New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-22
THE HOUSE STILL IN DOUBT.
A MORE HOPEFUL FEELING, HOWEVER.
AT REPUBLICAN, HEADQUARTERS.
ApvIcEs INDICATE THAT THE VOTERS ARE
ARousING FROM THEIR APATHY AND
OVERCONFIDENCE.


ovERcoNFIDENcE.
GpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCNE.l
Washington. Oct 21-Withr less than three
ueeks of Election Day the political outlook. so
Par M tho mex, House Of Representatives Is
concerned is still obscured by heavy clouds or
doubt and uncertainty. At the headquarters oi
the emo-Pop- silver Republican Congressional
Committee great anxiety prevails, and the groom
seems to deepen day by day. II Secretary
Kerr INDUCES hopes Of success his appearance
does not indicate it. and. OF course. he VIII I'M
part no information concerning the OASIS oi HIS
secret hopes. He resented and stigmatized as
untrue the statement that an estimate which
gave the combined opposition a majority OF
seventeen in the next House emanated from
his headquarters. but has steadfastiy refused u
furnish data for different estimate
At Republican headquarters more hopefulness
than confidence of victory is still felt and ex-
pressed Recent information from several
States indicates that the Republican voters
have become aroused from the apathy and over
confidence which prevailed earlier in the cam
paign and evncing an old-time interest III
the result These indications, OF course, are
encouraging to a certain extent, and II they
were more general and positive. would relieve
Congressional Committee OF a heavy load OF
anxiety for they still insist. they have con-
tended from the beginning. that IT rests with
the Republicans of the country TO say whether
mr. not the next House Of Representatives snail
no controlled by a majority friendly 10 the al
ministraton.
BASIS OF REPUBLICAN HOPES
It would he imprudent and unwise in the eH-
do nf pDT
ment which the Committee has discovered in the
last ten DAYS II must suffice to say that they
are substantial and indicate safe reduction of
the number Of districts now held by Republicans
which were regarded as in grave danger fort
night ago The indications also Justify hope
and probably an expectation that the supporters
of the Administration will capture four or hVe
Congress districts now held by the opposition
which were regarded almost hopeless AS
Election Day draws nearer, too indications
appear here and there that considerable num-
Der of the Sound Money Democrats, who opposed
the Bryan electoral. ticket and voted against
free-sIlver candidates for Congress in 1896. are
becoming alarmed on account Of the danger that
free-silver men may obtain control OF the next
House of Representatives: that the moral effect
Of such victory would give the e-silver
cause a dangerous impetus in the Presidential
campaign of 1900 and that the safe as well as
the consistent thing for them TO do Is 10 sup
port the Republican candidates for Congress In
their districts Their views were tersely ana
forcibly expressed by ex-COngressman CoWen,
of Baltimore who recently said, in part:
To-day the Congressional campaigns are being
run by the Democratic Congressional committee
wnich d is ree -casd pad Democrat elected on the
Democratic ticket from Maryland or elsewhere 90
so-caIled gold Democrats within the party voted
for Bryan and worked to effect mis- election lhey
tbroE so tbe attempted election Of free-silver
fanatic az President, they invited the ruin OF their
country in a financial panic greater than any that
mas ever yet occurred. Even If ne could do any
thing, what would he do in the House? II ne swan VAL
lowed Bryan. any one tell us just what ne VIII
choke on? Is man who could not ttt h ms
together sgcCn to vote a a Taaca rpg
platform, going to develop into tower OF nnancial
sa h. must SUPPORT the Democratic candidate for
Speaker: that Democratic candidate will Of course
ocratic Speaker. If elected will have the appoint
ment OF the committees. and any one VINO Knows ins
anything about legislation at washington ted'] b
that Congressional government is government ny
committee Among the other committees Wn,rn ',Is NJ
Speaker would appoint would De those IN CHaise vi
financial questions: those committees would be or
ganized SO al aid a of cnrregcv 70 reform any
Everything points to an u W navy ,inoson
ably turned the corner. left hard times behind us
and are on the upward road. The manutacturlng'
ceive a shock and chill I a free-sXer House
were to be elected and If Democratic House was
t9n s %9Ha De # viii not do for Democratic
canddate 10 say that he will vote for the gold
standard Without any Impeachment Of his SINGER
iy such ha promSe T, as TFe real Battle viii be
fought before h" gets any chance 70 vote orec''y
It must be perfectly clear every impartial OBJ
that the Demoerac Patty par as rs s n"m
I'm 1900 why should handicap ourselves now
with Democratic House. and be required again IN
1909 TO renew the fight. when me so-caHed goll
Democrats within the party" will he found voting
with the free-siyer Democrats for Bryan? Ine
II is I'm no condition he supported or voted for
he Pad b BY sees G and efcas
it learns the lesson of sound ana honest nance
| think 1t is the duty Of every sound-money Demo-
crat to aid in defeating IT,
The information thls far received by the Re-
publican Congressional Committee does not war
rant the expectation that the Sound Money
Democratic support of Republican candidates
for Congress this year will be as general or
effective as It was in 1896. despite the fact that.
as Mr. Cowen clearly points out. conditions
and issues now are precisely what tney were
then; but there is some reason TO believe mat II
will be more generous than seemed probable
month ago.
WHERE THE DANGER LIES.
The several encouraging indications men
toned. however are by no means strong or gen.
eral enough as yet to he regarded as conclusive.
or even as wholly satisfactory In some dis
tricts and States where success is considered
almost vital TO Republican ascendancy in the
next House OF Representatives party apathy
seems to be nearly as great "a ever. ana the
serenity of party overcOniidence to he undis-
turbed and mistaken. There is where the chief
danger lies. OF course. there Is about the usual
number OF districts in which factlonal dlsSeh-
sions. personal disappointments and resent
ments etc. may be potent enough TO cause some
party reverses. There are always some patriots
ready to take advantage of such opportunities
as this contest offers 10 get even" at the eX-
pense Of party success and the country's well
fare.