Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-31
THE NEXT HOUSE.
THE DOUBT OF THE MAINTENANCE OF A
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.


and about Congress, and an evident I'M
patience is beginning to show itself among
members of Congress, to adjourn in order
that they may go home and look after
their nominations and elections Ibis
disposition will probably do more than
anything else to cut short the tillbuster-
ing tactics and bring the two sides to
some understanding, whereby the public
business will go on until interrupt
by an adjournment to be secured before
the close of the next month. Regarding
the political collection of the House there
is quite diversity of views. The fact
cannot be denied, however, that the Re
pubicans of the House feel good deal
discouraged over the prospects for the
next Congress; while Democrats assert
confidently that they will carry the coun-
try next fall, and will have the next
| House by safe majority. In discussing
the situation prominent Republican
said to your correspondent today:
"This state of affairs is OF course owing
to the disaHection among Republicans in
| Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. Even
Iowa, which is generally solid Republic
an, the temperance movement as In Ohio
is giving the Republicans a good deal OF
uneasness, and, as an Iowa member told
me the other day, may result In the de-
feat of two Republican Congressman in
that state. AS to Pennsylvania and New
York the situation remains about the
SINE as it has been for year or more
% lst. In both these states the issue is
one of supremacy between Stalwarts and
Anti-Stalwarts With these two contend
| inc factions in the field it is extremely
| probable that the Democrats will make
great gains and may secure several adj
ditional congressman. In Ohio the same
! issue exists to some extent between he
pubiicans, but this in itself Is not likely
| To make much difference in result. Other
| wise however the the outlook is even
more deplored by Republicans than any
where else. In the larger cities where
the German population is greatest, the
loss to the Republicans in consequence of
enforcement of the liquor law will I'M
doubtedly be great wonld be not sur
p1ised if the Democrats elected 2 Congress
men from Cincinnati, one from Cleveland
and one from Toledo. This would make
gain of four to the Democrats and loss
of four to the Republicans With gain
| of seven more elsewhere, the Democrats
would have a majority in the House on
the present basis, and on the new basis,
AS compared with the old one, it is esti-
timated that both parties gain equally
| The hopes of the Republican party rests
almost entirely in gains from the South
| In Virginia, where the Readjuster ele-
ment is identical with the Republicans,
the Republicans have fair prospect OF
| gaining one or two Congressman. The
people of Virginia everywhere concede
that the Readjusters have done a great
deal for them Malone is more popular
there now than he has ever been. The
state debt has been greatly reduced I'M
der the new regime and the people of the
state have otherwise been relieved OF on
| erous laws and taxation. they are be-
| ginning to feel that new area OF pros
perity IS dawning upon them. This ln-
! dependent movement Is likely to extend
TO other portions of the South. The Chal-
mers outbreak and the Independent pro-
| gressive element, represented by such
men as Alexander Il. Stevens. Emory
| Speer and VIM IL. FELTON, will play great
| havoc in the Democratic ranks, and may
result in gain of several members OF
| Congress to the Republicans. 1t Is in
| the disintegration of the Democracy OF
the South to which Republicans mus
| look for succor.
| These views are born out in numerous
| interviews had by your correspondent
with members from all sections OF the
country. The most respondent set O
members are those who expect to be re-
| tired Dy the unwise course of their friend:
at home This is especially noticeable
among certain Congressman fom Ohio
| Ever since the news came of the effect 0
| the linnor law npon the Ohio elections il
the sprin se, these members have a chang
! Ell name, e1t4fely. inelr former buoy
ancy of spirit is gone They know that
if they succeed at all it will nave to be
bv the hardest possible work this summer
/ Said Democratic member from the cen
| eral part of the state to your correspond
ent a day or two ago, in speaking OF the
| political situation In that state, Il think
the dissatisfaction which the Ohio legls-
Iation OF last winter has produced IN the
state will drive to us very large voting
population that have heretofore voted
with the Republican party. My opinion
OF Ohio politics is that the Tariff CUES
ton is going to occupy very considerable
prominence in political discussions this
fall, and nv belief IS that Ohio is not by
any means a free trade state. Whether
that fact will be an advantage to the
Democratic party in that state remains
to be seen, and depends very much upon
the wisdom with which it frames its state
platform this summer. Our last Demo
| cratic State Convention resolved in favor
of tariff commission. 1t was done with
the view of getting the whole subject out
of politics, if possible -
The same Democratic member voted
for the tariff commission in the House
DR.. Rice, a Republican member from th'
northwestern portion of the state, say
the liquor question will affect the politics
of that state somewhat, but he was una
BILE to say to what extent. He says thu
liquor law was not rigidly enforced in hi
part of the state He is inclined to favor
. the temperance movement and think
the Republicans will gain by it in tn
end. Mr. Schultz, the member from th'
DAYTON district says: "The dissatisfaction