The Washington times., 1926-11-30
SENATE IS LOST,
c. D. P.FEAR
By. GEORGE r. HOLMES


Election of Arthur r. Gould as
Republican Senator from Maine
means that the Republican party
will be able to organize the Senate
Of the SEVENTEEN Congress by the
narrow margin of single vote.
What Figures Show
Actually. however. the Republican
victory in Maine means very little,
Il anything, insofar as actual Or
working control of the next Senate
is concerned. The lineup stands to-
day: Republicans. As; Democrats. At;
Farm-Labor. /.
Power of Democrats
Actual control, if any, rests more
with the Democrats than with the
Republicans, despite the figures, for
included in the Republican total of
% are fully dozen Senators who
as often vote with the Democrats
as against them.
There are perhaps half a dozen
who vote oftener against the Adj
ministration than with it. This is
particularly true on any legislation
that by any stretch of imagination
may be termed progressive"
La Toilette and Blaine in Wis
eonsin. Frazier and Nye in North
Dakota Norris and Howell in Ne.
braska, Johnson in California, Nor
heck and McMaster in South Dakota,
Borah in idaho, Couzens in Michi-
gan-they are impervious and con.
temptuous of party discipline and
the party whip.
They vote with the Republicans
on organization matters, but on
legislation they are independent.
Thus it cannot be said that the
Republicans have more than a
paper control of the next Senate.
The Democrats, in fact, are more
fortunately situated, for they have
more party solidarity than their
opponents.
There are few Democratic in
dependents like Bruce of Maryland,
Blease of South Carolina, Glass of
Virginia. BUT the Democrats have
nothing like the Independent prob
lem that is worrying Republican
leaders.
AS a matter Of fact. actual con
troll probably will devoIve into a
day-to-day proposition, and depend
in large measure on the number Of
absentees.
1t is seldom that either party can
muster its full strength on a ques-
ton. There are always some alb
eentees.
The Republicans are making
strenuous efforts to increase their
narrow paper control by enticing
the sole Farmer-Labor vote, Sen.
ator Hendrix Shipstead. into their
ranks.
Yesterday, the tall Minnesotan
was a breakfast guest at the White
House for the first time in his
career.
Later he had a private conference
with President Coolidge.
Senator Shipstead said he talked
farm relief to Mr. Coolidge. The
White House is silent on the con-
ference.
II has been reported, however,
that the Minnesotan has been given
to understand that if he will come
into the Republican party for
nominal purposes there will be no |
candidate put up
against him when ',e comes up for |
reelection two years hence.
The acquisition of Shipstead
however, while it would give the
Republicans paper majority Of
two, would affect but little the
a tual control 50 eagerly sought
by the Republicans.
Would Curb Expenditures
The old Senate coalition of Dem
ocrats and Republican Insurgents
was rallying behind a declaration by
Senator Robinson, Of Arkansas,
minority leader, for action at the
coming session to curb excessive ex-
penditures in senatorial primaries.
While Robinson did not suggest
any specific remedy, it was learned
the coalition undoubtedly will unite
in supporting a resolution placing
the Senate on record as limiting
primary expenditures to the same
amounts provided for general Senate