The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-01-17
SEVERAL CAUSES
FOR The CHANGE
Senate Republican Margin Is
Now Very Small,
CONSERVATIVES MAY LOSE
Republicans Who Have Heretofore
Been in Charge of the Senate Likely
to Lose Control of That Body-Pro-
gressives Are in the Saddle.

to Lose Control of That Body-Pro-
gressives Are in the Saddle.
Washington, Jan. Sit may be
something of shock to the substan-
tial business interests of the United
the United States senate will have
passed out of the control of conserva-
tive Republicans. Deaths and defeat
at the polls have within the brief pc
Rod of two years cut down Republic
an majority of thirty in this body to
O slender margin of six.
The next house will be Democratic.
A few more deaths among Republic
an senators and the election of four
Democrats from New Mexico and Ari-
iona would give the Democrats a clear
working majority in the senate. 1t is
not at all unlikely that both branches
of the national lawmaking body will
side of the next year.
Although the Republicans are nom
inally in control of the senate they can
count on majority only on unimport-
ant issues. Aldrich and Hale, the
titular leaders, are helpless to force
favorable action on big party meas
ures because of the detection among
the progressives. Enough of the lat
ter stand ready to join with the Demo
Gratis to justify the announcement that
the senate is no longer dominated by
conservative Republicans.
Significance of Situation.
The significance of this situation is
little appreciated After March 4
President Taft alone will stand be-
tween congress and the enactment of
radical legislation. The senate, which
for years has been the bulwark on
which financial and business interests
have depended to defeat socialistic
legislation, no longer can fill that role
If an income tax bill were to come up
in the senate today on it's merits the
chances are it would be adopted. 1t is
moral certainty that it would receive
a big majority vote if proposed after
March T.
The senate has undergone a change
from conservatism to near radicalism
In startlingly brief period of time.
Only two years ago there were sixty
one Republican senators and thirty
one Democrats. Today there are fifty
eight Republicans, thirty-three Dem
ocrats and one vacancy A Democrat
will be elected to the vacancy which
was caused by the death of Senator
Elkins. AS a result of the November
elections the Democrats have gained
nine additional seats which they will
take after March f. On that date tie
senate viii stand: Republicans. -:
Democrats. 43; majority Of g.
This paper majority Of six include
ten Republican proer2ssiyes. TIE
have been referred to at tie Willie
House and elsewhere conten.ptuors
as BLACK flag" Republicans a
straightout Democrats. The list
cludes Rristow, Clapp, Cumnins a4&
La Toilette, who voted against the
tdl III Dlll. lie OtISES are
Brown of Nebraska Diyon of Mon
tana, Poindexter of Washington, Gr0n.
ma of North Dakota. Rorah of Idaho
Townsend OF Michigan and Bourne o!
Oregon. These ten constitute a shaky !.
set of Republicans, on whom little re-
lance can be placed on large issues
affecting party policies.
March the following Republican !,
senators will give way to Democrats: /
of Indiana, Burkett of Ne !
braska, Carter of Montana. Depew Of I
New York, Kean of New Jersey, Dick /
of Ohio, Hale of Maine, Warner of
Missouri and Scott of West Virginia /
The legislature of West Virginia also 4
will select Democrat to FIJI out the |
term of Mr.. Elkins, Republican
Strange as it may seem the slender
hold which the Republicans will have
on the senate after March 4 will de
pend upon the continued good health
OF certain of their numbers.