The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-13
CONTROL OF SENATE.
DEMOCRATS HAVE HALF OF
MEMBERSHIP ASSURED.
Several States stin Doubtful and
They May Give Democrats q Safo
Majority Without the Progressive 70
Members Who lave Heretofore
Voted With Democrats.

the senate In the Sixty-third con-
gress now Is practically assured to
the Democrats. Concedipg to the Re-
publicans the legislatures Of all States
still In the doubtful column tonight.
the Democrats will have a vote Of IS,
or one-half OF the entire membership
OF the senate. with a Democratic vice
president In the chair to cast the de-
Gliding ballot In case OF a tie. Seven
States are still to he heard from def
niteiy. A senator from any one Of
these would give Democratic ma
jority.
Kansas has been added to the Dem
ocratic column In the past "a hours.
The States In which the complexion
Of the legislatures Is yet to be decided
are:
Illinois. Michigan. New Hampshire,
Oregon. South Dakota, Tennessee and
J Wyoming. Ordinarily Tennessee could
be relied upon to help the Democratic
party. but the factional fight there
may prevent this result.
In Illinois there are complications
growing out Of the multiplicity OF
parties. rendering Il uncertain
whether there will be a senatorial
election. In that State there should
DO chosen successor to the deposed
Senator Lorimer as well as to Senator
'Cuilom. whose term expires March 4.
next. IL there should be no election
the effect would be to favor the Dem
.ocrats by reducing the membership of
the senate to -. Of which the 4s al
ready chosen would be working ma
.jority.
In New Hampshire the dispatches
indicate possible deadlock Of Dem
ocrats and Republicans and In that
event predictions as to the course Of
the man selected would be mere
guesswork.
In addition to the aid Of the vice
president. they will find willing COOP
-eration among tho Progressive sena-
tors. Three or four Of the Progress
} ssives are almost an liberal In their
tarin views and on other questions as
the Democrats themselves. Senators
Ciapp. La Toilette. Cumins. Gronna,
Bristow and Poindexter are all avow-
ed tariff reformers. They also favor
advanced legislation on other sub
.jects. Senator Works announced his
intention OF voting for the Demo-
cratic presidential candidate some
time before the election. He Is class
ed m q protectionist.
OF the 81 hold-over Republicans.
eight have been classed as progress
sives In the past. They are Senators
Bristow Of Kansas. Crawford OF South
Dakota. cumins of Iowa. Gronna Of
North Dakota. Clapp Of Minnesota,
La Toilette of Wisconsin. Poindexter
of Washington and Works Of Cali
fornia.
Mr.. Norris has been one OF the lead
srs OF the progressive element in the
house and will continue to cooperate
with that clement In the senate. as
VIII Senator Kenyon OF Iowa. II il ex-
pected. and possibly Senator Borah
OF Idaho. In such measures as may
appeal TO them.
Much interest Is manifested In the
political Affiliations Of the Progress
sives. They have been content to be
known as Progressive Republicans.
Senators Bristow. Ciapp and Poin-
dexter are understood to have sup
ported Roosevelt and II they should
decline to cooperate with the Repub-
hcans OF the senate the change would
materially weakep tho ola part,.