The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-31
AS TO The NEXT CONGRESS
Congressional Elections of Great I'M
pOrtancc to Both Parties.
SPECULATING on THE RESULT
Three More Seats Than They Have Now
10 Obtain Control OF Iouse-Terms
Of Thirty Senators TO Expire.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

of the next congress- One vote cast for
or against a Republican candidate for
congress, or one Republican vote care
lessly left unpolled, may decide whether
the next house of representatives shall
be for protection or free trade. One vote
cast for or against a Republican candi-
date for the state senate or state house
of representatives, or one such vote i'm
properly marked or left at home, may
decide the political destiny of the Uni
ted States senate and perhaps change
the whole future of Americas economic
policy. This is true because this years
congressional battle is likely to be cX-
ceedingly close.
One authority, a well-knoWn political
correspondent, aptly expresses the situ
atom when he says that both political
parties will have majority in the next
house If the predictions made by the
party managers should come true. In
qulries made daily at both headquarters
discover an apparent confidence in the
success of both parties next month. To
/ prove that this confidence is based on
/ good foundation the gentlemen in
/ charge of the congressional headquar-
ters present exhaustive documents con-
tanning in detail' the exact situation in
all the congressional districts. Reports
are received at these headquarters from
all over the country every week and
sometimes several times week. Ac-
cording to the utterances Of the gentle
men appointed to speak to the press
neither party headquarters has received
any but the most roseate-hucd reports.
Such thing as admitting prospective
defeat has never been known. 1t takes
more honest men than has ever yet been
placed at the congressional headQuar-
ters of either party to even admit that
the outlook in any quarter is at least
dubious. All this is by way of showing
how bootless is an inquiry to either
place during the campaign,
The Situation Reviewed.
The Republicans, to obtain control Of
the next house, will have to win fifty
three districts more than they hold in
the present congress. The Democrats
Of the tlfty-third congress had 2lS seats
the Republicans 126 and the Populists
II. Should the Democrats lose II votes
1t would deprive them OF majority and
enther transfer 1t To the Republicans Ol
give the balance of power to the PoDu-
lists. There seems To be feeling in the
air that the Republicans will make con.
siderable gain in the forthcoming elec-
tions but whether sufficient to over.
come the big majority now held by the
Democrats Is Il matter requiring very
fine calculations. A great deal, OF
course, will depend upon the speed with
which general business throughout tht
country revlVes. The loss To the Dem
ocracy will decrease in corresponding
ratio to the revival of business. 1t Is q
difficult thing to win So districts from
the Democrats. The Republicans have
. practically nothing to hope for in the
south with the possible exception Of {
vote or two in Louisiana, owing to The
| sugar disaffection. Should the Demo
t Gratis lose seats in that section of tn,
/ country II Is much more likely that tn,
/ loss will be the Populists' gain rather
than the Republicans. Hence il is tina
, whatever seats the Republicans are t
win from the Democratic party must bt
= in the northern states.
In the Senate.
The forthcoming election will also in
volve the political control of the senat
: after March 4, 1895. Consecutive belle
points to the loss of that control by tn
+ Democrats The terms of thirty sena
= tors will expire in the present congress
D., Fourteen of the 80 are Democrats. Tn
/ senators whose terms will expire are:
, Democrats-Berry, Arkansas; Butler
: South Carolina: Caffery, Louisiana
> Camden, West Virginia; Coke, Texas
- ColQuitt Georgia; Harris, Tennessee
1 Hunton, Virginia; Lindsay, Kentucky
$ Martin. Kansas; McLaurin, Mississippi
a Mcpherson, New Jersey; Morgan, Ala
4 bama; Ransom, North Carolina.
q Republicans--Carey, Wyoming
I Chandler, New Hampshire; Cullom, III
n inois; DiXson Rhode Island; Dolph, Or
e egon; Frye. Maine; Higgins, Delaware
n Hoar. Massachusetts: Henderson. Ne
g braska; McMillin. Michigan; Pettigrew
d South Dakota; Power, Montana; Shoul
Idaho: Washburn, Minnesota; Wilson
n Iowa; Wolcott. Colorado.
: Senators Caffrey and Blanchard hav
$ been elected to succeed themselves.
S Republican has been chosen to succee
: Mr.. Wilson and a Democrat to succee
u Mr.. Hunton. There Is little doubt fel
Il by either party except in the states q
II Illionois, Delaware, Kansas, South Can
II oline and New Jersey. 1t is pretty ger
orally believed that Tillman, the Popu
list. will succeed Senator Butler l
South Carolina. The Republicans hop
to elect a successor to Mcpherson !
l. New Jersey and to Martin in Kansa;
d As an Offset to this the Democrats eH
pect to elect McVeagh in Illinois and
# Democrat to succeed Senator Higgln!
% Colorado is doubtful for although tn
Republicans CLAN 1t there is a possibi
., ity of Populist being elected to suC
II ceed Wolcott.
>, Changes Already FOreseen.
n In the senate the membership is no'
eighty-fvc, vacancies in Montan;
N Wyoming and Washington. The pr,
70 sent senate consists of forty-three Den
ocrats. thirty-seven Republicans an
;. five Populists. The three vacancies no.
~ existing will probably be filled durin
the coming session and the senator
Is chosen be Republican, in which ever
lc the Republican strength will be fort.
Supposing that the Republicans by I'll
Df coming election lose Collnm and His
l.' gins and gain the seats now occupied b
Martin and Mcpherson, their strengt
n will suffer no loss, while the Democrat
DN lOSlHH bulltl III ppuNh
'' would reduce their number to forty-tw
and thereby place the balance of powc
~ ~ in the hands of the six Populists, Jone
~ of Nevada, Allen, Kyle, PETER, Tillma
and Stewart Thus II will be seen tht
m the Democracy runs a great risk of 10
es ing the senate in the next congress.
n, The Democrats may retain New Je
sey and win seats in Delaware and Ill
as nois, but that would only make the
d. strength 40 and with full membersh
n 45 would constitute majority, Ne
Mexico and Utah, the new states, vi
he probably send senators to the Fift
Il, fourth congress- Possibly the Dem
M Gratis might therby secure majorit
:, II all four senator's elected In the ne
IL states should be Republican, the r
=, publican party would still lack one
= q majority; but II the Democrats shou