The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-06
Republican Majority In Sen- ate Is Gut Down to
 Very Low Figure
DEMOCRATIC CONTROL IS
 POSSIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Deaths of Five Senators From Certain states Would Give Democrats
 the Lead in the Upper House
BY wATrERsoN sTEALEY

The republican margin in the Sen ate at the next session of Congress is still further narrowed by. the death of Senator Elkins. This makes the republican majority in the Senate at the fext session eight instead of ten, the margin being so small between the majority and minority parties that the little band of simon pure insur- gents will be in a position to abso- lutely hold the balance of power.
 Theirs will be a tremendously strong position as the next sessYon and they fully realize the power that will be theirs.
 At the present session of Congress the republican majority in the Sen ate is 27. As a result of the recent election the republicans have lost not less than nine seats in the Senate now occupied by republicans-Hale of Maine, Carter of Montana, Burkett of Nebraska, Dick of Ohio, Depew Of New York Kean of New Jersey, Scott clt West Virginia, Warner of Mis- suuri and Beveridge of Indiana.
 The death of Elkins adds another to the list and unless further vacan- cies occur the membership of the Senate when the Slxty-second Con- eress opens will stand as follows:
 Republicans 50, democrats AZ. Re- publican majority,.S. s.
 The death of four more republican senators among those whose terms do not expire on March B. would tie the Senate between the two parties while five deaths would give that body to the democrats by a majority of one.
 Possible Democratic Chances
 1,x. h licans whose death would mean the election of democratic successors through democratic control of the present legislature are as follows: Ne braska, Senator Brown; New York, Senator Root New Jersey, Senator Briggs: Ohio, Senatorf Burton; Maine. Senator Fry; Nevada, Senator Nixon; aaontana, Senator Dixon; Kentucky Senator Bradley.
 Here are eight republican senators who have from two to four years yet to serve, every one of whom In case of death or retirement would be sna- ceeded by a democrat
 In addition to this there are three states where there is strong possibility of a deadlock in the event of which the cleo tion Of 6 democrat is not impossible.
 These states are Massachusetts,. Della ware and Rhode Island.
 In Massachusetts Senator Lodge is fighting TOT n1S pOillCdl llle dHu WHllc the legislature Is republican by slender margin, democrat is apt to win. In Delaware, where successor to Senator Dupont is to be chosen, and in Rhode Island, where a successor to Senator Ald- rich is to be elected there is no telling what the outcome will be.
 Democrat VIII Be Named
 Senator Elkins will, of course, be sue ceeded by a democrat, as the West Vir- ginia legislature, now in session, is con trolled by that party, and his death has brought the republican party in Washing ton face to face with the possibility of losing control of the Senate before the 1912 campaign. This is not regarded as a probability, but 1t certainly Is a pos sibility and in any event with the House overwhelmingly controlled by the demo- crats and the Senate so close as to give the balance of power to the small ele- ment that has displayed unyielding hos tility to him, President Taft faces the next session of Congress with more po- ltical embarrassment than any republican President in a generation. He will have practically lost control of both branches of Congress.
 The deaths and retirements in the dem ocratic senatorial ranks have not weak ened the strength of the party there as every democrat who has died or retired has been or will be succeeded by dem ocrat Senator Daniel of Virginia was succeeded by Senator Swanson. Senator Hughes of Colorado, whose illness will compel his retirement will be succeeded by a democrat, perhaps Robert Speer. Senator-eect Saunders of Louisiana has been succeeded by Senator Thornton. While death has made changes in the democratic membership 1t has not de- creased its voting strength. The reverse has been true on the republican side and the death of Senator Elkins carried with 1t considerable political significance. It is said that no such situation as now exists in the United States Senate has ex- isted before when upon the life of five members hinges the immediate control of the Senate.