The times., 1898-02-16
THE NEXT CONGRESS-.
Many Reasons why the Democrats
Are Likely TO Control 1t.

Are Likely TO Control Ii.
The attention of politicians is now
turned toward Oregon, where. in June.
the first members Of the F'ifty-sixth Con-
gress will be chosen. Although small
State. election results there will De of ex-
traordinay interest. as indicating the
trend OF affairs political Throughout the
country, and as pFesaging the November
results Since the new alignment OF
parties on the silver issue Oregon has
been remarkably close. and 70 an extent
an accurate Thermometer Of Northwest
ern sentiment
Two years ago. it will be recalled. the
results came in just before the Repub-
iican national convention assembled al
ST. Louis: and. although tine Republicans
carried the State. the margin was so mar
row IS to be some what Dispute ting. In
the First district Thomas II. Tongue. Re
publican. received 9.355 votes against
i9, ,Z96 for W. :. Vanderburg, his Popuiist
competitor. I'm the Second district.
which includes the city of Portland.
William r. Ellis received 1871 votes.
against 1923 for Martin Quinn, Pop
ulist. There were also Independent and
Democratic candidates in each district
but these figures indicate the running
strength of the two great parties. In
the Presidential election. the November
following. after a prolonged and bitter
struggle, Mckinley received 4S.7T2 votes
and Bryan 1852. which COrrObOrates
the impression that the State was SIN
close.
Representative Charles A. ToWne
of Minnesota. the Silver Republican
orator, has already gone 10 Oregon on
a speaking tour. and. from present indi-
cations. both parties are likely 10 put
their heaviest artillery into the State be
tween now and next June. The Iegisla-
ture to be chosen will elect a Senator
for the term expiring March 5, 1903. 10
fill the existing vacancy.
OF the 357 members Of the House the
States of Alabama. Arkansas. Florida.
Georgia, Louisiana. Mississippi, South
Carolina. Texas and Virginia are en-
titled to II. who are almost all sure to be
Democrats There are. besides. L dis
tricts in Missouri and eight in Tennes-
see. making ninety-One in all. which the
Democrats have as a starter without
substantial contest. or p per cent Of the
whole House. The problem for the Re
publican campaign managers then is L.
get twO-thirds of the remaining districts
the only ones really open 10 contest
while for the Democrats il is necessary
to get but One-third Of such districts.
The DemocTa tic task is still further sim
Der of soldiy Democratic districts ia
the North. Several are in New York
city. one is in Boston. and a few are
scattered through Pennsylvania and The
Mississippi Valley. Then the greater
part OF Kentucky belongs with the solid
South. and North Carolina with its nine
districts. now held with one exception
by Populists and Republicans is liable
to swing over at any time 10 the Dem
he. INC Of f4n
siOnal campaign the Democrats car
safely count on carrying from % 10 10
per cent of the House without appTeCi1-
bic effort. The remaining 50 10 S. per
cert of the districts Of the country are
more or less in TIE balance. and even
New England has sent a Democratic
majority TO the House Of Representa-
tives
The number of Republican Houses in
the last twenty-five years has been very
small president Grant lost the last in
his Administration by 1S2 to 10; Prssi-
dent Hayes had both against him; Pres
ident Garfield saved his House by a
plurality OF eleven, while the House
elected in 1882 was Democratic by 81
votes Harrison's first House was Re
publican. but so close that considerable
unseating was necessary to secure a
working parliamentary majority under
Speaker Reed The following House
was Overwhelmingly DemOcrat tic. as
was the first in Mr.. Cleveland's second
term. This present House and its i'm
mediat te predecessor have furnished the
first instance since the period from 1863
to 1873. when the Republicans have con
trOlIed two consecutive Houses Of Re
The odds are therefore
against them.
IL was formerly the case that while
the House was naturally Democratic.
the Senate was inclined TO be Repub-
lican. This remained true 90 long as the
small States OF the West went with the
party on the old issues. but
since the money question has become
dominant. the Democrats. through. Su-
perior strength in the small states OF
the Rocky Mountains. have their share
Of power in the Senate.