Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-08
SENATE.
The Democrats Hope for Another Sen
ator, to Gain Control.

Washington. Nov. T.-Control OF the
Senate in the 63rd Congress Is now
practically secure to the Democrats.
Conceding to the Republicans the Beg
islature of all states still in the uouot-
full column, tonight. the Democrats
will have vote of As or just one-haii
of the entire membership OF the sen
ate with Democratic Vice President
in the chair to cast the deciding pal-
lot in case of a tie. Seven states are
vet 10 be heard from dehniteiy. -
senator from one of these would give
the Democrats clear majority and IL
is possible their strength will be even
further increased by winning in sew
eral.
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 de-
cided are:
Illinois, Michigan. New Hampshire,
Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee ana
Wyoming.
Ordinarilv Tennessee could be relied
uuon TO help the Democratic party, put
the factonal fight there may prevent III
this crisis. In Illinois the complications
ties render II uncertain whether there
will be a senatorial selection. In tnat
state there should be chosen successor
TO the deposed Senator Lorimer as wen
as Senator Cullom. whose term expires
on the 4th of next March. Ii there shouid
be no election the effect would favor the
Democrats by reducing the membership
of the Senate to 81 of which nufhbersthe
AZ already chosen would be working ma
jority.
In New Hampshire the dispatches indi-
cate a possible combination OF Democrats
and Republicans. and in that event pre-
diction as TO the course of the man Sc
lected would be mere guesswork.
Whatever the outcome in any OF tue
states mentioned. there can be no doubt
as to Democratic control of the Senate
In addition to the aid of the Vice Pres
ident in an emergency they will iind Will
ing cooperation among the Progressive
senators. Three or four of the IroSres-
siyes are almost as liberal IN their tarl'l
views an on other questions as the Dem
ocrats themselves.
senators Clapp. LaFollette, Cummins.
Gronna, Bristow and Poindexter are All
avowed tariff reformers. They also IA
yor advanced legislation on other SUD-
jects Senator Works announced his IN
tention of voting for the Democratic
Presidential, candidate some time before
the election This determination was que
however. to a peculiar combination OF
circumstances and the California senator
nrobabiy would not wish to have 1t con-
strued as binding him to Democratic
legislative policy He is classed as
protectionist.
OF the 81 hoid-over Republicans. eight
have been classed as Progressiyes in the
past, s. They are Senators Bristow OF
Kansas, Crawford of South Dakota, Cum
min" of iowa, Gronna OF North Dakota
Ciapp of Minnesota. LaFollette of Wis
consin, Poindexter of Washington and
Works of California.
Mr.. Norris has been one of the leaders
of the Progressive element in the House
and will continue to cooperate with that
element in the Senate, and 1t Is expected
that Senator Kenyon of Iowa will, and
possibly Senator Borah of Idaho, in such
measures as may appeal to them. Much
interest is manifested in the political af-
fliation of the Progressives. Heretofore
they have been content to be known as
Progressive Republicans Whether any
number of them will withdraw from the
Republican party is problem. Senators
Bristow, Clapp and Poindexter are under
stood to have supported Mr.. Roosevel''
and If they should decline to cooperate
with the Republicans of the Senate the
change would materially weaken the oil
party.