The Washington times., 1912-03-28
DEMOCRATS HOPE
TO GAIN CONTROL
OF UPPER HOUSE
margin of Only Five Votes
I, Exists Between Parties
in the Senate.

The Democratic gains of last fall,
coupled with the factlonal troubles
within the Republican ranks, has given
rise to q feeling of expectation among
the Democratic leaders that they will
not only increase their majority in the
House, but viii gain control of the SEN
ate, as a result of the elections to be
held next November.
A margin Of only five votes now ex-
lists between the two parties In the
Senate. The appearance of four new
Senators, two from New Mexico and
two from Arizona, does not help either
party, for New Mexico is sending up
two Republicans and Arizona two DEM
ocrats. With the arrival of these four
Senators the upper branch will stand
as follows: Republicans, 81; Democrats
~; vacancies, !. The vacancy Is In the
State of Colorado, where Senator
Charles ]. Hughes died, thus costing
the Democracy one of it's ablest MEM
bers, and the legislature, although
Democratic, could not get together on a
man before it's adjournment.
On March next, thirty Senators will
retire to private life II they have not
meanwhile been reelected by the leg
islatures of their several states. The
outgoing list numbers seventeen Re-
publcans and thirteen Democrats
Among them are some of the most in
fiuential members of the upper house,
on the Democratic side as well as on
the Republican side.
Republicans Who Retire.
The seventeen Republicans are
Messrs Cullom of Illinois. Nelson of
Minnesota, Richardson of Delaware,
'wetmore of Rhode Island, Warren of
Wyoming, Smith of Michigan, Kenyon
of Iowa, Guggenheim of Colorado.
Gamble of South Dakota, Dixon of
Montana, Curtis of Kansas, Crane OF
Massachusetts, Burnham of New
Hampshire, Brown of Nebraska. Briggs
of New Jersey, Bourne of Oregon, and
Borah of Idaho.
The Democratic Senators whose terms
will expire next March are Davis of
Arkansas, Bacon of Georgia: Paynter
of Kentucky, Foster of Louisiana,
Gardner of Maine, Percy OF Mississippi.
Simmons of North Carolina, Owens Of
oklahoma, Tillman of South Carolina,
Taylor of Tennessee, Bailey of Texas,
Martin of Virginia, and Watson Of
West Virginia.
OF the thirteen Democrats, several
are already assured of reelection and
OF the remainder the majority are GER
tain to be succeeded by Democrats.
Maine and West Virginia are the only
two States in which there appears to
be a possibility of the present Demo
cratic Senators being succeeded by Re
publicans. The Republicans in Maine
believe that the Democrats. despite
their victory of last year. will not be
able to elect the Legislature this fall.
Failure to control the Legislature will
mean the retirement of Senator Gard
ner. who was appointed by the Demo
cratic governor of the Pine Tree State
TO f1ll out The term of the late Senator
Frye. In West Virginia, which is nor
mally a Republican State. the leaders
of that party are hopeful that they
will be able to unseat Senator Watson,
who is filing the vacancy caused by the
death of Senator Elkins, and who must
come up for reelection next winter.
Count on Colorado.
The possible gains on the Democratic
side OF the Senate are believed to be
considerably in excess of their possible
losses. First of all, they are confident
ly counting on a Democratic Senator
to succeed Guggenheim of Colorado,
who will not be a candidate for re-
ELECTION. The last Colorado Legislature
was Democratic, and the Democrats
believe the next one will be of the same
Icomplexion. Another Democratic gain
is expected to be contributed by the
Ineighboring State of Wyoming. as a re-
suit of the serious split between the In
Isurgent and standpat Republicans. II
the Democrats succeed in Wyoming. il
would mean the supplanting of Senator
Warren.
Several other Democratic gains are
in prospect The Democrats hope Ia
defeat Richardson of Delaware and
Briggs of New Jersey among others.