The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-12-09
NEW ENGLAND SENATORS
Four to Be Elected by Legislatures
Next Month.


Washington, Dec. 9.-Whether the
senatorial elections next month in
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachu.
sets and Rhode Island will change
the makeup of the New England
delegation to the upper branch OF
Congress, which now stands 10 re-
publicans and two democrats, is daily
becoming matter of increasing in
terest and speculation. The republi-
cans maintain that the fall elections
gave them control over all four OF
the states which will elect senators
in 1913 and that Obadiah Gardner
of Maine. democrat, and the three
republican senators who are retiring.
Henry f. Burnham of New Hamp-
shire, w. Murray Crane Fof Massa-
chusetts and George P. Wetmore of
Rhode Island, will all have republi-
can successors. The terms of Sena-
tors w. p. Dillingham; of Vermont,
Jacob II. Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire and Frank B. Brandegee OF
Connecticut do not expire until 1915,
while the other five New England
senators hold over until 1917.
The republican legislative margin
is the largest proportionately in
Rhode Island is slightly less in Massa
chusetts, narrows TO 16 in Maine, and
to only one or two in New Hamp-
shire, with the progressives claim
ing to hold the balance of power in
the last two states. The senatorial
contest in Rhode Island is the least
complex. The Legislature is admit
ted TO be republican by 80 majority
on a Joint ballot, and as yet no can
didate has come forward in opposi-
ton to Judge Lebaron NJ. Colt of the
United States court of appeals.
In Massachusetts, where the repub
licans have clear majority of 40,
and with no progressive movement
in evidence, there is lively con-
test between former Gov. Eben S.
Draper and Congressman Samuel w,
Mccall and John W. Weeks and Will
iam b. Plunkett. Half dozen other
party leaders stand ready to enter
the race in case of a deadlock in the
caucus.
1t was not until recently that the
probable election of former Congress
man Edwin C. Burleigh by the Maine
on the first ballot was
questioned Mr. Burleigh won the
senatorial preference primary last
June, and when the September cleo
ton gave the republicans 16 majori-
ty in the Legislature on joint bal
lot his success seemed assured. Re
Gently, however, the progressiVcs,
who took no part as separate party
in choosing the Legislature, have be-
come interested in the senatorial
contest, and the leaders have re-
quested those republicans having
tendencies to act inde-
The number of these
republicans in the Maine
Legislature is not definitely known,
but it is admitted that they may hold
the balance OF power.
1t is in New Hampshire that the
situation is most puzzling The Leg
stature is nominally republican b.,
4 margin of IL, with four state Sen
ate vacancies to be filled by that
body. At present the Senate stands
10 republicans, pine democrats and
A democrat elected on a republican
ticket The progressives claim that
IL Of the republican members and II
neutrality-suspicious. of the Leg
stature attended a meeting at Man
chester last week and pledged them /
selves to act independently on the /
The avowed republi- !
AN candidates are former Gov. |
Henry b. Quinby and r. W. Pillsbury
he democrat candidates, Henry +. I
Hollis and Clarence 4. Carr. Gov. /
Robert p Bass is prospective pro
,ressive candidate. All four Legisla. I
ures will vote for senator on Jan
larry IA.