Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-10
Campaign to Be Bitter.

Washington correspondents write
that the Democrats hope TO secure a
majority in the L. S. Senate. The
present Republican margin is only
five. and seventeen terms expire next
wear. Some of these seats the Demo-
Gratis hope to fill. On the other hand
Republicans confidently expect 10 re-
cover some seats lost last year, nota-
bly, in Maine and West Virginia. Fol-
lowing are the II Republican senator's
whose terms expire March 4, 1918:
William E. Berah of idaho, Jonathan
Bourne. Jr.. of Oregon, Frank @,
Briggs of New Jersey, Norris Brown of
Nebraska. Henry f. Burnham of New
Hampshire, w hurry Crane of Mas
sachusetts, Shelby NJ. Cullom of Iiii-
nois, Charles Curtis of Kansas, Joseph
NJ. Dixon of Montana, Robert J. Gam
BILE of South Dakota. Simon Guggen-
helm of Colorado, William S. Kenyon
of Iowa. Knute Nelson of Minnesota.
Harry a. Richardson of Delaware.
William Alden Smith of Michigan.
Francis E. Warren of Wyoming and
George Peabody Wetmore of Rhode
Island
The Washington correspondent of
the Boston Transcript SAYS, in regard
10 Maine
1.-The politicians do not expect Maine
10 send back a Democratic senator.
Obadiah Gardner, who was appointed
by Governor Plaisted to fill out the
unevnired term of the late Senator
William p. Frye, will come up for re-
election next January. The Republic
cans in the Pine Tree State feel rather
confident that the Democrats have
done their worst there and cannot
como back TO the extent of controlling
the next Legislature. West Virginia
is now served by two Democratic SEN
aters, one Of whom, Clarence w. Wat
son. is filing the vacancy caused by
the death of Stephen r. Elkins. Sem
afor Watson must stand for reelection
next year, and as West Virginia is
normally a Republican state it is
doubted whether he can be returned
All the other Democrats up for reelec-
ton next year appear to be reasonably
certain to win. hence the issue OF par
u control of the Senate may be said to
turn in large measure on results in
Maine and West Virginia or both.
> indicating how narrow Re-
publican chances are and how much
that party must win back if it is to
retain lis control. Standpat control
of the next Senate would appear to be
impossible, for the list of Progress
sives already is so large that the old
time element now led by Penrose has
not ghost of a show of getting into
the saddle again. Many of the reg
Mar Republicans do not hesitate to
say privately that if the Democrats
are to have the next President and the
House they should have the Senate
also--this on the theory that the more
the country sees of unadulterated
Democratic legislation the less ii will
like it and the shorter will be the rule
of the Democrats
auctions, instead of an apathetic cam
paign asshas been predicted, that of
1912 is likely to be the most bitter and
hardest fought since 1884 The Demo-
Gratis believe they will elect the next
President and the Republicans have
been prepared to concede the claim,
although they have recovered some of
their courage within the last month.
The Democrats have majority of
sixty mine in the present House of
Representatives. Their party leaders
confidently believe that the next
House will be Democratic but rather
expect TO see the majority slightly re-
duced. A Democratic landslide next
fall probably would make the Senate
Democratic.