The age-herald., 1900-06-09
POLITICAL GOSSIP AT
 NATIONAL CAPITAL
BY ALBERT HALsTEAD

Washington, June S.-(SpeciaL) )-Though congress has adjourned and will not be in session for half year, the people are to have no resnite from political discus sion. On the contrary, the flood of cam paign oratory and of eulogy and criticism of politicians and the discussion of poli- tical issues has only begun and for five months it will daily increase until every body will rejoice when November settles the elections and the issues before the peo- ole. On June 19 the republicans will meet at Philadelphia to nominate candidates for president and vice-president and to formu- late platform That will begin the re- publican campaign. On July 4 the dem- ocrats will assemble in Kansas City for the same purpose and after that the presi- dential and congressional campaigns can be regarded as being in full blast.
 Each party enters the campaign aggres- sively and with confidence. The republi- cans stand by the record of the adminis- tration and the prosperity of the country under the Mckinley administration. They are greatly encouraged and heartened by the election in Oregon. The democrats be- lieve that the Porto Rican legislation, the Cuban scandal, the silver question, the u QueSllOn ana the question or lmpeF- ialism will all help them to victory They think they have an excellent chance to elect president and are more confident that they will secure control of the house in the Fifty-seventh congress. They do not regard the Oregon election as at all significant and have not been disturbed by it, so they say.
 Seldom have the two parties entered a political fight with more determination to win, or with more energy. The battle promises to be of especial interest, full of absorbing situations from the very be- ginning. -
 With the exception of a few men who wish to keep congress in session as a mat ter of spite, or with the hope that some measure in which they were interested might be passed if adjournment were de- layed, there is general satisfaction among members of the house and senate that the first session of the Fifty-sixth congress has ended The session has been comparative ly short, but it was a very active session, even if the first six weeks were practically wasted. When this congress finally did get down to work it worked rapidly and though of course there are a number of important measures unacted upon it did very well in the way of getting rid of proposed legisla- tion.
 The desire to get away from Washington was particularly great, because the aver age member of the house has his political fences to look after. Ambitious men crop up while members are busy in Washington, and it is necessary for the average member to do a little repair work at home before the conventions meet. Of course num- Der of congressman have been already nom- mated or defeated for renomination, but the great bulk of them still have their fights to make. According to all reports, the crop of ambitious youngsters plotting to break into congress is greater this year than usual, so the average congressman has had a greater incentive than usual to want to get through and go home. One third of the senators have to look into their political affairs at home, for every two years the terms of one-third of the senators expire Then private business af- ter half a years absence in Washington has been neglected, and work must be caught up.
 An additional reason for the anxiety for an early adjournment was the fact that the political conventions meet so soon to select presidential candidates. The lead CTS of the majority worked for adjourn ment for this reason.
 The present congress has developed one new man of exceptional strength, and that is Littlefield of Maine, whose capacity to study and understand a question, to dis cuss it forcefully and meet all corners has been the surprise of the session, particu- larly as this has been My. Littlefeld's first congressional experience.
 In the senate Foraker of Ohio, though he was known to be ready and able speak CT, has gained new laurels as a debater, as well as constructive legislator, while Senator Pettus of Alabama blossomed out as a humorist in addition to being an ex- pounder of the constitution. On the demo- cratic side in the house Underwood of Ala bama has perhaps grown more during this session than any other member. His work as party whip was decidedly creditable, while he showed himself ready in debate and in stating propositions clearly.
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 John Proctor in Anniston
 Anniston, June S.-(Special )-Hon. John R. Proctor of Washington, president of the