The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-14
TOGAS QUESTION
Election of Senators Important
POliticatl Event.
State Legislatures Must Choose
Men for Congress.
SOME ALREADY NAMED
5 RaynOr and Page Succeed Selves,
Williams in Moneys Place.
Bitter Contests Being Carried
on in Commonwealth.
SOME ALREADY NAMEI

Washington, Jan. 14-The most i'm
portant political event of the new
year is the election of United
States senators by the various state
legislatures to complete the upper
house of the Sixty-second congress.
The new senate will be composed of
81 Republicans ana II Democrats, as
against 40 Republicans and 33 Demo-
Gratis in the last congress- net gain
OF eight seats for the Democrats. Gin
the house. according to the returns of
the election of November 8, the Demo-
Gratis will have a majority of 65.)
of 80 senators whose terms expire
on March 3 next, "a are Republican
and six Democrats, and the various
state legislatures elected on Novem-
Der last will choose their successors.
There will also be senators chosen to
NIL vacancies caused by the deaths of
Senator Dolliver of Iowa (Republi-
CAM. Senator Thompson of North Da-
kota (Democrat) and Senator Clay of
Georgia (DemOcrat), making total of
S3 to be elected. or the 33, seven
teen will be Republicans and sixteen
Democrats. representing gain Of
nine seats for the Democrats and one
for the Republicans.
The states where the senatorial toga
will fall from Republican to Demo-
cratic shoulders are Indiana, Ne
braska, Montana, New York, Ohio,
New Jersey Maine, West Virginia and
Missouri. The one Republican gain
occurred in North Dakota, where a
Republican successor will be chosen to
complete the unexpired term of the
late Senator Thompson (Dem ocrat).
The legislature of this state will also
elect another United States senator tc
succeed Porter J. McCumber, whose
term expires in March.
Three Senators Chosen.
Three of the senators included in
the above count have already been
chosen. They are Isador Raynor of
Maryland, elected to succeed himself;
John Sharp Williams, elected to sue
coed Senator Money, and Carol S.
Page of Vermont elected to succeed
himself. The term the late Senator
Daniel of Virginia expires this March,
and as the regular session of the Vir-
ginia legislature does not convene I'M
til 1912 either a special session will
be called to elect his successor or
Claude A. Swanson, who is serving b.
appointment will retain his seat until
next year.
No successor will be chosen to the
late Senator McEnery of Louisiana
until 1912. His seat is al present be-
ing filled by ]. r. Thornton, who was
appointed by the governor.
While the people of a few of the
states have indicated their senatorial
=
Their are bitter contests being carried
on In the majority of the states where
the senatorial vacancies occur. New
York is a fair sample. 1t has been
many years since the Democratic party
of the Empire state has had member
in the upper house of congress. and
there are a countless number .?
aspirants to the seat. which will De
vacated by Chauncey NJ. Depew. They
include Edward NJ. Shepard. William F.
Sheehan, Martin w. Littleton and Il
host of others. Even the new governor.
John A. Dix, has been mentioned, and
the fact that he has refused to indorse
any of the candidates is considered
significant.
Wilson Has Taken Hand.
On the Jersey shore. however, the
situation is slightly different. Here
Governor Wilson has taken a hand in
the fray. and is urging the election of
James E. MARITIME, to succeed Senator
Kean. James Smith of Newark how
ever, is making a strong fight. He rep
resented his state in the senate many