Evening star., 1916-09-27
SENATE THEPR|zEN
WESTERN CAMPAIGN
Democrats and Republicans
Regard Section as the
battle-ground.
SENATOR SMOOT OPTlMIST
IN DIRECTING THE WORK
G. O. P. Speakers Charged With Dual
Duty in Their Canvass-Demo-
Gratis Not Worried.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, September 27-Democrats
and republicans at the two headquar-
seemingly place the battle-ground for
the prize OF the United States Senate
in the middle and the far west. In
democratic circles here the word Sem
ate is heard as frequently as the word
presidency, and it is a case Of me too
with the republicans
Reed Smoot, United States senator
from Utah. has just left Chicago on a
western mission bent. Mr.. Smoot is ex-
sloughs of doubt If not actually of
despond In several of the western
states. Smoot is an optimist and sin
cere one. and the republican managers
think that his cheer will be Of help
to him in his task. The Utah man Is a
member of the senatorial committee
afhliated with the national committee
and charged with the work of leading
the upper house of Congress out of
present bondage to the democratic
Egyptians.
1t is something to read what Mr.
Smoot has had to say to the managers
y
town and 1t is more to hear him say
1t when he is talking to the more or
less neutral minded auditor. The SEN
ator Is supremely satisfied that the east
Is going to do what he regards as its
republican duty by sending five stall
wart party men to replace democratic
incumbents. This gives Mr.. Smoot q
good start on his road of prophesy OF
the redemption Of the senate. Redemp-
tion of course in this campaign year
20 = h0 a a
much used republican word.
Some Republican Claims.
It seems good to the Chicago head
quarters republicans to be able to start
out with Maine when they are talking
and forecasting concerning the politi-
cal complexion of the United States
Senate after March 4 next. Maine hav-
ing ordered the retirement of one dem
ocratic senator and the emplacement
Of a republican In his stead, makes a
high mountain viewpoint for the re-
publicans from which to survey the
rest of the country. Mr.. Smoot and
most, II not all, of the republican COM
mitteemen in Chicago headquarters al
ready have set down as certain gain
of one senator each in New York. New
Jersey. West Virginia and Maryland.
They do not pause even for the fieetfng
fraction of a second in claiming the
Maryland gain. So it is that with
Maine assured and with four other
eastern states affirmed to be ready to
Jump into the treasure box the men,
bers of the republican senatorial COM
mittee are ready to say "All's well
east; let's make all well west"
The Old Testament prophets dealt
largely In figures Of speech. They have
nothing, so far as figures are con-
cerned. on the prophets Of the new re-
publicanism, new because the progress
sives are reported to have come back
and to have been welcomed with their
modern views-and with their votes.
managers and campaigners see to it
that they all fall in the party column.
So far as the doubtful states are con-
cerned the name of not one Of them Is
allowed by the republicans to appear
in the democratic column. Neverthe-
less the old party men, for the most
part-and doubtless Mr. Smoot Is with
them-fear senatorial results in Ne
braska, Nevada. Montana and Wyo-
ming. and. to come back east a ways,
Indiana. There IL q sharper fear also
afhicting the republicans concerning
New Mexico and Arizona. These last
two states will come under the Smoot
missionary ministrations, for south
west and northwest together have been
assigned as parts of his territorial ap-
pendage.
Doubts Over the Senate.
It is not putting 1t bit too strongly to
say that the western senatorial situa-