New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-25

REPUBLICANS MUST FIGHT FOR THE
NEXT HOUSE.
MEETING OF THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS
SIONAL COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON
FRANK TALK on THE OUTLOOK.
IBY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE rEIBrNEl


cock. who arrived this morning. will probably
remain until November. will Governor Hull
of Iowa chairman Of the Executive Committee.
and Secretary Overstreet. Of Indiana. Vice
Chairman Sherman. Of New-York. who came in
to-day. rosy and good d-natured and vigorous as
ever said that he would probably spend con-
siderable Of his time in outside party work. and
Mr. McCleary Of Minnesota. the member of the
committee who supervises the preparation OF
campaign literature will probably do the same
After a comparison Of notes and n general
survey Of the field to-day the officers Of the
committee expressed reasonable degree Of
confidence i'm Republican success but they all
concede that the contests in a number of the
Congress districts would be hot and close. and
that the Republican majority In the next House
Of Representatives would probably not he as
large as in the present one. where 1t s hfty one
All the indications point 10 substantial gains,
with slight losses. II any. IN the West. but the
opinion is expressed that. owing to various
causes. the Republicans will lose several dis
tricts thev now hold in the Eastern and Middle
States and that the gains will probably be more
than offset by the losses Everybody at the
committee headquarters also realizes that the
Republicans must spare no effort II they would
win and that hard work must he done in every
district that is in the least uncertain
LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS IN VIEW
Chairman Babcock. I'm conversation with
members Of the committee and others to-day
dwelt with strong emphasis this fact
Among other things. he said:
Il have found a wonderful amount of conf
dence among Republicans everywhere have
been and this IS based upon the success 81 the
Republican Administration. To 50 great an ok
tent is this feeling prevalent that Republicans
say we will win with hands down. To my
mind that feeling shows a great mistake We
will have good working majority Of sound
money Republicans IN the next Senate. THIS
majority viii Doe from six to nine. But there IS
no use Disgusting the fact that the election of
majority In the House Will be "A very close and
difficult matter and our Republican friends
should understand this. The reasons for our
losses I'm ,he House will come from dssatisfac-
ton over the disposition of patronage and from
local complications In the various states
While shall have votes 10 carry The next
House we cannot expect 10 have ns large a ma
jority there az We have now We now have hfty-
one majority so that We can sustain some losses
and still have a goodworkug majority The situa-
tion is such that It hehooves every Republican
to be on the alert. especially In close districts
Respecting probable gains md losses Chair
man Babcock said. 50 far a. National matters
and the support Of the President are concerned.
the Republican party throughout the West is a
unit. I have yet to hear the first criticism ~
Mr Mckinley or hts Administration from
Western man.
The difficulties We will meet apply 70 both
the West ana the East. and they refer 10 an
ferences arising from contests IN state matters.
In the states of Iowa. Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin cannot expect 20 make gains. FOR the
reason that those States are soldly Republican
now. In Northern Illinois the condition is the
same and there Is no chance there for gains TO
Offset losses that may be- met In the East We
must face the fact that viii lose a number
Of districts I'm New York Pennsylvania ard other
Middle Eastern States Tammany Is IN control
in New-York city which was not the case I'm
1894 and 1896. when carried the city
In the extreme West the free silver sentiment
has died out 90 a wonderful degree. 10 a much
greater extent than any one who has not been
In the West lately would be inclined to believe.
There Is no chance there for recruits on that
issue.
we will make gains I'm Kansas Nebraska.
South Dakota. Wyoming. California and posi-
bly Washington. S,ll do not think our gains
in the West VIII offset our losses In the East
but feel satisfied that we viii make enough
gains to allow us to orsanizc ,he next House"
CONFIDENT ABOUT THE SENATE
MIR Babcock is confident that the Republicans
will control the Senate boy a fair working ma
jority from the beginning Of the LNith CON
grcss. on this point he said
At present have thirty-sX sound money
Republican Senators who hold over There are
nine States in which elections take place and
I'm which II is absolutely certain that Republican
Senators VIII be elected. This will give
forty-hvc. or one-half OF the Senat" In add
tion to the above. elections for Senators take
place IN Nebraska Wyoming. West Virginia.
Delaware New York. Ncw-Jersey. Indiana. Calf
fornia and Washington. and we have these
States from which to secure gains As | said. |
am satisfied that will have majority in the
Senate Of from six to nine"
In reply 20 inquiry to the state OF public
sentiment IN the West. concerning the results
Of the ana the acquisition II territory
Chairman Babcock said
Il have found sentiment of general salts
faction there over the results Of the war. and |
/ find those who voted for Mckinley are
pccialy proud OF IT, whether Republicans or !
Democrats. All the acts Of the Administration |
meet with :hcir ready approval | think how
ever in my own state the feeling is against !
the acquisition of territory In the Eastern Hem
isphere As near as was able to size up the /
the people there feel that there VIII /
be no adequate compensation for US In the /
Philippine Islands. that the serious questions /
that we would have to face when we become
party to the Eastern question. are Of such q
character that IL requires very close and care /
full investigation before any territory there Is /
annexed or acquired beyond naval station and /
the necessary harbors for our shipping.