The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-17
Thirty y-One Are to Be Elected
Before March 8, 1915. >
THE DEMOCRATS ARE HOPEFUL
They Expect to Hold Control OF
Both Houses.
The Kansas Situation of Much
Interest in Washington.

tue new direct elcCJOAS
in force, this year will witness remark
able senatorial struggles in many
states. The congressional campaign
in fact. promises to be memora Die
chiefly for the senatorial contests
which are certain to prove or 1ar
greater interest than the contest over
control of the house.
That the Democratic party will re-
tain control of the house. in the pres
ent divided state Of its oppositlon.
il not at all likely the Democrats Will
lose control of the senate. But tne
situation is sufficiently close to be
worth watching, and the most intense
personal interest will attacn 10 soHle
of the senatorial battles for the reason
that they concern men OF natlOnai
fame. whose defeat or victory Will be
events.
Already the lines in the different
states are being shaped. In most IN
stances especially in states whlcn are
not surely Democratic, there Will be
triangular contests, Republicans. Pro-
Rressives and Democrats having can
didates.
Considering Blair Lee as seated
from Maryland and recognizing tnat
Alabama is certain TO I'LL oena.o
Johnston's place with Democrat
even though Representative Glass may
not be seated, the Democrats now
have four more than q majority IN tne
upper house of congress. the senate
now has a full membership OF 30 anu
the terms of one-third expire March
3. 1915.
In Louisiana, Congressman 6rous-
sard has been elected to succeed Sena-
tor Thornton. This leaves 81 senators
to be elected for long terms between
now and March 3. 1915.
ID
March 3, 1915. are Senators Bradley
of Kentucky, Brady of Idaho. Brand
egee of Connecticut. BristoW or ran
sas, Burton Of Ohio, Crawford OF
South Dakota, Cummins of Iowa, Dli-
bingham Of Vermont, Gallinger OF New
Hampshfre. Gronna of North Dakota,
Jones of Washington, Penrose OF
Pennsylvania, Perkins Of California
Root Of New York, Sherman OF flin-
nois, Smoot of Utah, and stephenson
of wisconsin, a total of II: In nearly
every one of these states there VIII De
sharp senatorial fights.
The Kansas situation.
In Kentucky there is little question
that the Democrats will elect a sena-
tor. Senator Brady, in Idaho: has a
hard contest on his hands. He -
former Kansan, and brother OF state
Senator ]. Leford Brady of Lawrence.
Republican congressional leaders pre-
dict that senator Brandegee will come
back. The Kansas situation is urcer
tain. All the signs point TO ono OF
the most picturesque senatorial bat
ties ever held in the Sunflower state,
and it has had many of them
With a triangular contest among
Rristow as a Republican. Charles Cur
tbs representing the old guard OF Re-
publicanism, and Vic. Murdock as the
Progressive candidate, politicians OF all
faiths in Washington feel certain tnat
the Democrats will elect the next ran
sas senator If Murdoch had remained
out of the race there has been consfo-
erable certainty here that Curtis could
easily beat BristOw. But as political
conditions obtain the same now De-
tween the Republicans and Progress
Thompson was elected, Democratic sue
cess seems at a distance. certain. All
eyes of the political world are turned on
Kansas and the result will be watched
with great interest The Washington
Star editorially makes this comment on
the Kansas senatorial fight:
A Washington View.
You can always get a rise out of
Kansas. No matter the issue, she al
ways wants, and will have. her say.
Organized in cOmmOtiOn, she has been
in commotion ever since and is now in
commoticn. Long live Kansas!
Mr.. Bristow and Mr.. Murdock are
Payne tariff revision became an issue,
both were straightout Republicans
for sound money. protection and all the
rest of it.
But the Payne revision unsettled
their Republicanism. Both fought that
measure in the making and denounced
1T after completion. Mr.. Bristow in the
senate and Mr.. Murdoch in the house
saw In their party's program a surren-
der to the interests But their pro-
tests were unavailing.
Last year both were anti-Taft be-
fore the Chicago convention. After Mr.
Taft had been renominated. Mr.. Bris-
tow simply lost interest in the cam
paign. while Mr.. Murdock followed Mr.
Roosevelt out of the Republican party
and became full-antlered Bull Mooser
He supported Mr. Roosevelt for presi-
dent.
To-day Mr. Bristow is an active Re-
publican again. and wishes that party
success In its efforts to return to power.
He wants to succeed himself in the SEN
ate as a Republican. He asks support
Un the proposition that the party has