Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-15
DEMOCRATS FACE
SENATE SEAT FIGHT
VIII Be Too Busy in Next
Congress to Challenge Re-
publican Control.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The general impression that the
next Congress will be swept with
radicalism because of the narrow
margin by which the Repubncans
hope to control is not borne out by the
plans being made by the poltlcal
leaders.
For instead of Republicans fighting
to hold their seats, as was the case
in the normally Democratic states
which happened to be electing Sena-
tors last Fall, the next group of Sena-
tors to be elected will come from
normally Republican States and VIII
contest the seats of incumbentS VINO
are Democrats. In other words, Just
the reverse of the situation when
existed in the last election VIII con-
front the Republicans.
The Senators who were elecleu Oh
the Democratic ticket over Republican
opponents last Fall really recaptured
seats which went by the boards In the
Harding landslide of 1920. The seven
Democrats who were elected were
bound to replace the Republicans In
an off.year election. Now, however. IN
the 1928 election the Democrats VIII
be on the defensive. for there are Ia
of those whose terms expire VINO
come from States which cast their
votes for "a Republican President in
both 1920 and 1924.
Reflected i'm Next Congress.
The influence of such a political sit
nation will be felt the moment Con-
gress reconvenes in December. for
every one Of the IA will have to decide
whether TO keep on friendly terms with
the conservative Republican vote In
their States or whether they will play
to the radical vote. In most every IN
stance, the conservative Republican
vote is dominant, and unless that sup
port is obtained by a. Democrat his
chances of election in a presidential
year are slim.
Thus there are Democrats now hold
ing seats in Delaware, Maryland, New
York, New Jersey, Michigan, Rhode
Island West Virginia, Missouri, Wyo-
ming, Utah, Nevada, Washington and
Montana, which in the last two cleo
tions for the presidency have been
won with ease by the Republicans.
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts is
up for election in 1928, since he Is
filling out the uneXpired term of
Senator Lodge. He has definitely
made a bid for Republican support,
promising on certain occasions TO
support President Coolidge.
Facing Hard Fight.
The Democrats will have to fight
hard to retain every one of these IA
seats. If they win seven they will be
doing an unprecedented thing iE a
presidential year, at least as elections
have been going in the last genera
ton.
AS for the Republican seats which
are to be contested in 1928, the in
cumbents come from Ohio, Vermont,
Tnfx ylxynv 15o n
Indiana, which are fairly certain to re-
main Republican, judging by past
performances, and the only other Re-
publicans up for reelection are from
the Insurgent Republican school
Howell of Nebraska, La Toilette of
Wisconsin, and Frazier of North Da-
kota In none of the last three there
likely to be a chance of a Democrat
unseating the incumbent.
Democrats May Seek Issue.
So the Republicans are in the posi-
ton the Democrats were last Fall
they are likely to retain every seat
they have and make gains from their
opponents. A change of seven seats
would give the Republicans working
majority, but if they win the presiden-
tial election they have an opportu-
nifty of carrying along 10 or even IL
seats, as has been the case in national
elections before.
Knowing this, the Democrats either
will seek to develop an issue which
will aid them to overturn the big
Eastern States which formally cast
their electoral votes for a Repuhli-
can, or seek to gain favor with the
Republican voters. If the policy of
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts is
followed the next Senate will be domi-
mated by coalition of Conservative
Democrats and Republicans.
Copyright. 1927