In Maple Sugar Land

Death has laid a heavy hand on the ranks of Republican Senators during the last year. In March Senator Samuel D. Nicholson of Colorado died; Governor Sweet appointed Alva B. Adams, a " progressive" Democrat, to occupy his seat. In April Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota died; Magnus Johnson, Farmer-Laborite, was elected in his stead. In July Senator William P. Dillingham of Vermont died. His place has not yet been filled, but there is a good chance that the Republicans will not lose another Senator. Last week primaries were held to choose the candidates who will stand in a special election on Nov. 6.

Porter Hinman Dale, former Congressman from the Second Vermont District, took the Republican nomination by securing 26,463 votes out of 49,436 cast for three candidates in the primary. The Democrats nominated Park H. Pollard, a cousin of President Coolidge, who was unopposed. The third name on the ballot will be that of Marshall Hapgood, who classes himself as an " Independent Progressive" and asserts in Who's Who that he is known as " the Rugged Reformer." His other claims to distinction include the invention of an out-of-door fireplace and activity in movements to conserve forests and wild beasts.

In an ordinary year the Republican nominee in Vermont is practically certain of election. Congressman Dale, although reflected to the next Congress, resigned his seat to contest for the place in the Senate. He made one of the main issues of his campaign for nomination unqualified opposition to any modification of the Volstead Act. Pollard is classed as a Wet and it is thought likely that there will be some breakage of party lines in the vote on the prohibition issue. Any advantage that Pollard has by being related to Calvin Coolidge, Vermont's leading son, will be more or less balanced by the fact that Dale is a close friend of the President and was present at Plymouth in the early hours of Aug. 3 when President Coolidge took the oath of office.

If Mr. Dale is elected next month, it will be another step in Vermont's consistent policy of regular promotion for her politicians. In the last Congress Vermont's Senators were William P. Dillmgham and Carroll S. Page, both 79 years of age. Her two Congressmen were Frank L. Greene, 53, who had served in Congress since 1912, and Mr. Dale, 56, whose Congressional service dated from 1915; last Fall Representative Greene was elected to succeed Senator Page. Mr. Dale, of Island Pond, is a Vermont product. In his youth he studied acting under James E. Murdoch and law under his father. He has been prominent in state politics for 25 years. In accordance with Vermont tradition, promotion is in order.