The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-07-12
CONTROL OF SENATE
IS IN GRAVE DOUBT
REPUBLICANS, WITH MAJORITY
OF TWO, FACE DANGER OF
LOSING TO BOURBONS

| The Boise Statesman's Washington
correspondent sees grave danger of
the republicans losing control of the
United States senate and sounds the
alarm over the prospect of losing the
party majority in the upper house of
congress, which would leave the ad-
ministration, if Harding is elected,
in the same position Wilson is now,
with an unfriendly senate to block
the administrations program. The
Statesman article, in part, follows:
WASHINGTON-The election next
November is going to be almost as
important in its bearing on the senate
as it will be on the presidency, and
will determine whether the new ad-
ministration is to have the support of
the senate or whether it will come in
handicapped by a senate of the oppo-
site party. 1t is by no means certain
that the senate will be controlled by
the same party which elects the next
president.
In the present senate the republi-
cans have a majority of two, or one if
Senator Newberry of Michigan is not
included. Thirty-two senators are to
be elected next November, and of
Nthose whose terms expire Is are re-
publicans. Of the II democrats whose
terms expire eight come from the
surely democratic states of the solid
south, leaving only nine senate seats
now held by democrats for which the
republicans can make any real con-
test.
Viewed from the other standpoint,
there are at least six republicans who
are not sure of reelection, any one of
whom may be succeeded by demo-
crat.
Complexion Uncertain.
At this early stage OF the senator
ial campaign it is not possible to
determine what will be the complex
ion of the next senate.
Among the republicans seeking re-
election, Brandegee Of Connecticut,
Cummins of Iowa, Curtis of Kansas,
Dillingham; of Vermont, Jones OF
Washington, Moses of New Hamp-
shire and Penrose of Pennsylvania
are reasonably sure of reelection
Senator Gronna of North Dakota can
probably be counted as sure of re-
turn. In Ohio a successor must be
chosen to Senator Harding.
(Since the above was written by
the Washington correspondent OF
The Statesman, Senator Gronna, OF
North Dakota, has been defeated,
which makes the position of the re-
publicans even more precarious.)
Lenro0t May Be Defeated.
Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin is
being opposed for denomination by
La Toilette man, Thompson, but
Thompson, unlike La Toilette, has
shown himself to be fair and square
fighter, and if beaten by Lenroot in
the primaries, is expected to lend his
support to the ticket. This will not
necessarily insure Lenroot's election,
although the chances would favor his
return if the La Toilette element does
not fight him.
Senator Sherman of Illinois is not
a candidate for reelection. The prim-
aries in that state will be held in
August and it is almost safe bet
that republican will succeed Sher-
man in the senate. Who that repub-
Iican will be is yet to be determined.
Reed Smoot in Danger.
No republican senator is in greater
danger this year than Reed Smoot of
Utah. Shoots state, like Ohio, has
lately cut away from its old republi-
can mOOTlnRS anu OCIldCOI OIlOOI lS
facing the hardest fight he has had to
make since he was first sent to the |
senate. The administration and or
ganized labor have combined to de- !
seat Smoot, and the senator has gone
1ome fully aware Of what he is up !
against. He is hopeful of pulling
through, but his campaign has not
developed to give a line
IN his real prospects.
Senator Spencer of Missouri, one
If the few republicans who has re-
that state in the senate,
vas elected in 1918, to fill out the un-
expired term of Senator Stone. His
election occasioned some surprise, al
;hough. Missouri had turned up in the
republican column in the Roosevelt
and once since then. The
freak between the administration and
Senator Reed may have tendency to
pitt the democracy again, and in