Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-11-03
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 81. q

The work of the campaign committee
is practically ended, at least SO far as tn,
sending out of literature and making
any great effort toward influencing votes
is concerned. There will be, probably, /;
little service that can yet be rendered il
the way of smoothing rough places
Strengthening out kinks or furnishing
special information, but the general work
is over at both republican and demo
cratic headquarters.
Both parties have found it utterly i'm
possible, this year, to secure funds with
which to conduct lively campaign. In
times past the contributions of office
holders furnished much of the campaign
funds, but under civil service rules this
source has become practically barren
and SO far as republicans are concerned
is no more considered. The average
civil service employee 70: only declines
to contribute to the support of any party
refuses to take any special interest in
the election, haughtily announcing that
he don't care who wins, he is safe-and
job is his only interest in the govern
ment.
One Of the most recent and unique
campaign efforts is the charge that the
peace negotiations with Spain were plan
ned to come up during the campaign to
be used in furtherance of republican
interests. 1t is more than republicans
themselves have yet felt like crediting
the administration, that it could be able
to forsee the date Of SPANS defeat with
such certainty as to make the peace
negotiations come in at such an oppor-
tune time. We are accustomed to the
story that Mark Hanna is able to buy
voters in train-load lots or double the
price Of wheat and other commodities
at will for political ends, but this thing
OF readymade and ante-dated war re-
suits is the biggest thing yet.
Chairman Babcock of the republican
congressional committee, has made pub
lie an estimate of the result of the cleo
ton. He says: "The present House
consists Of POT republicans and $50 dem
ocrats, populists and fusionists, or
republican majority of 81 over all. From
the best information obtainable, and
from reliable reports from every district
in the Union, the indications are now
that the republicans will elect 1874 nem-
bers, which, together with the eight
already elected from Maine, Vermont
and Oregon, will make 1872 members in
the 56th congress. This would give them
working majority of 81 over all. 1 do
not see how this number can be reduced
if the party continues its present aggres-
sive campaign. but to achieve this result
it will be necessary for every republican
to do his full duty
This will be the last letter 1 will write
before the election and 1 want to again
urge upon republican voters the import.
ance of going to the polls. have tried
to call attention to the importance of
the election this fall, and it has been
fully discussed in the editorial columns
of this and other republican papers, and
every word / have written has been the
expression of belief which becomes
more firmly stablished as the days pass.
There can be no question of the import
ance of the election to the administra-
ton and the country. A free silver
House would be embarrassing and har-
RAISING to the first and fatal to the bust
ness interests of the second The repub-
lican committee and republican leaders
here and elsewhere fully realize and
appreciate these facts and have labored
hard and faithfully to present them to
the voters in fair and clear manner.
That our district is apparently safely
republican, should not be considered
iustifiable excuse for any voter to neglect
his political duty. Any noticeable de-
crease in the relative vote will be an
encouragement to our political opponents
and spur them to renewed and better
efforts for the future. Thanks to good
management and vigorous campaigns
and the earnest advocaey Of correct poll
teal principles, the republican party ia
in good shape in our district, and It
would be culpable carelessness to allow
the enemy to make any breaks in our
lines. Our principles are as Sound now
as in SO and the election ot a republican
House is as important as was the election
of republican presidsat at that time.
Ed E. DAVIS.