The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-09
THE COMING CAMPAIGN
A Lively Fight For Control of
the Next House.
NO LARGE MAJORITY EXPECTED.

Keen Observers ut the Capital Think tn,
Popuiists May Have the Balance of Pow
er-Interesting Complications In Pros
pect-Both Sides Eager For the Fray.
WASHINGTON. Feb. ESPECIAL. AR,
the Republicans or the Democrats to con
troll the next house of representatives
This is one of the burning questions of the
hour at the national capital. 1t possesses
more personal interest for about $50 sc
called statesmen than the problems OF
finance, of Hawaiian annexation, of Cuba
or anything else. Contrary to the general
belief, Speaker Reed does not care much one
way or the other His friends tell me that
the big speaker would not shed any tears
If his side were to lose their majority in
the lower branch. He is safe enough, in
any event. In the first place, he cannot
lose his seat. He is always returned by a
handsome majority, and no Democrats
need expect to defeat him unless there
should come a political eruption such as
| this country has not seen in quarter of a
century. In the second plSce Mr.. Reed is
assured high place, even If the Democrats
do carry the house. For then he will be
leader of the minority on the floor and that
Is work which he really enjoys. So far as
he Is personally concerned, am sure he
enjoys those congresses in which the DEM
ocrats have the speaker much more than
he does those in which his side is in con-
troll and he is compelled to assume the re-
sponsibility of management of the house.
II one could believe the Democratic lead
ers here in Washington, they are sure of
obtaining nice majority in the next
hOnsa They sinaara In, thaiv.
sions, and actually believe they are on the
eve Of great victory. While the Repub-
licans do not concede that the Democrats
are going to win, they admit that the re-
suit may be close. At the best they hope
for only small majority in the next house.
1t Is well understood by every one that the
congressional elections following a presi-
Dental campaign usually show reaction
against the party in power. That has been
the history of the country, with few ex-
ceptions, for long time. The Democrats
are very sure this year will not prove one
OF the exceptions.
A Chance For the Populists.
A great many keen observers of the po-
litical situation believe the next house of
representatives Is likely to be a strange
mixture. They think that no party will
hoNo q CiCdI Dub UIdU Inc
balance of power is likely to be held by tho
Populists and the gold Democrats, aided
by the silver Republicans. In other words,
neither the regular Democrats nor the reg
ular Republicans will be able to elect q
speaker and organize the house without
the assistance of one of these minor ele-
ments, and a situation like this, if it pre-
sents itself, is sure to bring ON some most
interesting complications. 1t is expected
that In the New England and middle
states the Democrats will increase their
membership in the house, but that many of
these new Democratic representatives will
be of the gold or at least the antislver
stripe. Whether or not they combine with
the regular Democrats in the election of q
speaker and organization of the house may
depend very much upon whether the reg
ular Democracy proposes to go for 16 to l
or whether 1t will be willing to accept
some compromise that will restore har-
mony to the party.
Although the Republican leaders expect
to lose members, they still hope to pull
through with majority that will enable
them to organize tho house. If they have
not a majority of their own, they will seek
a combination with the eastern or gold
Democrats and attempt to disrupt the OPP
position. Some people think the attitude
to be taken by both the great parties on
the silver question will be largely deter
mined by the result of the congressional
elections this year. If the straight or sill
yer Democrats obtain a majority of the
house, no one doubts that the Chicago
platform will be affirmed in 1900. On the
other hand, if the Republicans are able to
save their control it is equally certain they
will stand for the st. Louis platform, pos
sibly eliminating the international bimet-
allism feature. But If either party should
be compelled to combine with the gold
Democrats in order to save the organiza-
ton of the house, that might servo to
modify its attitude upon the money ques-
ton.
For these reasons the congressional cleo
tions of this year are looked forward to
with more than ordinary interest. Already
the battle lines are being formed. The
members of the house are fixing their
fences They are straining every nerve to
secure return to their seats and the num-
Der of letters they are writing, packages
they are sending out seeds and public
documents distributing, is something
amazing. The statesmen talk of little else
than their prospects of reelection. This
40 w ohOih WIZ Sico0coV HuCoblOA III Uut
universe at tthe present time.
Early Adjournment Hoped For.
This anxiety is quite as great on one side
OF the house as 1t is on the other. Both |
Democrats and Republicans agree that |
they want an early adjournment of this |
session, so inpatient are they to get back |
to their districts and beat off the rivals. |
In this connection / have heard an anus |
ing explanation of the eagerness of tho |
Democratic members to cooperate with |
Speaker Reeds plan for an early adjourn !
ment. 1t Is that the times have been SO |
hard In the south that the lawyers down |
there are starving, and about two.thirds |
of them are trying to break into congress. !
At any rate, the southern members who |
usually have less anxiety than their north |
ern brethren as to holding their seats are |
now impatient to get away from Washing |
ton that they may fix up their fences.
The American people are noted for the |
manner in which they sweep away party
majorities when they once get started. |
For instance, In the Fifty-flr congress
the Republicaus had n majority Of only q