The Portland daily press., 1888-11-06
THE HOUSE LIKELY TO Be REPUBLICAN.
Secretary McPherson's Estimate of
its Probable Composition.
Some Districts In Which Democrats
Have Put Their Money.
Washington's Army of Clerks Moving
on the Voting Places.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-The work of the
Republican Congressional committee in the
campaign is finished, and Edward McPher-
son, the indefatigable secretary, upon whom
the brunt OF it has fallen, started for Gettys-
burg today to cast his vote for Harrison and
Morton. Mr.. Mcpherson, who is one of the
most intelligent and conservative political
observers in the country, feels confident not
only of the success of the Republican nation
al candidates, but of the return of Republi-
can majority to the next House of Represen-
tatives. The information received by him
during the past few days indicates a certain
ty that the Republican Representatives in
the List Congress will not fall much. If any.
snort OF l70, and probably will exceed that
number. majority of the House is 163
FOR OBVIOUS reasons, he does not deem it pru-
dent TO publish an estimate in detail of prob
able gains and losses before the election
IL has been known for some time that
Democratic money has been freely poured
INTO number OF Congressional districts to
aeIgat republican candidates. In Pennsyl-
Yanla, Ior example, VIM. L. Scott has made,
OF caused to be made, liberal contributions
70 hoiQ the Erie district, to defeat Brumm In
the Schuylkill district, and to elect the Dem
ocratic candidate in the new Oath district,
which is rather close. 1t is reported that
some S6OO00 has been or will be expended by
the Democrats in these three districts. The
reports from all Of them are favorable to the
Republicans.
In the Sth Kentucky district, McCreary,
VINO received majority Of more than 1000
TWO years ago and who is a man of great
wealth, began operations this year by plac-
ing 5000 In each of the thirteen counties
which compose his district. He is spending
money money with great freedom. 1t is his only
In the. lid West Virginia District the
democratic National Committee has invest
ca large sums of money to save Wilson, of
the ways and Means Committee, from de-
Ieat. Generous expenditures of funds from
tne same source have been made in the other
three Congressional Districts, one of which
sent Gof to Congress two years ago by about
800 majority.
Chairman Brice, of the Democratic Nation
al executive cut Committee, is said to have
placed $4,000 in the XIlth Ohio District to
defeat Pugsley, the Republican candidate
In the Cleveland District, now represented
by Foran, johnson, the Democratic candi-
date is spending money without stint.
Inc Republican congressional campaign
mas Deen conducted on a different basis. Sec
retary Mcpherson says that in all his expert
ence ne has never known so great and intel
llgent demand for political information as in
the present campaign. The calls for facts
and figures relating to the tariff have been
lncessant and urgent, and more than ten
million documents have been issued by the
congressional committee to supply the de-
mand. The reports received from many
quarters, including districts in the Southern
border States and in North Carolina and
Virginia, as well as in the Northern and
western States, show that the fight on the
predominant issue of the campaign is likely
to result in Republican gains, which will
more than offset losses, expected or unex-
pected.
All information aside the probabilities are
strongly In faver of the Republicans. In
1880, ,iorty-nlne districts gave Democratic
pluralltles under 1900, and forty-seven
ulstrlcts gave Republican plurali-
ties under 1900. There were thirty
three Democratic pluralities under 1000, and
only twenty-three Republican pluralitles un-
DER lOO0. Of twenty-three pluralities under
900 each, sixteen were Democratic and only
seven Republican. These pluralities were
distributed as follows:
In Republican States, 80 Republican, II
Democratic.
= In Democratic States. Republican, II
Democratic.
In doubtful States, Republican, 10 Dem
ocratic.
Going Home to Vote.
WASHINGTON, Nov. ga large number
OF employees In the executive departments
have gone home to vote. 1t is not possible
to ascertain the number. Over 300 leaves
are now running in Treasury Department
alone. The indications are that the employees
In the other departments are leaving in pro-
p0ru0nate numbers.