Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-23
POLITICAL INTEREST
IN SENATE RACES
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
(Leased Wire Service 10 The Journal.)
downright. 1922

the Democrats their only chance o.
obtaining a share of authority in
the federal government the political
interest of the year seems to center
in the United States senate.
This is due to the fact that the
house has been sort Of submerged
tent in the national government
of late and few of it's members are
nationally known. On the other
hand, some Of the most prominent
men, of the senate are in the run
Z ming this year and public interest
naturally revolves about them.
Several of the senators who must
/ face the music this year, both In
the primaries and at the polls, are
intimate personal friends Of Presi-
dent Harding and their fate at the
hands of the people is being watch
ed as ah index to the favor OF the
administration generally throughout
the country. In an off-year like this,
+. however, local conditions very often
obscure national issues and make
general political deductions increas-
ingly difficult.
The primaries thus far held have
been Of interest principally to the
Republicans. They have been spicy
enough to show that unusual polit-
icaI under currents are flowing, and
more than one G. o. P. senator, usu-
ally complacent at this season of
the year, is wondering just what
the tickle and revolving fates may
have in store for him. The woman
vote unquestionably is the enigma.
1t is the first time the women have
taken part in party selections, and
many of the old signs are going
awry in the face Of this new ele-
ment in the body polite.
The terms of thirty-three sitting
senators expire on March 4 next.
At least twenty-eight, and possibly
Twenty-Five of these senators, are
seeking, or have sought, renonina.
ton and election. Senator Harry
s. New, of Indiana, close personal
friend of the president, is the first
CT the senators, seeking renon1ina-
ton to be defeated.
Makeup of Senate
The present makeup Of the SEN
ate is:
Republicans, go.
Democrats, &c..
There is every indication that THIS
preponderant Republican majority
will be but little changed by the
elections of this fall. The Repub-
hcans are claiming that they will
gain seven seats. Unquestionably
there are eight doubtful spots
among the fifteen Democratic sem
atorships which expire next March
Democrats are claiming that they
will gain a seat or two, for there
are perhaps five doubtful spots
among the eighteen Republican SEN
atorships which are up for decision
at the November polls.
Keen political observers who have
stated the situation are Of the opln-
ion that a stand-off this year Would
be satisfactory to both parties and
that is precisely what is likely to
hammer. No Democrat is radical
enough to predict that the political
complexion of the senate can De
changed this year, or even mace
close.
In the house things are some
what different. Many so-called
rock-ribbed Democratic districts
crashed into the Republican column
two years ago under the impetus of
the seven million majority given to
President Harding. Most of these
will swing back to normally this
year and send Democrats once more
to the lower branch. Some Demo
Gratis are hopeful Of capturing the
b Ia
that eighty-five Of eighty-six dis
tricts must be overturned to accom-
plish such a result, the size of the
task confronting the Democratic
party managers easily is appre-
ciated.
Up for Reelection
Senators whose terms expire next
March are as follows:
Republicans. Denoocr.+s
Calder, N. Y. Ashurst, Ariz.
crow Ia. Culbertson, Tex.
Dupoht' Dei. Gerry, r. I.
france, MD. Hitchcock, Neb.
Trehngnuysen, N. j. Jones, N. M.
Haze, Me. Kendrick, Wyo.
Johnson, Cal. King. Utah
Kellogg, Mimi. Mcclellan, Tenn.
LaF'ollette, Wis. Myers. Mont.
Lodge, Mass. Pittman, New.
McCumber, N. d. Pomerene, o.
Mclean, Conn. Reed, Mo.
new, ina. Swanson, Va.
+ rage, Conn. Trammell, Fla.
Pepper, Pa. Williams, Miss.
Poindexter, Wash.
Sutherland, w. Va.
Townsend, Mich.
All of the above are seeking to
succeed themselves with the excep-
ton of Senators Crow, Myers, Page,
Williams and King. Senator New
was defeated for the nomination by
former Senator Beveridge. Senator
Crow did not seek denomination, and
Major David Reed, Of Pittsburg, was
named to succeed him. Senator My
ers, of Montana, has announced his
retirement, and while Senator King,
Of Utah, has made no formal an
= nouncement, he has told his friends
that he contemplates return to
the practice Of law.
Senator John Sharp Williams, of
Mississippi, announced a couple of
years ago that he was through With
the senate. Agreeing to serve out
his term, he said he never wanted
to sit in that august deliberative
body again. He is weary of the
life.
The Republican managers are
counting on winning Rhode Island
and Utah from the Democrats and
claim to have an even chance or
Better in Nebraska, Wyoming, Mon
ana, Nevada, Ohio and Missouri.
The Democrats hold that there is
doubt about the Republicans retain.
ing New Jersey, Massachusetts, and
Indiana. They claim they will win
certainly in Maryland and that the
Republicans may have unexpected
trouble in North Dakota. Virtually
all of the Republicans have primary
81,