Evening star., 1936-07-26
Sc SENATE SEATS
TO Be CONTESTED
Many of Them Are in
South, However, Assuring
Democrats Control.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

With about third of the senatorial
primaries already held and the re-
mainder slated for August or early
September both major parties are
girding for the approaching battle
over the 36 seats at stake this year in
the upper branch of Congress.
The present large Democratic ma
jority in the Senate, together with
the fact that many of this years con-
tests happen to be in consistently
Democratic Southern States, makes
for continued Democratic control OF
the Senate in the next Congress.
If the Republicans, however, should
succeed in recapturing a substantial
number of seats outside of the solid
South, it would constitute for them an
important victory. looking ahead to
the biennial election of 1888, when
a larger proportion of senatorial races
will be in debatable territory.
Six New Faces in Prospect.
Aside from the question of relative
party strength, there is bound to be a
group of new members in the Senate
next January, due to deaths, retire.
ments and changes in the primaries
thus far. There already are six new
faces in prospect.
One will take the place Of the vet
eran Florida Democrat, Senator
Fletcher, who died just before ad-
journment. Another will replace the
late Senator Murphy. Iowa Democrat
who was killed recently in an auto
mobile accident. Then there are three
incumbenuS who are not candidates fol-
denomination: Benson. Farmer-La-
borite of Minnesota: Hastings, Re-
publican, of Delaware and CoStigan
Democrat, of Colorado.
The blind Senator Gore. Democrat
of Oklahoma was eliminated in re-
cent three -cornered primary race anc
his two rivals are awaiting a run-ofl
primary soon. When Congress re-
assemblies in January Mrs. Rose Nc
Connell Long will have finished serv'
ing out the unexpired term of hel
husband, the late Huey P. Long. anc
Is slated to be succeeded by Aller
Ellender, Democratic nominee for thu
| new term.
There probably will be additiona
changes as result of remaining pri
maries or on election day.
Senators Will Confer.
Senator Townsend of Delaware
chairman of the Republican Sena'
torial Campaign Committee, will bt
in Chicago Tuesday to confer with
Senator Steiwer of Oregon, who viii
take charge of the Western senatoria
headquarters for the Republicans.
The Democratic senatorial cam.
paign group is headed by Senator
Guffey of Pennsylvania. who is ex'
pected back in Washington the latter
part of this week.
Senatorial primaries will be held II
| 10 States during August, with
more early in September to complete
the roster. The work of the Sen
atorial Campaign Committees will b,
increasing from now on, with the Re
publicans striving vigorously to in
crease their Senate membership BY
winning seats now held by Democrats
particularly in the West
A number of the Senate's headlin'
ers are facing primaries during Au
gust. including Democratic Floo
Leader Robinson of Arkansas and Fl
nance Committee Chairman Pat Har
rison, Democrat. Of Mississippi. Boil
have opposition for the party nom
ination. but if they win in the pri
maries their reelection would follow
Glenn Seeking Comeback.
In Illinois former Republican Sen
ator Otis F. Glenn is seeking to stag
a comeback, running against Senate
j. Hamilton Lewis, Democratic in
cumbent. and up in New Hampshire
former Senator George H. Moses ha
entered the Republican primar.
against Senator Keyes New Hamp
shire will not select its nominees unit
September.
The first final decision in the sena
torial field will come in Maine. which
holds it's election on September Il
ahead of the rest of the country. II
that State the Republican incumbent
Senator White, is seeking reelection
opposed by the Democratic Gov. Loui
j. Brann. White is believed to hav,
the edge in the race thus far.
Ordinarily there would be only 3.
senatorial seats involved in the cleo
tion-one-third of the membership
being voted on every two years. Their,
are four extra seats to be voted on thi.
year to fill out unexpired terms o.
members who have died. In Florids
there are two, Senators Tramme1 anC
Fletcher, Democrats, both having diet
during the last session. Another Is IL
New Mexico, where Senator Chavez
Democrat, has been serving by Gov
ernor's appointment since the deatf
of Senator Cutting. Republican. Tht
fourth is in Iowa. resulting from tht
recent death of Senator Murphy
Democrat.
When the Senate adjourned th'
party alignment stood at 10 Demo
Gratis, % Republicans. 2 Farmer
Laborites and l Progressive. OF tn,
So seats to be voted on this year
% were held in the last session by
Democrats, IL by Republicans and
Farmer Labor. OF the % Democratic
seats, however. approximately hall
are in normally Democratic South.
ern States.