A Paper Majority

The loss of a Senator from Colorado, and the quite possible loss of one from Minnesota, seriously endangers if it does not wipe out the Republican majority in the Senate next December. To be sure, conceding the loss of both seats, the Republicans will still have a paper majority of six. But a paper majority is not a voting majority, when it includes La Follette, Brookhart, Norris, Frazer, Norbeck & Co.

The situation will be fraught with possibilities. As Senator Moses, Chairman of the Republican Senatorial Committee admitted: " It will rest with Robert Marion La Follette of Wisconsin and his friends." So the Administration, in order to pass its measures, will either have to placate the insurgent Republicans or secure the cooperation of a faction of the Democrats. In some cases the latter of these two courses may be the easier. The Democrats, for example, are much nearer to the regular Republicans on the railroad issue than is the La Follette group.

As for the outlook after the Senatorial election of 1924, the prospect is even more dubious for the Republicans. Fifteen Democratic seats in the Senate and 17 Republicans seats will be refilled next year.

Of the 15 Democratic seats Mr. Moses concedes ten (from the solid

South) as certain for the Democrats. One from Kentucky, and one from Oklahoma Senator Moses believes are in " some doubt." The two Walshes --from Massachusetts and Montana --the Republicans hope to defeat, but Senator Moses admits " it will be no easy fight to beat either of these." In addition there will be the seat of Alva B. Adams to contend for. Of the 17 Republicans whose seats will be in question, at least seven will be hard fights: Edge of New Jersey, Ball of Delaware, McCormick of Illinois, Phipps of Colorado, Bursum of New Mexico, MacNary of Oregon, Sterling of South Dakota.