New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-20
THE CONGRESS- ELECTIONS.
.,o TIME FOR PARTISAN FEUDS AND
PERSONAL JEALOUSIES.
.-pr,BIICANs CALLED Upon TO WORK HARD
AND HARMONIOISIY AGAINST THE
FREE SILVER FORCES
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrRuvrl

FREE SILVER FORCES
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
washington. Sept. 19.-The officials Of the Re
uhIican Congressional Committee think they
ss,ect symptoms that members Of the party in
sore parts of the country have begun at last
% realize that the only way to retain control
=, the House of Representatives and obtain
control Of the Senate is for every Republican
at only To subordinate his personal preferences
=. m candidates to those of the ma ority of his
nsrty: to smother. for the time being, at least.
ss prejudices in regard 10 local leadership. etc.
ond work with all his zeal and energy for the
General good But these symptoms. hopeful as
.bev are are by no means so strong gen
oral as they must be in ORDER 20 insure a vic
,orv where defeat would only be a stag
ccring blow to the prosperity Of the country
and to public confidence in the Administration
ord IT'S policies but a disgrace to the Republic
can party If the anti-Admnistration elements
win in the coming Congress and State cleo
,ions. It will be because the supporters Of the
Administration have been over-cOnfdent Of sue
ross until it was too late. and because OF fac
,onal feuds and personal jealousies which are
s,mplv intoerable where much is at stake.
One Of the abest. strongest and most saga
cious fnanciers in the United States was asked
this question by officer of the Republican
Congressional Committee:
what would be the effect in your Judgment
Of the election OF an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. free
silver majority to the next House Of Repre-
sentatives?"
He replied 1T would cause a shrinkage Of
values amounting to many hund eds of millions
Of dollars. and parllyze every business and in
dustrial enterprise in the country. But then.
YOU know" ne added. there isn't the slightest
danger in the world that the Administration
sound-mOney men will not set majority in the
next House Of Representatives,
DANGER IN OVER-CONFIDENCE.
This answer clearly indicated one of the dan
gers which beset the supporters of the Admins
tration and Of sound money IN the contest Of
this year and which. unless speedily removed
may handicap It SO heavily as 10 cause defeat
Thousands and hundreds Of thousands Of men
who are loyal friends and supporters of the Ad-
ministration and Of the principles and policies it
represents honestly believe to-day that victory
is certain because it is deserved There never
was a more mistaken belief The men who cher
ish it are taking their ease in an imaginary
political paradise. There never before
stronger incentive for greater need Of hard.
earnest constant and united political effort than
there is in this fall Of 1898 Such effort cannot
be expected and is not possible unless Republi-
cans and other supporters Of the Administration
shake of their le:hdrgy and open their eyes to
the stern. forbidding prospect which cOnfronts
the Congressional Committee from so many d.
rectOns
The officers Of this committee are neither
aarmsts nor tyrOs in political campaigns
Chairman Babcock was at the helm in the Con-
sress campaigns of 1894 and 1896. and Of his
most active. energetic and efficient assistants
was Representative Hull. chairman Of the tx
ecutve Committee What these men say ought
10 he headed by Administration men every
where. for they speak out Of the fulness Of
knowledge and experience well as with a
clear perception Of existing facts and prospects.
FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES
But over-confdence and the apathy it begets
are not the only unpromising features Of the
situation. In some States and Congress dis
tricts Republicans seem TO think this year, with
all the momentous issues at stake. Is good
time for them to fight among then selves Vr-
cinia is Of these States Two districts there
in each OF which the Republicans have a large
majority. likely 10 be lost from this cause
The same cause is operating in one or two dis
tricts in North Carolina In one IN Kentucky
and in several districts in Pennsylvania and
other States according 70 information received
b. the Congressional Committee. In some cases
as in Virginia. the trouble seems 10 he due to
the determination OF arrogant leaders 20 control
and dictate nominations which are rel usive to
the rank and file Of the party and I" the de-
termination Of the latter TO resent and repudate
such control and dictation.
In other cases more or less serious Repuhli-
can dsanection appears to be threatened
account Of the manner in which certain Federal
Offices have been bestowed, etc. II the sup
porters Of the Administration and the champions
of sound money are defeated In the Congress
elections this year the result will be largely due
10 Republican factional quarres and 10 dsap-
pointed office seekers. who. in the: eaeerness TO
crafty their feelings Of personal and party re-
venee lose sight Of disregard tfeir higher
obligations 10 the country and their party