Evening star., 1924-03-02
BY &. GOULD LINCOLN.

II NttE next ITeSlQeHt OI tHS III lieu
States-no matter what polit-
ical party succeeds in the
coming election-will have a
difficult Senate on his hands with
which to deal. A group Of progress
aives-radicals they are called in
many quarters-holds the balance OF
power In the Senate today. An eX-
animation of the situation leads to
the belief that a similar group-per-
haps enlarged-will occupy similar
~ strategic position in the Senate
after March next.
AS the Senate is made up today,
there are fifty-one republicans, forty
three democrats and two farmer-la-
borites. In name the republicans
have a majority, but it Is in name
only, for there are six OF seven of
the so-called republicans who at
present are voting with the demo-
Gratis more often than with their own
party organization In the Senate.
One-third of the Senate member
ship and one thirty-three - must
stand for reelection in Novem-
ber or must give way to others who
three seventeen are republicans, fif-
teen are democrats and one, Sem
ator Magnus Johnson of Minnesota,
Is farmer -laborite. The seventeen
republicans who come up for cleo
tion are Senators Ball. Delaware; Bo-
rah, Idaho; Brookhart, Iowa; Bursum,
New Mexico: Capper, Kansas; Colt,
Rhode Island; CouZens, Michigan;
Edge, Neu--ersey; Elkins. West Vir-
ginis>s Fernafd, Maine; Keyes, New
Hahpshire; Mccormick, Illinois; Nc
Many, Oregon: Norris. Nebraska:
Phipps. Colorado; Sterling, South Da-
kota, and Warren, Wyoming.
The democrats who must grid on
their armor for the fray are Senators
Adams, Colorado; Dial, South Caro-
lima: Glass. Virginia; Harris, Geor-
gia; Harrison, Mississippi; Helm,
Alabama; Owen, Oklahoma; Ransdell,
Louisiana; Robinson, Arkansas; Shep-
pard, Texas; Shields. Tennessee; Sim
mons, North Carolina; Stanley, Ken
.ucky; Walsh, Massachusetts,, and
Walsh, Montana.
Little Chance for Gains.
Looking over the list, it appears
that the republicans have very little
chance. II any, to make gains. In
Massachusetts,, 1t is claimed, the re-
publicans may elect, particularly II
President Coolidge heads the repub-
Iican national ticket, as 1t is ex-
pected he will. But Senator David I.
Walsh has always been very popular
in the Bay state-where he was twice
governor before coming to the Sem
ate. 1t is exceedingly doubtful that
rhe republican nominee in Massa-
chusetts will be able to defeat Sen
ator Walsh, even with the advantage
of having the President head the
ticket. And all of the other demo-
Gratis, with one or two exceptions,
now sitting in the Senate who must
come up for election seem to be so
strongly intrenched that a republican
gain among them would be little
short of a miracle, with political con-
ditions as they are.
On the other hand the democrats
are to have a bare majority of one in
the Senate. 1t Is true that there are
six or seven of the states In which re-
publican senators come up for election
where they have chances to win, but
it would require democratic land
slide to give them all of those seats.
In Delaware, New Mexico, New Jer-
sey, West Virginia, Illinois. Oregon
and Colorado the democrats probably
ho, hAt n1,o In
but are by no means sure of success.
Progressives to Dominate.
Even should the democrats have
majority of one or two in the Senate
so-called progressive bloc will still
dominate affairs. Senator Wheeler of
Montana and Senator Dill of WASH
inRton are as radical as any of the
republican progressives, it is pointed
out, and there may be other demo-
Gratis who have the same leanings
elected in November.
While the farmer-labor party is
expected to put senatorial candidates
in the field in a number of states, it
is doubtful that it will be able to
Senate it now holds. Senator John
son Of Minnesota must stand for re-
election, and as he was successful
only last year, there is every reason
TO believe he will be successful again.
The party will have a candidate in
the field also IN South Dakota, and
perhaps in Colorado, Oregon, New
Mexico. II Senator Norris and Sem
ator Brookhart were not the can
didates for reelection in Nebraska
and Iowa on the republican ticket,
the third party might threaten in
those states, too, but Norris and
Brookhart are reckoned good progress
sIves under whatever party name they
run. 5.r..
But Four Conventions.
Nominations for the Senate will be
made In primaries and in convention
In the various states. Twenty eight
states nominate by the primary route
and four in convention. The four
states In which conventions are held
are Idaho, Delaware, New Mexico and
Rhode Island.
The first primary to select the
senatorial nominees will be held in
South Dakota, March 25. Other pri-
mary dates are as follows: Illinois
and Nebraska, April 10; Alabama,
May 13; Oregon, May 16; Iowa, June
8; North Carolina, June z; Maine
and Minnesota, June 16; Texas, July
26; Kentucky, August 2; Kansas,
Oklahoma and Virginia, August s;
Tennessee, August Z; Arkansas,
August ~; Mississippi and Wyoming,