may
leave a vacancy for long time. This
would be a loss to the Republicans.
The same is true of Iowa, where re-
cent developments seriously suggest
that the anti-Cummins Democrats may
refuse to caucus with the Cummins or
progressive members of the Legislature,
and keep the State out of its full repre-
sentation for the next two years, or un-
til a primary can be held to Indicate
the Republican choice.
There is a hard fight I'm Florida for
the succession to Senator TaliaferrO,
and a deadlock is anticipated by many
because of the bitter factional feeling
between the conservative or Taliaferro
Democrats and the progressives, who
nominated Broward and then lost the
fruits of their victory when he died,
before election.
Republican Senator without a long
deadlock, although at one time there
was threat of tying up the assembly.
and possibly leaving the State with only
one Senator. or, perhaps, forcing the
reelection of Mr. AIdrich 1t is now
honaire cotton manufacturer, will be
named at a comparatively early date in
the session.
Lodge Expected to Win.
The reelection of Senator Lodge, In
peGted. The fight which Governor
Foss has made seems likely to fail Of
success. Mr.. Lodges hope, like that of
Mr.. Carter, in Montana, is to obtain
Democratic votes enough to save him.
| Just as was done in the case of Sena-
| tor Lorimer, who was chosen by Q
combination of Republicans and Demo-
Gratis.
AS affecting the future tendencies Of
the Senatorial majority. Republicans
| find small room for confidence that they
| will improve their situation In l9l2
| HoId-oyer legislators chosen this year
| in many States will be in the Demo
cratic scale two years hence and the
task of carrying number OF States
will he much Iightened, for the Demo-
Gratis, On this account. The commonest
opinion is that. unless there is a turn
which carries the country overwhelm-
inglv Republican in 1912. the Democrats
| will control the Senate by close mar
Gin after March 4, 1913.
| OF all the remarkable aspects of the
shifting membership of the Senate, the
most striking is the absolute change
| in personnel in recent years. The Con-
rressional Directory issued two years
ago contained names of thirty-three
Senators who after March 4 will not be
| holders of togas. More than one-third
| of the body's membership will have
changed. 1t is said there is no record of
similar shift in membership since civil
war times.