Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Work Being Done BY Committees of Both
the Parties
Democrats Not Making Issue of Cons
duct of the War Republican,
Looking for Gains I'm West.

While the interest in the war has diverted
pubic attention to a considerable extent
from political operations, the two congress
sional Campaign committees with head
quarters in this city have been doing a
great deal OF work, and are receiving inter.
esting reports from all over the country.
The managers OF both committees antict-
pate that the last three weeks OF the COM
gressional campaign will be full Of activity.
and the contest in every doubtful district
will be conducted with great energy. Both
sides are protesting confidence in their
ability to elect a majority OF the House,
but a week or so ago the republicans felt
the effect Of embarrassment in several
quarters. At this time, however. the re-
ports received at the republican committee
are very encouraging, and the Indications
point strongly to their being able to hold
control OF the House in the next Congress
The publication Of the democratic cam
paign book was awaited with a great deal
OF interest, II being expected that an attack
would be made on the management Of the
war, based on the criticisms which have
been INDUCED In freely in the newspaDers
with some cleverness and wisdom. the
democrats avoided making an issue Of this
sort IN their campaign book, and. while in
diYidualS the stump may 20 into the
question. this course OF the committee
seems to preclude the administration be-
ing put on trial in this campaign for the
management of the war AT ali events IL
is not the intention to make a party issue
of it, 1t is believed that the prumptness
with which the President has instituted an
investigation OF the various charges that
have been made is chiefly what discouraged
the democrats in any idea of making an is
sue of this sort
Two other things, however have operated
70 that end One is that Mr.. Bryan and his
followers want to focus attention still upon
the money issue. upon which their domina-
ton over the democratic party depends.
The other is that the men who are laying
down the plan of campaign have not any
falln in an investigation resulting in seri-
Gus blame being rested upon the adminis-
tration, and they realize that the people of
the country are not apt to be led into cast
ing vote Of censure upon the administra-
ton which would take away much OF the
glory that has resulted from the war.
1t Is for this reason that the committee,
in seeking some point OF criticism upon the
republican party in connection with the
Cuban matter, dwelt chiefly upon events
in Congress prior to hostilites. They had
very little hope OF gaining anything
through public discomfort on account of
any feature Of the conduct OF the war
The chief concern Of the republican COM
mittee has been over some factional di~er-
ences in the cast. where they have feared
the loss of several seats in the House. The
anxiety on this point is not So great as q
was, however. and reports from districts
In the west indicate that whatever slight
loss may be suffered in the east will DO
more than made up in the western states
where republicans lost at the last election
through the silver combination. Tho DEM
ocrats and populists not fusing very
well in al these localities. and it is re-
ported also that the silver sentiment is
nothing like as strong there as formerly,
They expect considerable gains conse-
quently. in those sections. and the fac.
that the democrats still insist on making
silver the main Issue will, IL is believed,
operate to the disadvantage Of democratic
CO ndidates in the east. who otherwise
N hCN Il F~sa tao
certain republican divisions. On the whole,
the republican committee feel that they
can rely with confidence being able to
hold possession Of the next House.