The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-27
It Is Expected to Put Indi-
ana in the Republican
Column in November.
THE SENATE IS CLOSE
Impartial Observers Expect
1t to Go Over to the Re
publicans This Year.

pVluLu1S4L ny 1VfeA AS4 4NeeA " -
Taggert to succeed the late BENJAMIN
shiyely. as Senator from indiana, in
sures the election Of two Republican
Senators from Indiana to the next Con-
gress, according 10 the view OF those
best posted on conditions in the Hoos-
Ter State. Tom Taggert is probably
the most project living specimen OF
that type OF political boss which was
the product OF the fortunately outworn
and discredited style OF machine poll
tics Like most men who achieved
"boss-ship' in the old style politics, he
is a man of considerable personal
charm and magetism, but his
stauuchest friend cannot truthfully
deny that he is reactionary OF first
water. That his appointment to the
Senate will prove repugnant to the
Indiana voters, including many Demo-
Gratis, is asserted with the utmost con-
Gdence. 1t could not be otherwise I'M
less it were true that the leaven or
progress had made no impression
whatever on the voters of the Hoosier
State, That 1t had made no impress
sion whatever on the Democratic ma
chine IL: Indiana is well recognized
by those on the inside, but nothing
could more effectively have brought
that fact home to the voters, not OF
Indiana alone but Of the country, than
the naming of Tom Taggert as Sen
tor. The announcement of Mr.. Taggert's
appointment cast gloom over the
White House, for some of the ablest
Democratic politicians were compell-
ed to admit to the President that 1t
was practically certain to put Indiana
in the Republican column at tho No
yember election
Senate Prospects
That the next Senator will be Re-
publican is the firm conviction OF the
political prognosticators. "A change OF
eight members would evenly divide
the Senate and leave the deciding vote
on important questions to the Vice
President. A change OF nine would
give the Republicans majority or
two. The estimate of the Republicans
and-what is more important-of we'll
Informed and impartial newspaper cor
respondents is as fo1lows: That the
Republicans will gain one Senator in
each of these States: Main, New York.
New Jersey, West Virginia. Ohio, Mon
tana, Nevada and Nebraska, and two
in Indiana, making ten in all. They
class Maryland and Arizona as doubt
full. but think the strong probabilities
are that the latter will return a Re-
publican to succeed Ashurst Some OF
the correspondents claim that the Re-
publicans will lose Senator in North
Dakota, although that prediction Is
stoutIy denied by the North Dokota
Republicans. Taking the newspaper
mems estimate, therefore, the Repub-
leans will gain at least ten, probably
eleven, and stand fair chance to gain
twelve, but will lose one, SO that they
will control the Senate by majority
Of from two to six
Mr.. Htles' Appeal
The appeal OF Chas. D. Hilles, chair
man Of the Republican National COM
mittee, for Uniform presidential
primary law in all the States struck
strong responsive chord in Washing
/ ton. While it is the Republican par
ty which has taken the initiative in this
matter and it will receive deserved
credit therefore. this is not by any
means a partisan matter. Democrats
as we'll as Republicans are sadly per-
picked by some OF the complicated
primary laws enacted by the State
legislatures, and all appreciate that
the tendency OF the results in State
which holds its primary early to IN
fluence States which vote later must
be productive of an atmospheric in
fluence in the latter which is actually
inimical to that free and untrammelled
expression OF opinion which the en-
tire scheme of Presid entail primaries
Is designed to promote. 1t is regarded
as almost as vitality important that all
States which provide for Presidential
primaries should set the same day for
voting as it Is that all States should
hold the Presidential election itself
on the same day; while fairness, sim
plicity and freedom from litigation de.
mand uniform law in all the States.
Friends Of President Wilson are try
ing to extract a large measure OF COM
fort from William Bryan's declara-
ton that he Is for Mr.. Wilson's nomi-
nation and they doubtless could do SO
but for the haunting recollection Of
Speaker Champ Clark's oft.repeated
prediction regarding the 1915 Conyen-
ton, "If there Is a prospect OF Demo-
cratic victory in 1916" Mr.. CLARK has
said, "Voodrowj Wilson will deserve
tho nomination and no one can take 1T
from him. But II. there Is a prospect
Of Democratic defeat Woodrow Wilson
must take the nomination because no
one will take it from him" AS the
Democratic National Convention APP
proaches there is an ominous harmony
regarding the denomination of Mr.. Will
son. There have been many mutter-
ings and some evidences that Mr. VIII
son might be opposed by both Bryan
and Clark, but all that lis passed and
instead both Of these statesmen APP
pear TO be SO willing that Mr. Wilson
shaould be lrenomlnate that some of
his closest friends Sand well. wishers
are wondering II tits not q case! Of mo
neSw1ll take 1T from hint Mr.. Glark'sj
sage prediction, there fore, constitutes
as iarge:sized fly In the Wilson otnt-
ment.! II fjiS
51nyestig ion byg 8 Demo cratic cons