Evening star., 1900-10-17
Republican Candidate Has Fighting
Chance for Election.
ROW IN DEMOCRATIC CAMP
1t May Not Result in Scratching
Ticket, However.
BIG LABOR VOTE INVOLVED
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From a Staff Correspondent.
EASTON, Pa, October 1.-THE eighth
congressional district is supposed to be in
doubt this year, and the republicans have
started out to carry 1t If possible. 1t Is
now represented in the House by a demo-
crat, Mr.. Laird H. Barber. His predeces-
sor was republican
The outlook in the eighth district seems
to be that the republican candidate, Mr.
Stewart, has a fighting chance" The
| nominee of the democrats, Mr.. Howard
Mutchler, who has been in Congress before,
appears to be in the lead up to this time.
The eighth district comprises the counties
Of Carbon. Monroe, Northampton and Pike.
In 1898 the vote for Congress was demo-
cratic 16,4o0, republican 1856 a demo-
| cratic majority of 2,sS4. In 1895 the district
went republican by 100 votes.
The republicans are basing their hopes of
victory this year mainly upon certain sup
posed diSaffection in the democratic ranks
growing out of the contest for the nomina-
ton. This is another district where the
democratic prospects We're good at the
outset as to seem to warrant little fami-
ly row. In the other case. the Luzerne
county district, the republicans seem likely
to profit by it, and in this they hope to do
SO.
Trouble Among the Democrats
There is certainly some hard feeling
among the democrats growing out of the
nomination proceedings. 1t is not in evil
dence. however. that the friction will be
carried 70 the extent of causing democrats
10 vote against the regular ticket 1t will
cause considerable apathy among the demo-
Gratis, resulting in their taking but little
interest in the Campaign and possibly pro-
Guce some stay y-at-homes" on election
day.
n har
finds some apathy among the republicans
due to no particular ascertainable cause
pes I'm n'ill.atlng ig against the ticket.
me republican candidate is making a
gallant hight in the face Of strong difficult
ties He Is a very popular man. magnetic
ana vote-getter His record is good,
ana ne has had no public career to make
enemies. He thinks that the tidal wave
for the presidential ticket which is ex-
pected TO sweep over this part of the state
VIII help his ticket on election day
Mr: Mutchler. the democratic candidate,
mas the advantage of a more complete ma
chine organization than his opponent He
has strong hold with the country press
IN ms MS; district also. His campaign is thor
oughly organized along lines which have
brought victory in the past.
Big Labor Vote I'm District
There is large labor vote in the district,
and the democrats are making strong anti
trust appeals to this class One county,
Carbon. lies in the coal region, and takes
in the Panther Creek section, where the
trouble occurred this week
These miners, however, have taken no in
terest in politics up to the present time
Iney nave not been on strike and their at
tention has been occupied in resisting the
daily appeals and threats of the strikers
In the efforts of the latter to get them to
come out.
1t is not apparent that the strike is af-
fecmng the political situation in this por-
ton of the district, beyond possibly detract-
ing from the interest usually manifested
by the men in political campaigns
In fact, one who has spent some time in
the strike region is impressed with the in
significance of politics in comparison with
the more important issues before the
miners. These men up here are face to
face with great big proposition, involv-
ing food, raiment. eXiStence-eVen life or
death for some of them. The mouthinss of
politicians, the glittering generalities of the
campaign, sound childish and afar off
Men in Carbon county turn aside with i'm
patience at the mention Of political theories;
they are contemplating conditions.
1t is not to be denied. however, that when
the strike is over, when the miners are no
longer menaced with an enforced shut
down and the memory of these perlous
times has been dimmed little in the re-
curing routine of daily work, a lively cam
paign may alter the aspect of affairs.
Whatever changes occur hereafter are like
ly to be in favor of the republicans due
to careful electioneering, but they will have
to be quite extensive to counteract the big
democratic vote already in sight.
N q NJ