Show senate seat number 23 proves a hoodoo V 8 13 E superstition in n the senate read S superstition this story of 23 senator wetmore of rhode island occupied seat no 23 on the republican side after a long and bitter contest in which he 6 was opposed by two republicans the legislature of hla his state on the twenty third day of the month gave up the effort to elect and adjourned leaving a vacancy and wetmore out of the senate the now new legislature tried it again this winter and wetmore was chosen lo 10 to succeed himself ile he selected wa in time to be sworn in on january 23 but respectfully declined and waltel several days ills resumption of his seat gave the senate cenate a full membership 92 senators siena tors the largest in its history now it Is a tradition not a sup superstition er sti tion of course of the senate that whenever th that at body has a full membership ber ship which often happen and never continues long there will presently be a senatorial death this has been the experience so many times that tho tale exceptions are forgotten so when wetmore came in the probability of a death was whispered about twenty three days elapsed between the day of Wet mores resumption of his seat beat and the day senator latimer of south carolina died senator wetmore Wet moie by reason of being out of the senate for some months had the luck to lose seat 23 that seat was drawn by senator kittredge of south dakota who would now be occupying it but for the fact that he la is staying at home to look after hla his interests in a desperate campaign for control of the next legislature gov crawford wants the senators seat and the 23 story has done a good deal to convince senators that edges days dava of state statesmanship manship are numbered |