Evening star., 1900-10-09
Republicans Expect to Garry Twelfth
Pennsylvania District.
DAVENPORT and DEWITT At Odds
Both Running as Democrats
Neither in Democratic Column.
STRIKE HAS LITTLE EFFECT
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From Staff Correspondent.
WILKESBARRE, Pa, October 9.-This,
the twelfth congressional district, Is repre-
sented in the present House of Representa-
tives by a democrat. Stanley w. Davenport.
He was elected in 1898 by a vote of 1920
to 15.772 for his republican opponent and
,49S for the prohibition candidate.
The prospects for electing a republican to
the next House from this district are excel
lent. They are so good. in fact. that even
the democrats admit that only a miracle
can save them.
Up to this day the democrats have not
placed candidate on the official ballot in
the democratic column. The time has
elapsed in which they can do 80, except
through the decision of court. in which
the case is now pending. and the politicians
do not anticipate favorable decision
There are two democratic candidates for
Congress the official ballot neither in
the democratic column. Mr.. Davenport Is
running on an "anti-truSt" ticket, while
Mr.. A. X. Dewitt, also a democrat, is run
ming on a "citizens ticket The effect of
this Will be to split the democratic vote
The republicans are united on their ca adi-
date, H. w. Palmer.
Democratic Fractional Fight.
The situation arises out of a factional
fight within the democratic ranks. 1t be-
gan at the democratic convention several
weeks ago, when Mr.. Dewitt and Mr. Dav-
enport contested in behalf of rival factions
for the congressional nomination. bolt
ensued and then each man came out as a
candidate. The controversy was carried
into court and a partial decision was rem
dered that Mr.. Dewitt at least was not
the regular nominee of the party Judg-
ment was reserved in respect to Mr.. Daven-
port, but the language Of the court was
such as to raise the hopes in the breasts Of
the Dewitt faction that Mr. Davenport
would also be ruled out
lf however, the court sheuld rule In favor
or MT. davenport and he could go on the
ballot as the regular democratic nominee
IT is said to be barely possible although
unlikely. that he could pull through. The
republicans admit that if the democrats had
peen united from the start a republican
able
The republican candidate for Congress
Mr. falmer, is said to be unpopular with
tne masses OF the people. He Is CORPORA
tion lawyer, and for years has been identi-
ned with the railroads and coal companies
OF this region. 1t is said that his connec-
tfoh with corpora tions is well known to the
voters OF the district and that the work
lngmen are being arrayed against him upon
this ground Mr.. Palmer is not Of a pro-
pitlatory disposition, and makes no secret
OF ms animation with corporations mere
is popular impression that corpora ations
are not beloved among. the working people
especially since the recent Industrial dis
turbances.
Strike Has Little Effect in Polftics.
In this connection it does not deyelep
that very much political capital is being
made out. of the strike, open and above
board. The democratic campaign speakers
are not talking about 1t very much. the
situation in this respect being similar to
the one existing in the ~Hazleton region.
Whlch Is part of this congressional dis
trlct There seems to be no disposition on
the part of the democratic campaipners
to openly arraign the republican party on
account OF the fact that the members of
the coal and railway corporations whom
the strikers are fighting are republicans
Inc campaign is tagging somewhat until
the strike settlement, which seems near at
nand, Is reached, when the republicans will
start in full swing and push their efforts
10 the limit, taking advantage of the spirit
or content which Is expected to reign after
that consummation.
In the event of the decision Of the court
being against Mr.. Davenport there seems
70 De no possibility of unification of the
democratic forces and a hopeless split of
the democratic vote appears unayoidable
Ihe rival candidates said to be alb
solutely irreconcilabIe, and neither is will
lhg' In any circumstances to give way to
the other. Their differences extend to
state and legislative matters and other in
terests besides their own are involved As
the democratic plurality in the last cleo
uon was comparatively small ANYWAY IT
Is apparent that a split in the vote would
probably be fatal, even after allowing for
possible influences of the strike.
Republicans Are Gratifed
The republicans are particularly graft
fled at the outlook of wrestling the dis
trict from the democrats, especially in view
Of the fact that there are unfavorable indi-
cations in the next district adjoining, the
eleventh, now represented by a republi-
can.
1t is said that another reason for look
ing for republican victory this year
is that the district goes republican in pres
this respect does not pass unchallensed.
however The democratic leaders here,
While admitting the dOubtfulness of their
prospects for Congress in existing condi-
tlons, assert that the county will go for
Bryan.
find that this expectation is based upon
the theory that there is to be some kind
or great revolution among the industrial
classes. 1t is admitted, however that the
tide of prosperity which had been on the
ebb for some time hereabeuts, was lust
beginning to set the other way when ar
rested by the strike.
The republicans believe that the bettered
conditions of the mine workers expected
as the outcome Of the strike will rebound
to their party advantage, and that they
will yet be able to make prosperity the
slogan of a winning contest, carrying the
county for Mckinley and the district for
a republican candidate for Congress
NO POLITICS IN THE STRIKE.