Evening star., 1918-02-17
CHAIRMAN COMING
TO MEET LEADERS
Will H. Hays of Republican
National Committee Will Talk
of 1918 Elections.
SENATE CONTROL IN VIEW

Will H. Hays, the newly elected
chairman of the republican national
committee, will be in Washington
Wednesday. and his presence here is
to be made the occasion of confer
ence of republican leaders which prom
ises to be notable for an of year
Progressives and old-liners from many
sections will participate, as well as
the large contingent of leaders found
in the Congress delegations.
Nothing like a formal meeting is
contemplated, but there will be in
formal talks, which are expected to be
important in developing harmony and
bringing out suggestions of value for
the coming campaign. 1t is possible
that a dinner may be arranged-a war
dinner in menu-but at which the
pipe of peace will circulate freely.
The congressional campaign committee.
also recently reorganized. is expected
to take part in the political festivities.
One Object Of His Visit.
One object of Mr.. Hays visit is said
to be to consult republicans of ma
tional Importance regarding the make
up of the executive campaign COM
mittee. There will be considerable
pressure upon the chairman from pro-
this committee. and upon the decision
will depend harmony for the future
Mr.. Hays will also consult with the
special committee of republican SEN
ators. appointed by republican eau
Gus of the Senate in 1916 to oversee
senatorial campaigns. The actual work
of the national committee during this
year will bear more particularly it is
said. upon the Senate and House elections
Senate Elections Rated Important.
Vast importance is attached by
republican leaders to the senatorial
elections next fall. In this election
thirty-five senators are to be chosen
from thirty-four states. This leaves
sixty-one "holdovers." of which thirty
two are democrats and twenty-nine re
publicans. Counting the holdovers
and the reasonably sure seats. the demo-
Gratis claim forty-three leaving the repub-
licans thirty-four. with nineteen seats
c1assed by the democrats as doubtful
though each party sets up conflicting
claims to some of them. Figuring
these nineteen seats as possibly doubt
full. in order to control the Senate, the
republicans. it is said. would have to
carry fifteen of the nineteen and the
democrats need to carry but six.
The so-called nineteen doubtful seats
are listed as being in Colorado. Della
ware. Idaho ttwo), Illinois, Kansas
Kentucky, Montana. Nebraska. Nevada
New Hampshire. New Jersey, New Mex
leo. Oregon, Rhode Island, South Da-
kota. West Virginia, Wisconsin and
Wyoming.
Democrats List "Sure, States.
Democratic leaders set aside in their
sure column senators from Kentucky
Colorado, Montana and Nevada. They
claim they have reasonable prospects
of victory in Delaware, of one in Idaho
in Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyo-
ming. More than they. they claim some
thing better than fighting chances in
Illinois. Kansas, New Hampshire, New
Jersey. Oregon. Rhode Island, South
Dakota West Virginia and Wisconsin,
Republicans. Of course. scout the idea
Of New jersey. Illinois. New Hamp-
shire, Kansas and some others being
likely ground for democratic victories
The fact remains. however, that the
democrats are going after the seats in
those states with grim determination
to pick off one or two of them, if they
cannot get more
This falls elections may determine
the political complexion of the Senate
until 1929. since many of the senatorial
terms expiring in 1920 are in sure
democratic states. The democrats think
il they can get seven of the doubtful
seats this fall they will be able to hold
the Senate until 1922.