Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-07
CHAIRMAN FAULKNER TALKS
He Gives Some of the Causes of the Re-
publican Avalanche.
Richard Croker Was the Only Man
Who Intfmatcd What the Re-
suit Would BE.

An atmosphere of complete and utter
desolation pervaded the apartments Of the
democratic congressional campaign commit
tee in the Wormley annex today. 1t pressed
down heavily upon the officers and clerks
whose hearts had been so fun of hope and
pleasant anticipation a few short hours ago
and depressed them more than words can
tell. Senator Faulkner, the chairman, anu
Mr.. Lawrence Gardner, the secretary Of the
committee, were on hand early, and for the
first time in their long participation in the
active management of campaigns they had
no consolation to extend to the callers who
came by ones and twos as the hours wore
on.
Surprised and Disappointed.
1t was evident that both gentlemen were
wonderfully surprised and terribly disap-
pointed at the result of the elections. They
had been perfectly honest in their CONT
dence that a democratic majority would be
returned to the next House of Representa-
tives. In all the reports received from the
various democratic organizations IN Inc
several states there had been no intimation
of conditions that led them to expect such
an overwhelming disaster for the party. On
the other hand, the reports had expressed
faith in the power OF the democracy 10 re-
tain at least a working majority In Con-
gress, and this information had made them
all the more eager to continue the asgres-
sive fight they were waging. The chairman
and the secretary were together when the
representative of The Star called at head
quarters. They were gratified that the
party had held its own in the south,
especially in the doubtful districts,with the
exception of West Virginia and Maryland.
Senator Faulkner was requested TO give
his opinion upon the result and the causes
that were responsible for 1t.
Senator Faulkner Explains.
II do not desire to go into a discussion of
the causes leading to the tidal wave which
has placed the republicans in power again
in the House. he remarked. But think
it is proper to note that these evidences of
apparent popular approval in the election
OF SO large majority of a party to the
control of the House are no indications of a
change by the voter of his political princi-
pies"
THE history of politics will show" con-
tinued the Senator, that every landslide is
the result of dissatisfaction, discontent ana
want of confidence of the members of the
majority party, whose action produces the
result that surprises and astoniShes the peo-
ple-not by voting the opposite ticket, but
simply by remaining from the polls. The
results of this election when ascertained
WILL am sure, verify this conclusion. We
have as many voters in the country as we
had in '92, who believe in the principles OF
the democratic party, but the recent Dusi-
ness paralysis, financial strlngency, eco
not been developed-party dissensons, crini-
nations and recriminations have resulted in
such apathy as to cause the stay y-at-home
vote to produce the surprising result OF yes
terday. That is my honest judgment. III
we hope for success in 80, we should main
tain with fearleSsneSS and determination
the attitude we assumed in W; let personal
and party chickering's Of the past bury their
dead, and unite in an earnest effort to har-
monize those differences which have so
seriously affected our organizations"
TO what do you attribute the result In
West Virginia?' inquired The Star reporter.
1.-The same causes that have affected and
Influenced the voters throughout the coun-
try, which 1 have already enumerated to
you," he replied.
Richard CrOker's IntimntiOn.
"Of course / am surprised beyond meas
ure at the immensity of the avalanche,
continued the Sc lator. There was only
one man who ever intimated to me that
such a landslide was possible, and that man
was Richard Croker. Some tifhe ago he was
present at a meeting Of the committee in
New York. He then declared that no mat
ter how much We fought or how well
the republicans would sweep the country.
Hill would be beaten, he asserted New
country would go the same way. 1 asked
him how he, who said he was out of roli-
tics. could find reasons upon which to base
such an opinion.
'On, ne cxpialneO WITH wave OF MS
hand toward the gentlemen in question.
when / want to find out what the political
sentiment is don't ask Martin or Gilroy or
the leaders. 1 got on street cars and go
down the street and talk with the men
who. have votes and who don't know who
am, and find out that way the real drift
yes" continued Senator Faulkner,
Croker was the only man, l repeat, who
ever intimated the result, and he did the
same thing before the election in 1890. No
one expected such democratic victory
then but Richard Croker declared there
would be a landslide in our favor"
There were very few kilograms received
by the committee this morning, and most
of these were from tine south confirming
the election of democratic Congressman in
various districts