The Washington herald., 1916-09-18
The Fight for the Senate.

Although the majority of those who put par
tsanship in the background refuse to accept the
Maine results as sign that Mr. Hughes will
enter the White House next March, the Republi-
can leaders have taken new hope in the outcome
in November and already are working on the
theory that Mr. Hughes election practically is
assured The leaders, however are not allowing
the Maine returns to serve as brake on their
efforts to win the Presidency but, on the con-
trary, utilizing Maines decision as spur
in the fight to gain Republican Senate. Astute
politicians believe that if Mr. Hughes is elected
It is practically certain that the Republicans will
win a majority in the House, but they believe
that the Democrats have at least even chance
to retain control of the Senate. Therefore, the
Maine results have served to concentrate their
fight on the Senate Without Republican control
OF the Senate Mr.. Hughes, in the event of cleo
tion, would be very seriously hampered in seek
ing to put into effect the new policies that the
Republicans hope to naugurate. The situation in
the Senate shows that the Republicans face a
hard fight = E
Chairman Wilcox. OF the Republican National
Committee, however, believes that the winning of
the Senate will be rather simple to achieve He
says:
The Senate is now composed of ffty-six Demo-
Gratis and thirty-nine Republicans Counting the
Name results, its composition becomes ffty-hve
November election thirty-two Senators are to be
elected to NIL the places of seventeen Democrats
and fifteen Republicans.
10 gain control of the Senate the Republicans
must elect twenty-three candidates-that is, elect
all Of their fifteen and make an inroad of eight
on the Democrats. The States represented
by the htteen Republicans are New Mexico, Min
nesota, Wyoming, Delaware, Wisconsin, Rhode
Island, Massachusetts,, North Dakota, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania; Vermont, Washington, Utah, Mich
gan and California. In none Of these States is
there any doubt Of the success of the Hughes and
Fairbanks ticket.
AS to the Senatorships only two may be con-
sldered doubtful-Washington and Wyoming
and in these the undoubted strength of the ma
tonal ticket will serve to elect the Republican
Senatorial candidates.
The States represented by Democrats are Ari-
zona, Florida West Virginia, Texas, Nebraska,
Montana New York, Nevada, Ohio, Missouri
Virginia and Mississippi
Out Of these seventeen places the Republicans
must take eight Can they do it? They and
First, let US eliminate the four certain Demo-
cratic States of Florida Texas, Virginia and Mis-
ssSppi. This limits the field to the twelve States
Of Arizona, West Virginia, Nebraska, Indiana (2)
York, Nevada, Ohio and Missouri. or these
Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Nebraska and West
Virginia II the same percentage of Progressives
elect Republican Senators. The combined Re-
publican majority in Ohio in 1912 was $4,000; in
New York, 100000; New Jersey $4,000; Nebraska
I/,OOOp " est virginia, 1900.
If elect these FIVE Senator's which is prac-
ucaly certain, we still have the States Of Arizona
Indiana l2), Tennessee Maryland, Montana, Ne
v9da and Missouri furnishing eight places in
which to get the remaining three required and in
each one OF them there is a good fighting chance
for Republican success. In Arizona the Demo-
cratic vote in 1912 exceeded the combined Repub-
llcan vote by 364; in Indiana, the combined Re-
publican vote exceeded the Wilson vote by $4,000;
IN Tennessee, the Wilson vote exceeded the com
6lned Republican vote by 1900; in Maryland
p vote DID, Al.
son vote by 1868; in Montana, the combined Re-
publican vote exceeded the Wilson vote by I3ooo
in Nevada, the combined Republican vote exceed
ed the Wilson vote by $50; in Missouri, the COM
bined Republican vote exceeded the Wilson vote
by I,4oo.
Thus, in these seven States, furnishing eight
Senatorial places the combined Republican vote
exceeded the Wilson vote in FIVE and the Wilson
vote exceeded the combined Republican in two
Sumnarzed-to elect the required twenty
three Senators the Republicans have fifteen reas-
onably certain Republican Senatorships with which
to start; FIVE Senatorships to get in States rep
resented by Democrats, in each of which there is
a big majority OF combined Republicans and Pro-
gTesSIve votes; and three to get from the eight
places in seven States in FIVE OF which there is
small majority of combined Republicans and
small Wilson majority
The Republicans lost some Senatorships in
1914 through default-notably in Nevada where
Newlands was elected by forty plurality and Wis
consin, where Husting elected by $50 pu-
rality. There will be losses by default this
year.
Mr. Wilcox takes very optimistic view, but
his figures seem convincing. However, .the fight
ahead will require all of the efforts that the CAM
Palgn managers can put forth The people, as
whole, undoubtedly will desire a Republican Sen
ate and House if Mr.. Hughes is elected In the
four years ahead, the President of this nation.
whether Republican or Democrat will need an
undivided Congress and the political and patriotic
duty that now confronts the Republican leaders
is to win the Senate if they intend to win the
election Of their nominee
Nobody fully realized the scandals of the in