Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-06

Washington, d. c., November 5.-An
impartial survey Of the political field
discloses favorable signs for the Demo-
cratic party practically all along the
line.
The forecast of the Congressional
| outlook by Secretary Kerr, of the Dem
ocratic Congressional Committee, is re-
garded as very conservative esti-
mate. Mr.. Kerr claims 1856 districts
sure for the Democrats and fusionists;
comedies 123 districts to the Republic
cans, and places 40 districts in the
doubtful column. He believes that the
Democrats have more than an even
chance of carrying a majority of the
doubtful districts and is confident that
jority in the next House of Representa-
tives of at least 80.
Congressman Babcock, of the Repub-
lican Congressional Committee, has
figured out majority of 35 in the next
House for his party.
lSSu6u
A SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENT
tonight, saying that the Democrats
| could lose all doubtful districts and
have majority of fifteen over the Re-
publicans. He says further:
ITO convey to the minds of your
| readers some of the reasons which
would favor such conclusion we refer
to the elections of 1896, when the seven
States of Illinois, Michigan, Mime
sofa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and New York, gave a majority to the
Republican ticket OF 951, 941 votes. The
Democrats are making hopeful battle
in every one of these States. The
aggregate claims of the Republican
managers in this campaign are less
than 10000 majority and the Demo-
cratic leaders claim this majority of
nearly million will be wiped out.
Taking a conservative view of the
claims of both sides, how can the Re-
publicans hope to control the next
Congress if they lose the greater part
Of this majority? Their statements as
to majorties in the next House are
without foundation, except that the
wish is the father to their prophecy.
Secretary Kerr has written the fol-
lowing letter to President Proctor, of
the Civil Service Commission:
I'VE desire to present for the con-
sideration of your honorable commits
sion
GROSS AND WILFUL VIOLATION
of the civil service act, on the part of
a government official, who is using I'M
due and corrupt influence to compel
government employees to contribute to
the success of a partisan organiza-
ton. The specific case we refer to is
the letter of October 9th, 1898, to Mr..
John E. Conway, at the Navy yard,
signed George NJ. Bowers, the present
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries,
who, in a published interview of No
vember Sd, admits the genuineness of
the letter, and acknowledges having
sent one hundred and fifty such letters,
his using the government blanks and
paper, employing clerks in his bureau
in service not contemplated by law,
and violating the spirit as well as the
letter of the act regulating the civil
service of the United States. The
abuse of the franking privilege is a
violation of another statue, which, |
have no doubt, the proper authorities
will recognize and punish: but it
seems to us if the civil service law is
to have any force and effect, your COM
mission must take cognizance of this
matter and act accordingly"
There will be elections in forty-twO
States Tuesday. In ten of them-Ala-
bama. Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana. Maryland. Mississippi,
North Carolina, Rhode Island and
Virginia only Congressman will be
voted for; in one West Virginia),
congressman and a Legislature. In
addition to West Virginia, twenty-five
other States-California Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida. Indiana, Massachu-
sets. Michigan. Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jer-
sew, New York, North Dakota, Penn
sylvania. Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Washington. Wyoming and Wisconsin,
elect a Legislature which will choose
a United States Senator.
New York, November 5.-There are
five State tickets-Republican Demo-
cratic. Citizens Union, Socialist Labor
and Prohibition. The Legislature will
choose a United States Senator TO sue
coed Edward Murphy, Jr., Democrat.
The campaign has been an aggressive
one. and notable for the energy with
which Col. Roosevelt has conducted his
canvass.
To all appearances he aroused a great
deal of enthusiasm. Judge Van Nyck
pursued a very different course. His
public addresses have not exceeded ten
and these were delivered at such places
as Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, Elmira,
Albany and New York.
The plurality by which Levi P. Nor
ton was chosen Governor in 1894 was
1856. los, the total vote being 1,2l5,671;
Black. Republican, was elected in 1895
by 212,9s2 plurality on a total vote OF
1.422,549. The following year Demo-
crat. Parker, was elected to the chief
justiceship of the Court Of Appeals by
so, 1859 plurality, the total vote being
1,06S,978, of which 449.454 votes were
cast in Greater New York.
Republicans are disposed to concede