The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-26
COP. SS0LONS
FACING FIGHT
If It Were Normal Year In
stead Presidential, DEM
Gratis Task Easier.
(By MARK SULLIVAN, National PoIlt
lcal Correspondenet)

tby MARK SULLIVAN, National PolN.
lcai correspondenet.)
Washington, Oct. 26.--Harding knows
well what kind of bear den he would
be In for the next fum years II he
should have a hostile senate. He and
the republican leaders In the Senate. and
elsewhere ms WELL have an uncomfor-
table recollection OF the tension that
senate and the democratic president.
They know that just as they bedcviled
Wilson 80 would democratic senate, II
II should como about. bedevil Harding,
In the present tension. whether the
fault Is Wilson'S or the republican
senate.-which began II and which is
most to blame-is OF no consequence;
tho fact OF its present existence would
lead 10 more OF II II the situation should
he duplicated the other way round dur
ing the next four years,
Furthermore, II Ia a fundamental part
OF the. republican program to get rid
OF that lack OF harmony between tho
White House and the capitol that has
almost all the time for tbc last sixteen
years, beginning with Robsevelts break
with tho senate and house. Tho repub-
llcan program Ia one OF party reEpon-
sibilty.-a single party dominating the
White House, tho senate. and the house.
That Ia the republican ideal.
Incidentally, tho republicans, II they
are sufficiently confident az success for
Harding and for the lower house, might
conceivably mako an effective appeal
TO independent voters on this very point.
u they could convince the voters that
they are sure 60 have the presidency and
tho lower house they might say 70 the
voters, give us also republican sem
ate, Lot the control OF all three
branches OF the government be with ono
party. Help us 10 avoid the delays and
dendockn and futilities OF divided con-
troll. Give us a machine that can func-
ton swiftly and smoothly. Put the
responsibility ON us. but give US the
power to fulnll that responsibility"
Az q matter OF fact. some of the more
thoughtful republicans are beginning TO
say this, This is what Hoover meant
when no said that party responsibility
and n harmonious and effective mechan-
lam OF government are moro important
than any one issue.
The Next Senate.
However, that Is the concern of the
republican leaders. This article Is con-
cerned with examining the probability
OF tho republicans controlling the som
ato; Let ps see Just how great that
have spoken OF The present senate.
nm 6Nb lhat as Ii 'eanle into eKlntance
With the fourth of March. the one
whose makeup IA determined by the
senatorial elections next month.
or the thirty-four senators whose
terms VIII expire. nineteen are demo-
Gratis and fifteen are republicans. II
each party should hold its own, tho
senate would remain Just M II is---wlth
n nominal republican majority OF two,
but real republican majority OF less |
than nothing.
spporhcialiy II would seem m II. In
a year like this, republicans ought 10 |
10 much better than merely hold their |
own.
But there is this differcntiai, 30 60
speak, against the republicans; or the |
nineteen democratic vacancies, nine |
ire IN southern statoa--Virginia, North |
South Carolina, Georgia t2), and Ala |
jHma. These will be flllod by demo-
rats without any doubt whatever. |
There arc only ten democratic vacan-
lies where tho republicans have n
,hance 10 make gains.
ON the other hand. Of the fifteen re-
publican vacancies there are only three
'ases whore tho republicans are sure
% return their mon easily. These
'aseg are penrose, OF pennaylvRnial
curtis, OF Kansas. and Dillingham;. OF
Vermont. Pehrosc. Curtis and Diillng-
lam have the only republican senatorial
eats M 10 which the republicans can
eel perfectly safe. In the case Of every i
me OF the twelve remaining republican
eats The republicans have the hardest
lind off, ight TO retain the seat. Tho
lghts differ In degrees. Of courco. hut
hsre Ia a real night In every one OF the
welve cases. In all but one OF the
whole fifteen cases II In conceded that
hs republican candidate for senator
viii run behind Harding, This IL true
ven IN tho case OF Penrosc. OF Penn
yivania.
IN nearly hair Of these cases the re-
'ubllcnns themselves concode that II
/ wenp not n presidential year---if II
we're b normal year--they would be
eaten by the democrats. That II par
lcularly the case with Watson. OF In
lana.
Summary OF situation.
But there In not space here 10 go |
nto ench OF these contests separately. |
However, they can be summed up
riony;
The nfteen stateea in which repub-
cans arc nRhtlnK 10 keep the seats ,
hoy now have are Vermont. New York,
lew Hampahire, Connecticut. PennHyl- |
hniA, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, North |
'hkota, Utah and Washington. Among
lese. the states where the republicans
ave particularly difficult nght on =
and are New Hampshire. Connecticut.
ldlana, Wisconsin. Missouri and Utah.
hero are also. In New York and Ohio.
ghtH OF a difficulty such that II II were
ot presidential year. or II II were
all respects n normal year, the re-
might readily lose. I
The states In which democrats are p
ghting TO retain their seats. oinitting | b
,e nine southern senator's already D.
,ontloned, are Maryland. Kentucky. j
l,inhoma. South Dakota. Colorado, Y
laho. oregon, Arizona, Nevada and
aiifornia. These are the states, and