The Washington times., 1914-10-26
VOTE ON SENATOR|N
15STATES DOUBTFUL
Members of Upper House of
Congress to Be Elected for
First Time Next Week.
By JOHN sNURE.

One new feature will characterize the
elections which are to be held through
out the country November 3. This new
feature is the popular election of Sen
etors of the United States. Because Of
| II. something more than the usual meas
ure of interest will attach to the out
come of the campaign.
1t will be the first general trial Of
the new method of electing Senator's
Were It not that the war in Europe Is
absorbing an extraordinary measure of
attention, the Senatorial contests would
excite much more comment than they
do.
The Democrats will retain their hold
on the Senate. This is accepted .as a
foregone conclusion. Therefore, interest
in the Senatorial elections centers
rather on individuals than on the mat
ter of control of the upper house. How
the new method Of electing Senators
will work with respect to its effects on
great political machines is phase
which students of politics will watch
carefully.
Thirty-one States Elect.
Senators are to be elected this fall in
thirty-one States. Under the Constitu-
ton. a third of the Senate is elected
every two years. Hitherto, struggles
over Senatorial elections have centered
about the Legislatures and the State
capitals. That sort of thing has now
become matter of history. The old
days Of buying Senatorial elections at
the hands of legislatures have gone by.
While there may be differences of
opinion whether the new mode of elect
TN ic my ant ha
old, nobody can with any show of rea-
son argue that it can produce worse
results than the old method did in some
instances
in thirty-one States, in sixteen of these
States the outcome is considered in
little or no doubt. In fifteen States
there are uncertain contests. These are
in California, Colorado. Connecticut.
Illinois. Indiana, Kansas. New Hamp-
SHIRE Nevada, New York. Ohio. Penn
sylvania, South Dakota. Vermont. Wis
consin. and Washington. The Demo-
Gratis now have tifty-three out OF
ninety-six members of the Senate. or
five more than half. 1t is out of the
question as a practical political propo-
sltion to wipe out their majority.
The California contest has received
comparative little attention. The con-
testants are former Mayor James D.
Fhelan. of San Francisco, who has the
Democratic nomination: Francis J.
Heney. Progressive party nominee; and
Congressman Joseph r. knowland Re-
publican nominee. 1t is hard and
doubtful battle.
Hard Fight In Colorado.
Senator Thomas has the fight of his
life on his hands in Colorado. In Con-
necticut. there Is an interesting cam
paign, in which Senator Brandegee
Republican. is seeking reelection. and
in which he is opposed by Gov. Simeon
E. Baldwin, Democrat, and former
Commissioner of Corporations Herbert
Knox Smith, Bull Moose.
In Illinois the question is whether the
Democratic boss, Roger c. Sullivan. is
going to walk into the Senate. He is
OppOsed by Senator Sherman. Repub-
lican. and Raymond Robbins. Bull
Moose.
In Indiana Senator Shively is seeking
return on the Democratic ticket. He is
opposed by former Senator Beverdee
on the Bull Moose ticket and by Hugh
T Miller on the Republican ticket
The Kansas contest attracts notice
because Victor Murdock is seeking cleo
ton on the Bull Moose ticket and is
making a hard fight. Former Senator
Curtis has been nominated on the Re-
pU Ublcan ticket and Congressman George
A Neeley on the Democratic ticket
Senator Newlands is hard pressed in
Nevada by Samuel Platt. Republican.
former district attOrnew.
In New Hampshire Senator Gallinser
is making the hardest fight of his long
career against Congressman Stevens.