The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-04

Close Acknowledgements In Iowa, Lii
noIs, Indiana and Kentucky.
Especial correspondence.1
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2--Of tho $50
members constituting the present house
Of representatives assuming it to be
fully IA are congressman at large, count
ing as such a single member from
small state. So there are 342 chosen
from districts, and in these the vote Of
ten fuctuates much moro widely and
wildly than in the state at large at the
same election. 1t is this that gives oc-
casion for such minute calculations and
such a charming diversity Of views at
the Headquarters of the two congress
sional campaign committees in this
city. where two corps Of experts are
watching the daily reports from all
parts of tie country and sweating over
long columns Of figures on past cleo
lions, from which they strive to deduce
the probabilities. One thing l note at
the start with great pleasure-namely
the honesty en- both sides. There is no
attempt to disguise the truth that this
is a year of doubt and uncertainty.
Both admit that it never was at this
stage more difficult to forecast the re-
suit Of an election The Republicans
say, IF it were not for that confound-
ed solid SOUTH The Democrats say,
ssIf it wasn't for that dash BANKED New
York and Indiana and Illinois, They
differ, you see, in their grammar and
explosives quite as much as in their pol
itics.
The Next House.
In the next house there will be but 10
congressman at large and therefore 346
from districts, and down to date the
nominations are almost exactly three
fOurths denominations, or nominations
of men who have served in former con-
crosses, so unless there is a greater and
more variegated revolution than ever
before the Fifty fourth congress viii
consist very largely of experienced men.
This proportion would have been still
larger if several.members had not de-
clined denomination. The veteran Judge
Culberson retires at the end of 20 years
continuous service. He is only Ga years
old, but is considerably broken and the
more willing to quit as his son is to be
elected governor of Texas this fall
There are three candidates for his place,
but the committee has taken no note OF
their relative standing, as the man is
sure to be a Democrat anyhow
In Illinois Hons John c. Black and
A. J. Hunter, representatives at large,
60 out on account of the redistricting.
Mr. Forman has declined, Messrs.
Wheeler and Childs are thrown into
other districts and Messrs Henderson,
Durborow. Funk and Mcdonald are al
ready defeated. So here are nine good
men from Illinois who cannot be with
us in 1857, and the elections still
three months distant The Republicans
tell US they viii make the absentees
nine more, but that may be their en-
thusiasm. At any rate, there will be the
hottest kind of fighting in every one of
the % districts, and both sides agree
that for lurid and picturesque politics
Illinois Will have no superior this year.
Matters In the south.
Three Kentnckians have also dec1in-
ed ation-namely, Ellis Of the
Second, Goodnight of the Third and
Paynter Of the Ninth-while in Mary
land there are two vacancies. Messrs.
Waugh and Conn of Indiana have also
declined, and Mr.. Davey OF Louisiana
thinks he will, as he cannot afford to
live in Washington. = Three Ohio men,
if not four, have declined renomina-
ton, and rs many in the west and
south who were new members and not
Of national reputation.
Neither Of the committees, however,
can figure out that any Of these will
make difference in the chances for the
next house. In the - states usually
spoken Of as the solid sout h are AZ dis
trlcts in which there is no opposition to
the Democrats or none that amounts to
anything, but at least n Of these dis
tricts will be contested to some extent
this year. Some Of the cases are curious
enough to be called to public attention
once more. Thus, in Texas, Mr.. Bailey
had ~, 9S3 votes to 4, SOB. In South
Carolina Mr.. Talbert had 8. 0O1 to so
scattering. - Mr. Latimer s, $50 to 1877
and NJ. Shell 10. 4OI to /, $50. Missis-
sippi. however, takes the cake. All the
seven members received less than 40, 900
votes and all their opponents Of all
parties, including scattering - not
quite TO- 600 The Indiana man, who
is accustomed to seeing every school dis
trict fought over to the last hour of cleo
ton day and every invalid man hauled to
the polls whose wife and physician will
allow it, cannot help thinking that those
fellows down there would have more
fun if their elections were not 80
burned unanimous -
The Storm Center.
The political maps Of both commit
tees show that in all New England ara
the middle and south Atlantic states
very few conventions have yet beer
held. but it is known that the percent
age Of denominations will be even great
er than the average above given In the
eastern half Of the country generally,
divided Cd population, the convention
are late. 1t is in the middle. west and
south that things are previous, and in
calculating the majority in the Fifty