The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-09
Political Situation.

depends the question whether the present tarif
law can be repealed. The expectation Is that
Republican President and Republican House will
Plished. however. unless the Senate is politically
/ m sympathy with tho administration. 1t becomes
. a matter OF importance. therefore, to secure
| Republican Senate and it is by means certain
that this be done. Realizing that il the polit-
ical complexion OF the Senate is not changed the
/ tariff law must remain operative the Republican
leaders determined 10 vigorously contest the
Senatorial elections in every State where there is
possibility OF making Republican gains
An analysis of the situation reveals an interest
ing fact There is possibility that the next Sen
ate may be evenly divided, in which case the vote
OF the Vice President would be required to pass
tariff law.
The Senatorial seats gained by the Democrats
in the election last fall will give that party a ma
jority of sixteen when the Senate assemblies next
December. There are however, eight States now
represented by Democrats where tho Republicans
have a chance 10 win next year. Should all of
these Republican candidates be elected the Senate
would stand forty-eight Democrats and forty-eght
Republicans. 1t would not be the first time that
the Senate has been tic. More than thirty years
ago, in 1881, the Senate was equally divided and
David Davis, of Illinois, elected President
pro tenn and acting vice president. The deadlock
was full OF exciting incidents which certain to
be repeated should similar situation again arise
In the next election the seats of thirty-two Sem
ators will be at stakc-eightcen Democrats, thir-
teen Republicans, and Progressive. The lat
ter Miles Poindexter, of Washington. has already
announced his return to the Republican party and
must, therefore, be counted among the Re-
rhblcans Ten OF the eighteen States swill, unless
there is complete political upheaval return Dem
ocrats These States are Arizona, Florida Texas,
Tennessee Maryland, Montana Nevada, Missouri.
Virginia and Mississippi. The recent mayoraty
election in Maryland indicates that the Democrats
will retain control of that State and of the others
only Arizona Tennessee, and Missouri afford the
slightest hope of Republican SUGGESTIVE hope by
the way, being exceedingly diaphanous. The South
ern States are certain to remain Democratic
But there are eight States wherein the outcome
of the fight is by no means settled These States
arc West Virginia Nebraska, Maine, Indiana, New
Jersey New York, Washington and Ohio. Nearly |
all OF them arc normally Republican, the recent
Democratic victories being due entirely to a di- |
vision in the Republican party In the election
last fall Ohio swung back into the Republican line,
eecting Republican governor and United States
Senator and the outlook is that Senator Pomerene,
the present Democratic Senator will be defeated.
New York also elected Republican Senator thus |
jeopardizing Senator O'Gormans chances of re-
election. The Republicans also made a clean !
sweep in Washington. result which drove Sena-
tor Poindexter back into the party, while Maine |
may reasonably be counted in the Republican
column West Virginia and New Jersey have in
several byelections given indications OF a Repub-
lcan majority next year. This leaves Nebraska
and Indiana doubtful quantities. In Nebraska
the bitterness of the fight between the Bryan and
anti Bryan factions may result to the disadvantage
Of the Democrats. although it must be admitted
that in the last election the political complexion
Of the Congressional delegation remained un
changed There is nothing the surface to indi-
cate that Nebraska is ready to return to the Re-
publican column. Indiana remains doubtful
State, it always has been, with conditions GER
ain to be extremely complicated if former Senator
Beveridee injects himself into the race.
This outlook shows that the control of the next
Senate hangs upon thread. This fact is
Interesting because. as already intimated, upon the
outcome OF the Senatorial elections next year de-
,cnds the possibility of any change in the laws
which the Democratic party has enacted and which,
II the opinion of a large number. have not con-
rihutcd to the prosperity OF the country In other
words. Republican victory in 1910 will avail but
little unless il is in tho OF a clean sweep.
The Democrats may 60 out OF power, so far as the
White House and the lower branch OF Congress
re concerned but if they still hold the Senate the
icDuhlicanS do nothing but mark time. The
arlff law will remain unaltcrcd. AT least two q
cars would have TO cap>c before any change ,
ould be made and then il could not be &C ,
unless the Republicans gained COM