Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-04

Indeed, the whole business of
quadrennial election. from its begin
ming to its ending, is now about
closed out. The senatorial elections,
that are an important incident of every
general campaign, are at their very
flag end. Three or four wrangling leg
islatures have failed to elect, but 9th
erwise the new class of 80 odd sena-
tors Tone third of the wholel who
take their seats, March 4, have been
designated by the legislatures and
their certificates of election, signed by
governors and secretaries of state,
have been presented in the Senate and
filed away with its secretary. The fact
is noted in the Congressional Record
official organ of Congress, and all
that remains to he done is for the
senator-elect to make his appearance
as soon as the Senate assemblies, after
March 4, be escorted up the center
aisle by his colleague, take the oath of
office and enter upon his duties.
New Hampshire, Illinois and West
Virginia are now the only states pro
longing the agony" 1t begins to look
as though New Hampshire and West
Virginia would have permanent dead
locks. because the Progressives in both
legislatures have the balance of pow
er. But permanent deadlocks in those
two states will help the Democrats at
Washington a little, because the seats
OF two senators, who would normally
be Republican and have been reckoned
as Republican in most calculations,
will Re vacant
This is probably the last senatorial
election by legislatures, for indications
are that before another two years the
Constitutional amendment will have
been ratified, requiring senator's to be
elected by popular vote. II So a pic
tnresque feature of American politica
will have neen eliminated and state
legislatures will have lost one of their
notable functions.
The news of ex-Gov. Burleigh's elec-
tim to the United States Senate from
Maine was received with a great deal
OF interest here. The Republicans, of
course, rejoiced that a man of their
own party was coming and that this
seat in the Senate from Maine was
not to be held by a Democrat. Two
years from now there will be a deter
mined fight to wrest the control of
the Senate from the Democrats and
the narrower the margin by which
they hold it in the meantime, the cas-
Ter the campaign will be in 1914.
But there was satisfaction at the
Capitol among Republicans as Well as
Democrats that exGov. Burleigh was
to be senator. He has a great many
friends among men of both parties in
the House and in the Senate. There is
a fraternal feeling among the older
men IN the public service here with
ont regard to politics and satisfaction
when a well-liked man earns pro-
motion. Then there was a feeling that
the promotion was all the more graft
flying because, after being defeated
for reelection to the House in 1910,
Gov. Burleigh had kept his colors fly
ing and went through the primary
fight for senator and won, after APP
pealing to the voters of his State.
Because of his long legislative ex-
perience in the House, Senator Bur
leigh will be given good places in the
Republican organization of the Senate.
II the Republicans were in the ma
jcrity there he would be given a chair
mansfip, but as Republicans will be
minority senators, that will not be
possible. With the retirement of sew
eraI older senators, March 4, the ad
vent OF a few Republicans, whose
abilities are known. will be especially
welcome. New England's prestige in
the Senate will be weakened by the
coming of the Democrats into power
in that body and also by the retire
ment of such men as Senator Crane OF
Massachusetts, But New England will
gain considerably in Gov. Burleigh' S
election. He will be strong in cooper
aticn with the Republican senators
from that section.
St Louis provides a restroom in it's