Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-10-25
The Political Situation
VIEWED
Correspondent SQuibbs.
Special to the Leader.

Special to the Leader
Columbus Ohio, October 24.-All in
terest in tie Ohio Congressional ele,
tions centers in the Third, Twelfth
and Twentieth districts. The former
two are now represented by Demo-
crasts and the latter ty a Republican.
The chances of Republican success in
the two Democratic districts are more
hopeful at this time, than in the sim
gle Republican district, which is rep
resented at present l. Co@g:2-s by
Fremont o. Phillips, and in which the
normal Republican majority is about
5000. The situation in this district is
the most interesting and complex,
and while the Democrats are hopeful
of carrying it, the Republicans have by
no means abandoned it. The trouble
grows out of the defeat of Phillips for
denomination, by sharp practice on the
part of the friends of Jacob A. Beidlar,
the nominee, whose election is now en-
dangered by the Independent candi-
dacy of Phillips. The district is COM
posed of Lake ana Medina counties
and a part Of Cleveland. Beidler's
home is in Cuyahoga county, while
Phillips lives in Medina. Phillips and
his friends felt that he was entitled to
the courtesy Of a denomination, and
the fact that he was tricked out of it
made them very sore, and no salve has
yet been found which will permanent
ly heal their wounds. There are sew
eral Republicans in the district who
are very ambitious TO break into Con-
gress, and among the number is for
mer State Senator James r. Garfield
son Of the lamen.ed President Gar
field. Garfield and Bedler announced
their candidacy for the nomination in
the early summer, bur Phillips friends
insisted that he was entitled to a sec
Ond term, and the situation became
very interesting, when suddenly an
agreement was reached between Gar
field and Beidlsr that they should both
Withdraw from the race. This appar-
emily lett Phillips a clear field, but a
few days before the convention was
held Beidler re-entered the race, and
defeated Phillips with ease. This
greatly enragcd Phillips Medina coun-
ty cons .ituents, who prevailed upon
him TO stand as an independent candi-
date, assuring him of their hearty and
loyal support. He hesicated at first,
hut finally consented, and is now con
duclng an active canvass, not that ne
hopes 10 be elected, the only purpose
of his candidacy being to defeat Beld-
Ter, and elect Harrington, the Demo-
cratic l1miuee. Some Of the Republi-
cans ter in Lake county have taken
up the Phillips grievance and others in
Cleveland. Every effort has been
made by the Republican leaders to re-
store harmony but without avail. The
d'ar'r. is in the tier Of counties which
con pr the great Western Reserve,
when. hey grow Republicans, who
n..- YER sweryed in their allegiance
10 Republican principles from the
b'~.h a' the party, and this habit of
i.a.t. o the parry may again assert it.
sell C4 election day when they go in
10 tine lection booths with the full de-
termination Of voting for Phillips, and
finally vote for Beidler The district
l- normally Republican by about
2ooo and the Republican campaign
managers are hopeful of Beidler's cleo
.i-n, though they are by no means
confident of such a result
The Democratic margins in the
Third and Twelfth districts have been
SO small as to give the Democrats
much concern at each recurring Con-
gressional election, and inspire the Re-
publicans with the hope of carrying
them, The present Democratic mem
her from the Third is Hon. John P.
Brenner and the Twelfth is represent
ed by the Hon. John Jacob Lentz, who
is probably as widely known as Sem
ator Tillman and Ex-Governor Altgeld,
of Illinois, and for the same reasons.