Evening star., 1925-05-06
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

party IN the senate next year. by
the same token, there is a feeling
among many Republicans that the
party has a big fight before it to
hold a number of seats which they
now possess. With their present
slender party majority in the Senate
occasioned by existing and possible
factional diSaffection to the regular
party the senatorial elections of 1926
are looked forward to as of serious
moment.
The Republicans in the Senate have
senatorial campaign committee to
look after the election of Senators
corresponding to a similar cam
paign committee IN the House to aid
in the return of members of the
House. These committees do not
concern themselves with the renom-
ination of incumbents, but are or
ganized to deal with the election OF
Senators and Representatives after
they have won the party nomination.
!: !: X
1t falls out that all the members OF
the Republican campaign committee
are up for re- e-election next year so
that body will probably be entirely
reorganized as its members will be
too busy with their individual con-
tests to give much attention TO the
affairs of others. Senator Moses or
New Hampshire, chairman OF the
senatorial campaign committee. has
already given notice of his intention
to shortly resign the chairmanship TO
look after his own irons in the fire.
Terms of 80 Senators will expire
March q, 1927. Their successors Will
be elected in November; 1926. OF the
80, 20 are classed as Republicans and
Z as Democrats. Where the shoe
pinches the Republicans is in the
fact that there is no chance of win
ming any of the seats held by the
Democrats, while their own bars are
down for possible inroads by the
Democrats in the case of 10 or a
dozen of the Republican seats. The
Democratic incumbents are Senator
Broussard of Louisiana, Caraway,
Arkansas; Fletcher, Florida; George,
Georgia; Overman, North Carolina;
Smith, South Carolina, and Under
wood, Ala bama.
The Republicans calculate there is
a fighting chance for them in North
Dakota, where Senator Ladd, who is.
clasSed with the La Toilette group,
has been read out of the party. He
may be opposed by the Coolidge Re-
publicans for denomination, with the
possibility of the regular Republicans
putting up Coolidge Republican and
in their hearts, however, the regulars
do not have much hope of winning
the election, even if they can nomi-
nate regular.
In this rather gloomy outlook the
Republicans see only IL seats that
they count upon as sure of holding in
the election of next year. These are
Dale of Vermont, Moses, New Hamp-
shire; Bingham, Connecticut; Curtis,
Kansas, Gooding, Idaho; Jones, Wash
ington: Stanfield, Oregon; Smoot,
Utah, and Illinois, Pennsylvania and
California. 1t is possible that there
may be primary fights in the three
latter States. Senator Mckinley may
have to face a fight for denomination.
while Gov. Pinchot may contest
against Senator Pepper. Representa-
tive Lineberger will be a contender
fornia, but. in any event, they count
upon electing the Republican candi-
date.
Close contests between Republicans
and Democrats are expected in In
diana Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio,
and the incumbent Republicans or
prospective nominees must face bitter
fights. Wisconsin will be a battle
ground between the regulars and La
l.
nlarieS.
Political observers note the quies-
cence of politics at this time through
out the country. This state of calm
has been increased. it is held. by the
recent suggestion of President Cool
idge that the country cease to con-
Germ itself about Washington and
devote itself to business, industry and
home affairs. The Government at
Washington still lives and may be
counted upon to pursue the even
tenor of it's way without starting
anything" to upset business. Assur-
ance is given that Government is to
continue to be a routine affair and to
go on without producing jolts or
bumps.
No State in the Union presents a
more striking example of political
quiescence than Kansas, which for so
many years has been hotbed of po-
litical turmoil. whats the matter
with Kansas" has been a standing
question, quereously propounded. The
answer nowadays to the question.
Whats the matter with Kansas" is
She's all right Political advices
from that State are that politically
everything is lovely and the goose
honks high" in the Sunflower State.
w llllaln AIl0H w HlIe, the famous
writer and liberal thinker, is quoted
as saying that not in his 40 years of
Kansas journalism has the political
interest of the people been at so low
an ebb or has the State been as free
from political thought. The Kansas
Legislature recently adjourned with
out having enacted a single freak law.
Silly bills were easily Scotched. and
the single aim of the members seemed
= l,.,1- l.
to business.
The same spirit exists, according to
political observers, in other States
which heretofore have been in the
restless class. From no section or
class comes insistent demand for any
reform, nor is there being pressed a
single issue intense enough at this
time to justify labelling it as public
sentiment"
Political philosophers say that the
present state of thought among the
people is a natural outcome of the
motive which animated the voters in
the last presidential election. They
wanted safety, peace and a let-up in
the activities of politicians, and for
those purposes elected President Cool
idge. They seem to have sensed. it is
said, that he was the man to bring
this result ABOUT.
x I; * x
Republican leaders, while admitting
the hazards of the future in the sena-
torial elections of next year, do not
give up the ghost by any means. They
foresee encouragement to their hope
for success in the way things are
running and in their plans for the
future. They are confident that moth.
ing has occurred since the last election
to shake the people in their faith in
President Coolidge, which they claim
ltWill be reflected in continued SUD-